Tweets,
I happened to see the exchange as well today as I was passing through the
square. The falcon was a peregrine. It is the *resident* bird around
campus and there is some speculation that its the same bird that was
giving freeway a hard time (any more evidence supporting or dismissing
this?). Yes the hawk is a red-tail. This marks the second time this week I
have witnessed interactions between the 2 birds, on Monday afternoon over
the Health Sciences complex on Pacific Ave. The peregrine was also
harassing the hawk, both times the bird is sitting. Over the past several
weeks/months grad students in the wildlife program have mentioned that
they have also seen frequent encounters between these two. I must admit
that its one of the few times I have seen a peregrine get so upset over a
species that isn't neccessarily a rival. Although maybe I'm wrong,
afterall as I was walking by today I did hear one person remark, "...
afterall they're both just scavenger's". Geez, I knew Rock Doves were easy
pickings but I didn't know they were dead already, wonder how they fly
when they're dead.. ;).

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood


On Fri, 15 Jan 1999, Allyssa Sampson wrote:

> 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
>
>