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Posted by David S. on 23:09:39 12/05/10
...Gone to raptors...everyone!! This is for Ann Wiley, who lost her buntings to feral cats. I went out to the back woods at my place this morning after hearing a bird screaming in distress (possibly a Cardinal). I spooked two raptors, one carrying a small bird in it's talons with a second one in hot pursuit. I believe I witnessed the death of a small bird at the talons of either a Coopers Hawk or a Merlin, but it all happened so fast I couldn't properly ID predator or their prey. I've seen Merlins fly through my bird feeding areas in the past, so I can only assume my decreasing numbers of Painted Buntings are due to the number or raptors in the area. The remaining birds that do come to my feeders are very edgy and skittish. Three weeks ago I had 15-18 Buntings, both Indigo and Painted. Now I'm down to only about 6-7 brave, hungry birds. Even the White-winged Doves are not as numerous.
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