Subject: hawk and falcon showdown in Red Square!
Date: Jan 15 22:13:03 1999
From: Allyssa Sampson - alyssas at scn.org


Today I was there with scores of other curious onlookers on the University
of Washington's Red Square at around 3:00pm as a big, noisy falcon
divebombed repeatedly and tirelessly a bigger red-tailed (probably) hawk
that perched on a ledge high up on Suzzallo Library.

I first noticed something was up when I walked out of Odegaard library
across the square and noticed that a large, pointy-winged bird high above
Red Square didn't look like a gull. It didn't sound like one, either--it
cried a loud, raspy "kekekekekekek". As it flew close to Suzzallo it
folded its wings and dove abruptly several yards, and my first thought was
wow, a falcon hunting pidgeons! Though I've seen a peregrine and a
merlin flying away from me, I've never observed a falcon in action, so I
was excited. Approaching Suzzallo I saw that a big brown hawk was perched
on a corner ledge and was the object of repeated dives by the falcon. The
falcon would wheel out over the square and the surrounding buildings and
back toward the hawk, calling out as it approached the hawk and then
diving. In response, the big, patient hawk only opened its wings a bit
(for balance?) as it was harassed. This went on for ten minutes or so
before the big hawk flew off toward the southeast, to some applause by
the now good-sized crowe, the falcon in pursuit.
i followed for a bit but had to get to an appointment. as I left I
could still hear the falcon's calls.

What do people think was going on here?

As for the type of falcon, the the sky, so I couldn't make out
markings. size and call makes me think it was a
peregrine. It was dark against the The bird was noticeably smaller than
the probable red-tail,
but probably bigger than a crow. Certainly its wingspan was wider than a
crow's. one person behind me kept referring to it as a gull, but despite
my lack of falcon experience I'm certain it wasn't a gull and almost
positive it was a falcon.

This was a thrill for me! My e-mail suddenly looks weird, so I apologize
if this message looks confusing.



Alyssa Sampson