I watched the same thing happen during a shorebird census years ago with
peregrines. If I recall correctly it was noted 4 times where a peregrine
abandoned a bird in talon to chase after something else. I seem to recall
our hypothesis was that it was looking for birds with more body fat, but I
can not remember why we thought that.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, teacher
The Environmental Science School, Monroe, WA


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