Michael Patrick wrote -

> Now I would find it hard to believe that a Merlin will take a
> pigeon. But I have read, I think it's in the Stoke's field guide,
> that Merlins are "aggressive" to birds flying by. Maybe just
> checking out the menu? Morning exercise? Hired by the city
> to harass the pigeons??

It seems incongruous... but Mark Phinney watched a Merlin tear apart
a Rock Dove here in Prince George a couple of years ago in the parking
lot of where he worked downtown. I would think the hard part for these
wee falcons would be the actual act of killing the pigeon. Since they
simply fly down their prey rather than injure in a stoop like a Peregrine,
there must be more of a thrashing victim to take to ground.

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca