Tweets,

We talked merlins recently and downtown Olympia merlins came up, including
at least one that killed and consumed a rock dove/city pigeon in front of
passers by. I believe there was speculation that the wintering merlins
might be departed to more spring-like haunts. Well, today the happy
office inhabitants on the first floor of the Natural Resouces building in
Olympia gathered at a window where they watched a merlin eating a rock dove/
city pigeon on the concrete perhaps 5 - 10 feet away. The merlin reportedly
ate away without seeming to notice the 50-odd people (the number was odd, not
the people) staring out the window at it from such very close range.

I was too caught up in bureaucratic drivel to make it down to look at the bird
(and merlins are one of my favorites) but I am fairly confident that the bird
was identified correctly. Pretty late season I would think.

Kelly McAllister
Olympia Washington