On Sunday, October 26, 1997, my significant other and I birded the
southern end of Lake Couer d'Alene, Benewah Co., Idaho, from 1200 PST to
1500 PST (Heyburn State Park, Lake Chatcolet and Lake Benewah for those who
know the area). The area was rather quiet. There were no BALD EAGLES or
OSPREY. There were large numbers of AMERICAN COOTS and AMERICAN WIGEONS, a
few HOODED MERGANSERS, COMMON MERGANSERS, RED-NECKED GREBES and PIED-BILLED
GREBES. One of the Pied-billed Grebes still had the stripes on the side of
its head. A few PYGMY NUTHATCHES, the first I've ever seen, were in a
ponderosa pine near the boat launch in Heyburn State Park.
By far the best show of the day involved two rather common species.
When we stopped to look at some ducks along the side of the road, an
immature GOLDEN EAGLE flew out of a nearby tree. It flew to the middle of
Lake Benewah then turned around and headed back toward us. A RED-TAILED
HAWK, which was being chased by a COMMON RAVEN, followed the eagle back to
our side of the lake. The eagle landed in a tree about 20 yards from where
we were standing. The raven and the hawk flew over the eagle, both calling
loudly, and then disappeared over the ridge. We watched the eagle for
fifteen minutes through the scope. Then we heard the scream of the Red-tail
and it suddenly appeared over the ridge, tucked its wings in and dove
straight at the head of the eagle. Just before it was going to crash into
the eagle, it pulled up. The hawk repeated this behavior for at least
forty-five minutes making several dives per minute! We couldn't believe the
way it just kept diving at the eagle. The eagle would duck just as the hawk
came close but it never attempted to leave or do anything to the hawk. A
second hawk appeared briefly but didn't join the fight. It soared overhead,
screaming several times, but stayed rather high in the sky. Eventually, the
both hawks disappeared and we got in the car. Just as we drove under the
tree the eagle was perched in, it flew out of the tree. Many other cars had
passed under it but for some reason it flew when we drove under it. I have
spent many hours in the woods watching hawks and other birds but I have
never seen one try to drive off another raptor so insistently, especially
outside of the breeding season. It was a great show and I will never forget
it.

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu