Tweets -

This weekend, I saw two Northern Harriers being more active than any
others I've ever seen!

I was down at a 3-day event at Boeing Space Center, Kent WA. We were on
the west parking lots, near the radar ranges and gun range. The event was
the Sports Car Club of America's National Tour. 3 days of autocrossing
everything from porshces and mini's to Formula Atlantics and Miatas (which
is what I race).

So - imagine lots of people, lots of cars, lots of noise.

And over it all, in the hot noonday sun, were these two Harriers.
Swooping low over the asphalt, even with a Corvette in full voice and full
throttle was rampaging around the lot. The birds seemed completely
unaware of us. I have never seen them, in 2 years of racing there, come
over the asphalt area and cruise around.

Saturday say many episodes of interaction with other birds - they chased
off a couple of gulls, scared away a redtail, and harassed the killdeer a
bit. Also on Saturday, the Harriers passed prey back and forth, dropping
something (vole?) from above into the talons of the one below.

On Sunday, they weren't as active, as they spent most of their time
hunting along the nearby river. But a few times they would dash out
across the pavement, wheel upwards, and head back out across the grass.
Perhaps joyriding the humongous waves of heat pouring off the pavement? I
know *I* was sweltering! UGH.

Other birds that seem to thrive in this area are Killdeer, Barn Swallows,
American Robins, sparrows (not all English!), Starlings (not as many as I
had thought would be hanging around - no easy food sources), Crows,
Redtails, and an assortment of owls that I'm never awake enough to
identify.

Susan Collicott
camel at serv.net
Seattle, WA