This AM my local Sharpie appeared suddenly on the brushpile (again), clearly eyeing something the bottom of the pile and scheming how to get at it. Instead of letting this play out without documentation, I decided to try capturing the chase with the video feature on my digital camera. After 1.5 minutes of filming, the bird finally was able to flush at least 1 passerine (a junco I think) and possibly something larger (MODO?) which I didn't get a good look at. Anyway, enjoy this rare clip (the hunt was unsucessful, BTW):
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It would be great to capture this stuff on high speed film- it's amazing how quick and agile the hawk is. Perhaps it's an advantage to be a small male SSHA near the size of a Blue Jay, for maximal maneuverability?
ReplyDeleteThe agility of the bird in that clip defies all that I know about the physics of avian flight (which isn't much). How are those weird arching attack flights even possible? The recovery and subsequent take off after his initial attach are AMAZING! You need one of those pimped out cams they used for 'Planet Earth'
ReplyDeleteHow ironic -- I had an adult Cooper's in the yard today doing the exact same thing to morning doves and house finches.
ReplyDeleteThe Blair Witch camera styling adds a frighting aspect to this -- I just put myself on the tarsus of that junco and was terrified . If the clip was any longer I would have had to go for a change of pants.