Bald Eagle, which could be mistaken for a hawk by inexperienced birders, 
take Snow Geese.  I have seen an encounter where this might have happened 
were it not for the agility of the Snow Goose.  If an eagle flies near Snow 
Geese they take to flight to avoid being taken for food.  Go to Blackwater 
and watch this occur.

George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Boughton" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:47 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Extralimital RFI on hawk behavior


Nothing to do with Maryland, but I hope Norm won't mind my passing
this request on.  I'm sure some of our experts can advise him, and
others will find the question interesting or amusing.

Jim Boughton
Chevy Chase

**********************************************************************8
From: Audubon birding discussion for WV [] on
behalf of Fred Schroyer []
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 11:00 PM
To: 
Subject: Raptor experts: quick help please

I'm editing a novel in which "a [unspecified] hawk brings down a
[unspecified] goose" . . . and I don't buy it. I can't imagine any
hawk big enough to capture a goose in flight. A quick internet search
indicates that Great Horned Owls occasionally nail geese, altho I
suspect not in midair but on the ground . . .

It's fiction, but the author likes to have her basic facts right, and
I don't think she does here . . . the context is a flying V of geese,
and a hawk picks one off. I say baloney. Thoughts? Thanks!

Fred Schroyer
Freelance Science Writer / Editorial Consultant
955 Sixth Street - Waynesburg, PA 15370 (40 air mis S of Pittsburgh -
20 air mis N of Morgantown, WV) Home 724-627-8844 - Work 304-599-7830
x 1120