The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-08
Captured by a Falcon.

1 y
saw strange sight for city the size
of this one. Crows, which have for
years nested in the thick woods just
beyond the Line Of Defence at Battle
Pass, were put on the defensive by an
invading peregrine falcon, or duck
hawk, one of the swiftest Of the preda-
tory birds.
The falcon came from the northwest,
and swept down from a great altitude,
to which it had assembled presumably
to pass over the fumes Of the city, and
SKINNED along over the treetops, just
dusting the topmost twigs. Some rob
ins gave the alarm in the park just in
from the memorial monument They
whistled and screamed, then plunged
with a wild flutter into the lowest and
most inaccessible bushes. The thrushes
and sparrows took up the alarm and
spread it the length of the park.
The wave of terror which the ap-
pearance of the falcon caused spread to
the fowls on the lake, and they sought
safety in the margin bushes. They
scurried along and gave startled
squawks and cries of alarm and got
out of breath, not breathing easily even
when they lay hid in the densest
places.
The last of the birds to take alarm
were the crows. 1t appears that there
are two nests in the Park this year, as
four crows came up above the trets TO
take a look. Perhaps the extra pair
of crows are last years young, who
have hugged the trail of the parent
birds 1t began to rain hard just as
the crows went scouting. The big fe-
male crow arose fifty feet above the
highest treetop on the level and took
look. Half hidden in the mist, the
hawk was coming, getting palmer in
view all the while.
Tie hawk had come parallel Wit.
Flathush avenue, and almost to the
stand where people view the passing
turnOuts and riders on pleasant days.
Then it made a great circle over the
flower garden to the Maryland regi-
ment monument, and finally came
kissing along the ridge TO Battle Pass,
beyond which the crows have a claim
against all newcomers. They were
prepared to defend it even against the
falcon. They evidently trusted to
numbers and past experience. They
rose, screaming, to the fight, and made
their attacks simultaneously.
The crows plan was always to get
above the enemy, then come down at
its back with half-shut wings and bill
tightly closed, hoping to pierce the
falcons back. The hawk was in no
hurry. 1t could easily have outfiOwn
the crows in a straight-away chase. 1t
preferred to dodge. At this game it
has no superior. Although the crows
were coming at it from all points above
and behind, it held its own. Only
twice was it hit. One crow came down
and broke tail feather of the hawk I;
another hit wing and spoiled the
hawks flight for an instant.
One of the crows, after fifteen min
utes Of diving and counter-dodging,
came down in a swift plunge. 1t over
estimated the hawks speed, and passed
not foot before the hawks hooked
bill. The hawk darted forward and
downward. 1t grabbed the crow in
the back with both talons. The crow
gave a loud cry, tossed its head and
wings up, and then hung limp in the
hawks grasp. With that the hawk
arose, followed by the remaining crows.
1t was struck at a couple of times half
heartedly, and missed each time. Car
rying its prey, the hawk continued to
rise till it was mere speck, and then
sailed away to its eyrie, perhaps in the
Palisades, With a meal for its mate
New York Sun.