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Re: Peregrine Falcon takes American Oystercatcher



A interesting story about the Peregrine and the Marbled Godwit. Peregrines
are very careful about trying to take prey in any area where they do not
have full freedom of flight. I have seen prey birds reach very sparse tree
branches where a Coopers or Sharp-shinned would have no trouble, but the
Peregrine would break off well clear of the trees.
It's often difficult to tell whether the falcon is making a serious pass or
just testing, maybe even playing. (anthropomorphic term maybe)
                                Reece Mitchell
                                 rmitche2@tds.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "K Dean EDWARDS" <kde@angst.engr.utk.edu>
To: "Reece Mitchell" <rmitche2@tds.net>
Cc: "carolinabirds" <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: Peregrine Falcon takes American Oystercatcher


>
>
> On Tue, 26 Mar 2002, Reece Mitchell wrote:
>
> > Peregrines have been known to take Mallards. I suspect that is about the
> > upper limit.
> >                                      Reece Mitchell
> >                                      rmitche2@tds.net
>
>
> Hence the old name for the species:  Duck Hawk.
>
>
> An interesting tale to share.  A couple of years ago at Rankin WMA
> in Cocke Co., TN (ok not in the Carolinas but just across the border),
> I was leading a shorebird fieldtrip.  An adult Peregrine was in the
> area and made a somewhat casual pass through the shorebirds.  All
> the shorebirds took flight except a juvenile Marbled Godwit which
> hunkered down a bit and kept watch on the falcon but didn't seem
> overly concerned.  The Peregrine made a couple of lazy passes at
> some other birds, mainly seeming to size them up, looking for weak
> members of the flock.
>
> The falcon then turned its attention to the godwit, coming at it
> dead on at a quick pace but far from a full-out stoop.  The Marbled
> Godwit hunkered down some more with its wings spread out and bill
> pointed to the sky.  As the Peregrine approached, the godwit thrust
> upward, stabbing at the falcon with its long bill and uttered a
> squawk.  The Peregrine did a less than graceful 180 degree turn
> and headed back the way it had came.  The godwit shrugged and shook
> its feathers back in place then went back to feeding.
>
>
> Dean Edwards
> Knoxville, TN
> kde@utk.edu
>
>
>
>
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>