Gyrfalcon Photos
November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
I was up to check this bird out a few times in the past several days. It is thriving, hunting pigeons at the mall/plazza. It catches 2-3 each day, so is eating very well. It is in very good health(to see it at least). It has some local competition, with a Coopers Hawk that hunts the same pigeons, a local Redtailed Hawk that hunts the hydro field just north of the plaza and apparently a Peregrine Falcon who it had a tussle with on Sunday afternoon.
Leslie provided this account of the interactions of the Peregrine and the Gyrfalcon.
”
When we came back at 4:15 pm, the bird was perched on a white pole on the Bell building. It took off and all of a sudden an adult Peregrine Falcon started to attack it. The Peregrine would fly above the Gyrfalcon, then fold its wings and dive at the other bird. We could hear the Peregrine screaming at the Gyrfalcon. It would dodge the Peregrine and after a while it tried to grab the Peregrine. This had all the birders there oohing and aahing. The birds separated for a while, with the Peregrine on a hydro tower and the Gyrfalcon on a pole on the Bell building. It looked like a stand-off, with the Gyrfalcon continually looking towards the Peregrine. Then, the Gyrfalcon took off and pestered the Peregrine. We watched until it was hard to see them anymore. Wow!”
As I understand the owner has been to the site and hopes to get back his bird. I will try to follow this story and report what the conclusion is. Lets hope for the best outcome for all the birds concerned.
