7 December 2017
Wilson County, TN
While out birding around the neighborhood just a bit ago, I watched an
American Kestrel perched on an electrical wire dive to the ground, take an
adult male Northern Cardinal, fly to a nearby tree limb, then pluck and
consume its prey. It was something to see, but it didn't end there. After 8
or 10 minutes of watching bursts of red feathers and pinkish-white down
float away on the breeze, a Northern Mockingbird appeared and began
harassing and diving at the Kestrel while it attempted to finish its meal.
The Kestrel ducked and dodged the uninvited dinner guest for two or three
minutes then flew, with the half eaten carcass in tow, 50 ft. away to
another tree. That seemed to satisfy the Mockingbird--it flew off. The
Kestrel continued to pick at the red bird two or three minutes, then flew
off with what was left of it.
Part of what made the whole thing so mesmerizing was the contrast of
colors--the two richly colored birds against the dull gray sky amid bare
and broken tree limbs. It reminded me of that stark scene in the movie
Schindler's List.
Greg
Tomerlin
Wilson County, TN
lebanonbirding.org
