Such neat topics come up on Tweeters! First, I too have heard a strange
unfamiliar whistle from a perfectly still perched robin, here in Anchorage,
which it took me long minutes to locate. I don't remember it as being a
descending tone, but my audial memory is rather brief so I won't rule that out.
Don't remember there being anything in the surrounding area that would have
represented a threat. The robin was barely opening its beak when this sound was
emitted.

As for the eagle taking the chihuahua, that was reported from Valdez, Alaska and
the people in Valdez believe it. When a friend and I ate in a restaurant there
the following year, the waitress joked to us about it. I was once told a
strikingly similar story by a Denali Park bus driver, who said a fellow driver
had a lady passenger who had smuggled her lap dog on board in her shoulder bag.
At one stop, she let it out to go potty and a Golden Eagle, etc..... Interesting
that in both stories there was a strong undertone of contempt for doting lady
lap dog owners.

Chris Maack
Anchorage, AK
73201.3124 at compuserve.com