>This is the second experience I've had that suggested the
>hunting birds were using me an unwitting "partner."

>Anyone else out there who has had similar experiences?

Once, in Southeastern Oregon, I was parked by the side of the road,
standing next to my car glassing sagebrush for...something, I forget
just what.

All of a sudden there was that heart-stopping "whoosh!" of a large
bird coming from behind. A prairie falcon, which passed perhaps a
yard over my right shoulder and right into the sage. This particular
patch was in a heavily grazed area (i.e., southeast Oregon, awww,
quit being so cynical, Don) so there was little cover except a little
cheat 'tween the shrubs, giving the prairie falcon "room to move".
It zigzagged on the deck, probably after some small mammalian thing
that I never did see, though perhaps horned larks.

The sun was behind me, so I had the impression that it was combining
two elements of surprise, i.e. the "out of the sun" technique used
by pilots as well as raptors plus using me as a visual shield or
perhaps distraction.

It didn't appear to catch anything, though.

-Don Baccus-