Ellen Eades wrote:

> I am listening to a single crow and a single red-shafted flicker
> hollering outside in my bigleaf maple tree at 15^th NE and NE Lynn St.
> near the UW. They have been carrying on for about 45 minutes now. I
> can?t see a hawk, raccoon, squirrel, or other predator around, nor can
> I hear nestling distress calls, and I am quite puzzled. Any idea what
> might be going on?
>
> Thanks, Ellen Eades
>
That's a curious one, Ellen. Forty-five minutes is a long time--I wonder
what it might have been. Crows are natural watch dogs but the flickers
will often skedaddle instead of hanging around unless it's something
threatening their babies. The last time I encountered really upset
crows, I never did find the predator but eventually, with patient
searching, found a little pile of buffy-red feathers that wasn't there
the day before--I suspect a cat was responsible and I just hadn't been
able to spot it before it ran off.

Sometimes an injured bird will get away from the predator and hide while
the alarm birds keep calling. Sounds like you have a mystery on your hands.

Mya Bell
north of greater Seattle, WA
myabell at 4-sightmedia.com