Serge: This is the second reply I've written to this business, and, as
you'll see from the other one, it never occurred to me that someone would
fly a trained falcon at Bowerman! I'm sure that was not Michael`s intent
either (i.e., to suggest that). *Certainly* no one has that intention!
I thought that the suggestion was that the naturally occurring prey would be
spooked into the talons of the slavering falcons. Also untrue, and
virtually impossible in that situation. So let's put this one to
rest. The real predation buffs can look for the occasional Glaucous-winged
gull that methodically patrols the feeding flock, back and forth, back
and forth, patiently, looking for the sandpiper injured in a collision
with his or her fellows. And when it is found it goes down in one gulp,
head first!
Steve Herman

On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Serge Le Huitouze wrote:

> Tom Foote writes:
> > On Mon, 29 Jan 1996, Stuart MacKay wrote:
>
> > > > (and hunting falcons) are needed to make the migration come alive
> > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > > for the many novices that will be present.
> > >
> > > Pinch me hard, I must be having a bad dream !!!!!
> > >
> > > Is this what I think it is - ie "dammit, these shorebirds are not
> > > flying around in spectacular formation - send in a falcon to stir
> > > them up a bit !!!". I sincerely hope not and I apologize in advance
> > > if I have got the wrong idea. However it begs the quesion
> > > - Why would you want birds of prey at a Shorebird Festival ?????
> > >
> > Stuart--
> >
> > I don't think that was Michael's intent..we've had this discussion
> > on-going on the air many times with callers who ask about predation
> > in one form or other..it's not bad, it's not good, it's what is
> > and an environment that has falcons and shorebirds is a complete
> > environment..
>
> We would certainly all agree here.
>
> But I share Stuart's feeling from Michael message that his intention (or
> the Festival's) is to *deliberately* launch a Falcon in the area in order
> to trigger dramatic movement of shorebirds.
>
> > ...few things in this world are more
> > impressive than dunlin balling up and flashing their collective
> > underbelly so it catches the sun, again and again..back and forth.
> > it's startlingly gorgeous and something novices would not soon
> > forget..and it's a chance to educate them when they ask why that's
> > happening..
>
> Again, that's fine... As far as they are not enticed to do so artificially.
>
>
> Like Stuart and probably like many others, I would like some clarification
> on what is going to happen at this Festival.
>
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------------
> Microsoft is not the answer.
> Microsoft is the question, and the answer is NO!!!!
> Serge Le Huitouze Intelligent Software Group
> email: serge at cs.sfu.ca School of Computing Science
> tel: (604) 291-5423 Simon Fraser University
> fax: (604) 291-3045 Burnaby, B.C., V5A 1S6 CANADA
> http://www.isg.sfu.ca/~serge/
>