Somebody dumped two doe carcasses in our roadside ditch (sweet, huh?). Coyotes opened them, allowing access to the meat inside. Yesterday I watched 5 Ravens, about 15 American Crows and a Red-tailed Hawk feeding on the deer.
The Ravens dominated the scene, interacting non-aggressively with the crows, until the Red-tail swooped in and swept everybody away. Hawk fed for about a minute before Ravens came back. Crows kept their distance. Ravens posted one sentinal in the middle of the road. Others came down and did little hopping dances, while slowly approaching the hawk and carcasses. One brave soul hopped down into the ditch and fed side by side with the Red-tail. The other Ravens just stood and watched, or kept an eye on the crows. It was very windy and cold and snowy, but I was privileged to observe them for about 10 minutes before a big windy snowsquall roared in and everyone left. In the immediate area another scene that would ordinarily have me pretty excited was taking place. A flock of about 150 Red-winged Blackirds were feeding in the cornfield and ditch just feet away. Flock consisted mostly of adult males peppered with second-year males. They were totally silent, so I heard no "Okareeee!" yet, but was great to see them. Sue -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ "Conserve and Create Habitat" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
