[Tweeters] Identifying Raptor Kills

[Mark Borden]

Dear Blythe/Tweeters,

There is certainly a lot of variability when it comes to Raptor kills. In general, though, a bird eating raptor will eat the head first. This is very reliable in the smaller species. I would say very close to 100% of the time a Merlin will eat a bird head first.

  In Falconry, the biggest problem with the beloved Merlin, is their tendency to “carry.” The commonest question people ask me as a Falconer is; “do they bring what they catch back to you?” The answer, to be brief, is “no.” A Merlin will rarely, if ever, eat on the ground, unless the prey item is large, such as a dove, and they cannot fly it up to a high perch. The best system that a Merlin Falconer can use is to stay back from the Falcon while they pluck and eat the head. The moment they finish eating the head, if the Falconer shows them a desirable, plucked and ready to eat offering they will, with luck and training, carry the remainder of the bird to the falconers glove to finish their meal. Once they start plucking the body, they have a bit of a job ahead of them, and will give up that work in favor of an easier meal.

It is the habit of carrying the kill to a safe place that makes hunting smaller quarry with a larger raptor a tricky proposition. It also makes flying an Osprey at Fish very difficult since carrying is required of every capture. 

When hunting red squirrels with a male Goshawk I thought I was in real trouble once. “Gozzie Bird” chose to eat the squirrel up in a tall Beech tree. Luckily, he ate the head first and lost control of the body, dropping it down to me. At that point, he was only about half full, and was willing to come to the lure. Had he eaten enough to be full, he would have spent the night out. 

When hunting ducks with a peregrine, I found an unusual set up shortly after a hard freeze. A pond of about half acre was frozen almost completely, leaving only a small patch of water open. With her nicely overhead I flushed the ducks and she knocked a hen widgeon onto the ice. She promptly killed the duck and began eating the head. The ice was too thin to walk on. My options were limited, and I was worried she would be spending the night out. Luckily, after eating the head and neck, she began plucking the breast. At that point, I was able to swing the lure and she dragged the widgeon across the ice over to the edge of the pond so she could have the easy meal on the lure. Eating the breast was definitely the next item on her agenda, but getting to it is a lot of work…

A patch of flicker feathers, deep under the bushes is almost always the product of a Coopers Hawk kill. The accipiters will (jealously/protectively) drag their kill under cover shortly after coming to ground with it.

Larger raptors are not so reliable when it comes to eating the head first, but Great Horned Owls almost always eat the head of a rabbit first. If they make the kill in the dawn hours, they will often leave the remainder of the rabbit in the open.

Mark Borden MD
Coupeville, WA. 
Sent from my iPhone


> On Jan 31, 2024, at 12:08 PM, tweeters-request at mailman11.u.washington.edu wrote:

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>   1. Predation question (Blythe Horman)

>   2. Re: predation question (Blythe Horman)

>   3. Re: Predation question (Blythe Horman)

>   4. Birds of a Fiber exhibit at PNQ & FAM (r r)

>   5. Re: predation question (Greg)

>   6. REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, February 5, 2024 (meetings at wos.org)

>   7. Re: predation question (Ven. Dhammadinna)

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> 

> Message: 1

> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:52:35 -0800

> From: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Predation question

> Message-ID:

>    <CAFAz21feAi89_E__6OGB8yPade1V-mte3iQZawToY5jttMxihQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Hi Tweeters,

> 

> I have a predation question.

> 

> On Saturday at Briarwood Park I came across a towhee that had been quite

> eaten on the body, but most feathers left intact. Oddly the head was

> completely stripped and the brain eaten. No idea if this was a cat or a

> particular raptor. This was on a grassy area between thick brush and a

> house. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

> 

> Back on LI, when we found a songbird with no head, we knew it had been

> eaten by a particular raptor species, but I can?t remember which one. This

> was very different, as on LI, the body would be left untouched by the

> predator.

> 

> 

> Thanks!

> 

> Blythe Horman

> Lynnwood, WA

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> Message: 2

> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:19:22 -0800

> From: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] predation question

> Message-ID:

>    <CAFAz21fHk7aYHr8gYHLW8HNqWFoTuEmFGeVrw1w3aDetsPD1YA at mail.gmail.com>

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> 

> I have a few photos I can email anyone interested if that would be helpful.

> I can add a bit more description but wanted to be sensitive to the fact

> that some of us might find that disturbing.

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> Message: 3

> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:51:16 -0800

> From: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Predation question

> Message-ID:

>    <CAFAz21ds6VqW52z2LKmgngGzNqS0UZvm1cLDAoSK-cEpnzxM0A at mail.gmail.com>

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> 

> Looking at the photos, I?m changing my id to American Robin, due to the

> absence of white on the breast and stomach, the presence of yellow color on

> the lower mandible, and legs and feet a uniform gray. Thought I?d add these

> details in case they suggest a larger predator.

> 

> Thank you,

> Blythe Horman

> Lynnwood, WA

> 

>> On Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 5:52?PM Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

>> wrote:

>> 

>> Hi Tweeters,

>> 

>> I have a predation question.

>> 

>> On Saturday at Briarwood Park I came across a towhee that had been quite

>> eaten on the body, but most feathers left intact. Oddly the head was

>> completely stripped and the brain eaten. No idea if this was a cat or a

>> particular raptor. This was on a grassy area between thick brush and a

>> house. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

>> 

>> Back on LI, when we found a songbird with no head, we knew it had been

>> eaten by a particular raptor species, but I can?t remember which one. This

>> was very different, as on LI, the body would be left untouched by the

>> predator.

>> 

>> 

>> Thanks!

>> 

>> Blythe Horman

>> Lynnwood, WA

>> 

>> 

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> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 4

> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:18:24 -0800

> From: r r <bobr3531 at yahoo.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Birds of a Fiber exhibit at PNQ & FAM

> Message-ID: <9E3C5527-01E9-4577-B6A1-3B31D309CDDF at yahoo.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Hello Tweets!

> 

> I?d like to announce the 6th annual wonderful bird themed fiber art exhibit at the La Conner Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum. ?Birds Of A Fiber?  runs Jan 24 - March 24.  With 64 pieces from a jury selected international call, this exhibit is one of the best yet! 

> 

> My spouse has a piece in the show, but I am completely objective when I say this show is not to be missed! :-)

> It takes place at the historic Victorian Ganches mansion, the home of the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum, in La Conner, Wa, in the heart of the Skagit Valley.

> 

> This Saturday, Feb., 3rd from 2:30-4pm there is a free reception!

> 

> Directions and details can be found at their website. 

> https://www.qfamuseum.org/ <https://www.qfamuseum.org/>

> 

> ALSO!

> 

> 

> This weekend Feb 3-4th is La Conner?s Birding Festival taking place at Maple Hall in La Conner.

> Featuring a special guest speaker, Saturday 6pm,  Tony Angell.

> "Join us on Saturday evening  at 6:00 PM for a captivating presentation by renowned author and artist Tony Angell, titled ?For Ravens, Crows, and Other Birds, Timing is Crucial.?

> 

> More details about the Birding Festival here: 

> https://members.lovelaconner.com/events/details/birding-festival-11136 <https://members.lovelaconner.com/events/details/birding-festival-11136>

> 

> Happy Birding!

> 

> Robert Rowland

> 206.450.5221

> 

> 

> 

> 

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> Message: 5

> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:54:32 -0800

> From: Greg <gjpluth at gmail.com>

> To: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

> Cc: Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] predation question

> Message-ID: <5CB9C688-63FD-42F4-AB4E-7CC3C682B6ED at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

> 

> Blythe -

> Your description is good even without the pictures. 

> I might consider the possibility that the cause of death is unknown, and that some other critter came across the dead bird and fed on it. I have a strong sense that if it were killed by an accipiter, it would have been carried off for plucking and feeding. I had once noticed a Cooper?s (assumed) grasping a flicker in the open yard outside my condo. It was trying to drag the flicker out of the open to some nearby bushes. Sadly, I flushed the hawk off its prey by positioning myself for photos. The flicker, seemingly unscathed, bolted too. But if it had been killed, would the hawk have come back when I?d gone?

> 

> Lotsa little mysteries in the natural world! 

> 

> Sent from my iPhone

> 

>> On Jan 30, 2024, at 6:20 PM, Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 

>> ?I have a few photos I can email anyone interested if that would be helpful. I can add a bit more description but wanted to be sensitive to the fact that some of us might find that disturbing. _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

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> 

> ------------------------------

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> Message: 6

> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 11:01:26 -0800

> From: <meetings at wos.org>

> To: Tweeters <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, February 5, 2024

> Message-ID: <20240131190126.42085.qmail at s401.sureserver.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, February 5, well-known swan biologist, Martha Jordan will present "Washington?s White Birds of Winter - Swans and Snow Geese."

> 

> Since the late 1970?s, Martha has contributed enormously to understanding the life history of swans and Snow Geese, their biology and what influences their distribution across our state and the Pacific flyway.  She wrote the state?s first Trumpeter Swan management plan in 1985, and is a member of WDFW?s Waterfowl Advisory Group.

> 

> These birds face a changing landscape in migration and on their wintering grounds, and are confronted by habitat issues, avian influenza, swan lead poisoning and more.  Martha will detail these challenges to our White Birds of Winter, and what is needed to ensure their future.  

> 

> The meeting will be conducted virtually, via Zoom (no in-person attendance).  Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm, and the meeting commences at 7:30 pm.  Please go to the WOS Monthly Meetings page:    https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/  for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link.

> 

> When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off.

> 

> This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend.  Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel:

> https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos

> 

> If you are not yet a member of WOS, we hope you will consider becoming one at  https://wos.org

> 

> Please join us!

> 

> Elaine Chuang

> WOS Program Support

> 

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 7

> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 11:17:49 -0800

> From: "Ven. Dhammadinna" <sdd.bodhiheart at gmail.com>

> To: Greg <gjpluth at gmail.com>

> Cc: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>, Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] predation question

> Message-ID:

>    <CABXcQ4aE8pLjkS5k=iVpzYG+E=rG6RhEK7xWVK-jKi4B_p9dpQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> In the Birds Connect Seattle training for monitoring dead birds due to

> window collisions, we are alerted to the fact that crows make meals of

> window kills.

> Dhammadinna

> Seattle

> 

>> On Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 9:54?AM Greg <gjpluth at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 

>> Blythe -

>> Your description is good even without the pictures.

>> I might consider the possibility that the cause of death is unknown, and

>> that some other critter came across the dead bird and fed on it. I have a

>> strong sense that if it were killed by an accipiter, it would have been

>> carried off for plucking and feeding. I had once noticed a Cooper?s

>> (assumed) grasping a flicker in the open yard outside my condo. It was

>> trying to drag the flicker out of the open to some nearby bushes. Sadly, I

>> flushed the hawk off its prey by positioning myself for photos. The

>> flicker, seemingly unscathed, bolted too. But if it had been killed, would

>> the hawk have come back when I?d gone?

>> 

>> Lotsa little mysteries in the natural world!

>> 

>> Sent from my iPhone

>> 

>>> On Jan 30, 2024, at 6:20 PM, Blythe Horman <blythe.horman at gmail.com>

>> wrote:

>>> 

>>> ?I have a few photos I can email anyone interested if that would be

>> helpful. I can add a bit more description but wanted to be sensitive to the

>> fact that some of us might find that disturbing.

>> _______________________________________________

>>> Tweeters mailing list

>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>> _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

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