I birded in the Columbia Gorge again on June 7th, at Beacon Rock
I noted some unusual behavior by the nesting PEREGRINE FALCONS. When
first seen the female flew onto the rock with a small bird in her talons,
she could not be seen but her presence was evident by the puffs of
feathers mingling with the cottonwood fluff in the air as the prey was
plucked. A few minutes later she left the rock and was flying with the
male when she grabbed a bird in the air and then dropped it shortly
afterwards. The injured (or dead) bird fell in a spiral and was snatched
in midair by one of the birds, taken aloft and dropped again. The falcons
went behind some trees for a few seconds but when they reappeared neither
had the bird. They appeared to be playing with this bird and not
interested in it as food for either themselves or their chicks.
While this was going on the unmistakable call of CANYON WREN
cascaded from the rock, this may be the same bird first reported on March
13 by Andy and Ellen Stepniewski. Either this a very persistent
individual or it represents a breeding pair at an extreme Western
location in the Gorge.
In Klickitat County a single male AMERICAN WIGEON was on Rowland
Lake. LESSER GOLDFINCHES were along Balch Road in two separate locations
and three ACORN WOODPECKERS were at the granary tree along Old Highway 8.
Wilson Cady
gorgebirds at juno.com