Hi, Tweeters,

I've had a pair of merlins in my neighborhood all week. I've not been able
to get a good look, but one of them may...this is a very weak may....be the
one I saw this past spring wearing jesses. If it is, it may have only one
jess left. THey, and a sharpshinned hawk, have been in my "backyard" all
week, making heavy inroads on the mourning dove population. I watched the
sharpie chase a dove for a significantly long period of time, neither bird
was giving up. The chase continued until I could no longer see them. THey
were steadily climbing as they left...I'm not very knowledgeable about doves,
but I'm betting they don't care for the heights, and the higher they get the
more chances the sharpie would have of killing the dove. It was a fascinating
sight.
Michelle
Littlerock, WA
MBlanchrd at aol.com