Last summer Merlins nested near my house (Port Townsend). One day I managed
this two-minute audio of the interchange between the pair and several
crows. Either the Merlin fledge was leaving the nest for the first time or
an eagle was nearby. I couldn't see exactly, but the audio was great.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S91440719
On Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 2:28 AM Robert O'Brien <
baro at pdx.edu> wrote:
>
I've seen exactly the situation multiple times. A couple memorable ones
>
were: two crows versus a Merlin in South Florida. It's hard to know which
>
was the aggressor here, they took turns. Initially the crows were diving at
>
the Merlin which retaliated. This went on for about 10 minutes before the
>
Merlin moved on. A migrant heading south likely over the Gulf. The crows
>
residents. Another time it was a Raven versus a Peregrine in the Hills
>
above Alviso California. Once again they switched places first The Raven
>
going after the Peregrine then the reverse. Back and forth back and forth.
>
Both of them masters of the air. Bob O'Brien Portland
>
>
On Friday, September 8, 2023, Michael Price <loblollyboy at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
Hi tweets,
>>
>>
Shep Thorpe writes: We had nice looks of a MERLIN
>>
unsuccessfully chasing swallows.
>>
>>
Maybe not unsuccessful. One time in September, Mike Force and I were at
>>
Jericho Park on the west side of Vancouver BC's West side. There was a tall
>>
long-dead cottonwood snag on its south side containing a Merlin and an
>>
American Kestrel. For the next half-hour several times we witnessed these
>>
two suddenly start chasing each other. First, Merlin chasing Kestrel,
>>
return to the snag, rest, then Kestrel chased Merlin, return to snag, rest,
>>
a few minutes, rinse and repeat, the two of them alternating the
>>
chaser/chased roles at least three times. Tell me that's not play.
>>
>>
Jericho is longer east-west than wide north-south, about a kilometer and
>>
a half long. An unwitting Cliff Swallow (remember Cliff Swallows?) entered
>>
the park at the eastern end. The Merlin immediately rocketed off to
>>
intercept it. People, we then witnessed that Merlin literally toying with
>>
the terrified swallow *the entire length *of Jericho Park before *allowing
>>
it to go its way and returning to the snag.* At any moment that
>>
swallow's life was forfeit to the the little falcon: it could have easily
>>
slain the swallow at any point. I've seen that. But it *didn't*. Tell me
>>
that's not play.
>>
>>
Many years later, I watched a Merlin and two crows similarly taking
>>
alternating turns chasing, with at least *four* iterations. Both parties
>>
could have left at any point, but didn't. Tell me that's not play.
>>
>>
So, Shep, it may be less a case of an incompetent Merlin than one of a
>>
Merlin simply mucking about ('mookin abaht', as me old Lancashire gaffer
>>
would have said) in its just-screwing-around rough humor.
>>
>>
best, m
>>
>
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--
Steve Hampton
Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)