Hi Tweeters,

After seeing the fittest (Peregrine) dine on the very fit (Dunlin) last Saturday up close and personal I was searching to see if anyone has documented this amazing spectacle via video but found this interesting recent research paper from Simon Fraser University right off the get go before getting very far in my search. The Dunlin have had to lose weight to survive according to this research paper.

On Saturday at the Samish flats the peregrines had to work hard to get their meal when I was observing which made it very exciting, with the rush of wings of so many Dunlin and the different tactics the peregrines would employ to eventually snag a shorebird. Then the N Harriers would slowly (in comparison) drive the Dunlin to see if any were slow or crippled, the Harriers were out of luck. It was really amazing to see, also to observe how quickly the Dunlin got back to feeding, resting after being chased.

http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media_releases/media_releases_archives/media_01281002.html

Kathy
Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian
(chukarbird at yahoo dot com)
Any driving directions contained within this message are given as a courtesy, beware, author is directionally challenged and will not vouch for them.