Sunday morning while walking to the grocery store I was watching a group
of starlings feeding on the parking strip across the street (On 26 Ave NW
between 61st and 62nd in Ballard) when a fast blur swept in and grabbed a
starling. The rest flew away complaining loudly while the Cooper's Hawk
(just a guess, it was almost crow sized, but I'm sure it was an
accipter.) stood with the screaming starling in its talons. Crows flew in
from all sides, cawing and rattling, but not getting too close. The hawk
stood there until the starling was quiet then flew into a nearby tree
with its prize. I went on to the store to buy my dinner pre-killed in
neat plastic-wrapped packages. In spite of the sudden death it was quite
a sight.
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Cliff Drake
Seattle, (Ballard) WA
Birder at Juno.com