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Subject:

Merlin Hunting +

From:

"George M. Jett"

Reply-To:

George M. Jett

Date:

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 12:08:40 -0400

Folks

I just stepped outside to see who was knocking at the door and saw a Merlin take a female Cardinal from the back feeder area.  It was a very lucky sighting since the nose I heard was the ice machine dumping ice in the frig.  The Merlin was about 5 feet off the ground and the Cardinal leaped up, presumably to avoid the predator, and leaped into the talons.  The adult Merlin must know the behavior of the pray so did not need to get low to the ground where it is more likely to injure itself.  Never ignore the ice machine when it is knocking.

Both adult Red-headed Woodpeckers are still consuming large amounts of peanuts from the platform feeder.  I still get a rush every morning when I see them come for breakfast.

Later.

George Jett
Waldorf, MD 20603