One of our Talbot Bird Club Members saw a Sharpie feeding in downtown Easton
recently, also using a bit of interesting strategy.  Its hunting perch was
at first in a Sycamore Tree that gave it a view down an alley leading to a
very small parking lot.  Suddenly it swooped rapidly through the alley
toward some birds (House Sparrows) feeding near the parked cars.  For
escape, the sparrows went under the cars.  The Sharpie followed, and could
be heard hitting fenders of wheel wells from under the cars as it went right
after the hiding birds.  Eventually it chased the sparrows out, pursued one
back through the alley, and the observer hears a squealing sound, leading
him to believe the Sharpie successfully got its meal. 

Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Dave Kidwell
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 1:22 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Sharpie Feeding Behavior


Saw an interesting feeding behavior by a sharp-shinned hawk while walking
through my apartment complex yesterday.  It flew in, rather casually, but
deliberately into a shrub dispersing a number of house sparrows.  The house
sparrows had no problem escaping, but one flew in front of a car passing by
and was hit.  No sooner did the sparrow hit the ground did the sharpie grab
the bird and fly away.  It was almost as though the sharpie new the outcome
before it even happened.  Why waste energy chasing a bird when a car can do
the dirty work for you!  Seemed like an ingenious way to forage.

Dave Kidwell
Silver Spring, MD (formely of AA county)



 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.8/648 - Release Date: 1/23/2007
11:04 AM