Subject: gulls hassle fake eagle, crows sit it out
Date: Aug 14 23:56:33 2000
From: Ed Newbold - newboldwildlife at netscape.net


Hi all,
Today at the market I noticed all the signs of a non-falconoid large raptor
being present--pigeons swirling in tight flocks and gulls everywhere in the
air uttering their "eagle" call. The Eagle was very passive and flimsy,
though, actually just a color coded kite someone was flying from the park.
The gulls continued attacking it, though apparently never actually hitting it,
for the 10 minutes or so I watched. Some on the ground made rude comments
about gull intelligence, but I refrained, pointing out that maybe these gulls
know exactly what's going on but couldn't resist the chance to show off for
their audience. I did notice however that only pigeons, gulls and starlings
got involved in the whole fracas and crows were nowhere to be seen.
Up at skyline ridge above the north fork Nooksak River on Sunday Eileen
Bryant, Rick Droker and Delia and I saw nice birds--Olive Sided Flycatcher,
Band Tailed Pigeon, Townsend, Wilsons, Yellow Rumped, Hermit Thrush, Rufous
Hummingbird, Sharp Shinned Hawk, Vaux's Swift, American Pipit--but nothing
unusual except the large accipiter that I argued forcefully was a Goshawk.
Ed Newbold, Beacon Hill Seattle, newboldwildlife at netscape.net



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