It's been my experience that raptors will go after pretty much anything that moves. This instance reminds me of the video of a Golden Eagle persuing a white-tailed deer that was circulated around the net last winter. If I remember that was a young bird. Inexperienced youngsters are more apt to go for an unrealistic prey item. That being said, I wouldn't put it past a Bald (or Golden) to take out a crane if done just right.
Christian Nunes Boulder ------Original Message------ From: David Alcock To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Oct 25, 2010 1:46 PM Subject: Re: [cobirds] Sandhill crane Boulder county Hi, After seeing the report that the Sandhill was still present early this morning I decided to head over myself to see if I could relocate it. True to the directions the juv. Sandhill Crane was feeding in the wheat field. I was afraid it was going to leave just as I spotted it, because just as I pulled to a stop a N. Harrier headed low across the field directly towards the Crane. To my relief the two birds largley ignored one another. A few minutes and some poor photos later another bird spooked the Crane. I kept the crane in frame as it flew, and then tried to ID the culprit who chased it off. From my impression and close looks at really bad pics it appears to have been a 3rd year Bald Eagle. I watched the two fly east and drop down behind the first group of trees to the east. After a few minutes I did see two large birds rise from that area, the presumable Sandhill heading SSE, possibly turning back towards the S as I lost it. Does anyone have experience with the frequency of Bald Eagles taking Sandhill Cranes in migration? Would other area species attempt to snack on prey that size? Has anyone else seen similar interactions with this bird? Thanks and good birding! Dave On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 8:36 PM, Suzi PLOOSTER <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Hi, The Sandhill Crane that Ruth Carol Cushman reported yesterday is still in the area. We observed it in the wheat stubble field west of the road into the South Teller Trailhead off east Arapahoe at approx 5:30 pm today. Suzi and Myron Plooster Lafayette CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] <mailto:cobirds%[email protected]> . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- David Alcock Broomfield, CO http://daveabirding.blogspot.com/ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
