Exiting the drive-thru at McDonald's in Frandor, yesterday (adjacent to Marshall Music), I saw the biggest Mourning Dove, ever, perched in a tree next to the dumpster. And then I noticed it was tearing at something held under it's foot. This is not typical dove behavior.
It is, however, apparently typical of a raptor eating a kill. (Birdchick video of hand-feeding a Peregrine Falcon) Nicole & I pulled into a parking-space, where I could watch. The bird was amazingly cool. Almost immediately after I noticed it, a guy walked over to retrieve his bicycle from very near the tree. I doubt the bird even paused eating. Bicycle-Guy was very cool, also. I imagine many people would become anxious or agitated, confronted by "red in tooth, and claw" up-close. He seemed aware of the bird, but ignored it and rode off.
Raptor-identification is not my thing. All the smaller ones seem to be blue/gray above and streaky-buff below. ID'ing them, as far as I can tell, is mostly a matter of comparing details (overall size, paleness/darkness of mustache, where the wing-tips fall on the length of the tail when the wings are closed, etc.). If I were to guess, I'd guess this was a Merlin or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
It is, however, apparently typical of a raptor eating a kill. (Birdchick video of hand-feeding a Peregrine Falcon) Nicole & I pulled into a parking-space, where I could watch. The bird was amazingly cool. Almost immediately after I noticed it, a guy walked over to retrieve his bicycle from very near the tree. I doubt the bird even paused eating. Bicycle-Guy was very cool, also. I imagine many people would become anxious or agitated, confronted by "red in tooth, and claw" up-close. He seemed aware of the bird, but ignored it and rode off.
Raptor-identification is not my thing. All the smaller ones seem to be blue/gray above and streaky-buff below. ID'ing them, as far as I can tell, is mostly a matter of comparing details (overall size, paleness/darkness of mustache, where the wing-tips fall on the length of the tail when the wings are closed, etc.). If I were to guess, I'd guess this was a Merlin or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
