there is a red tail that sits on a railing on my terrace (city apt) that looks 3 feet tall, when I see it I rush it with a broom and it doesnt even move. it just stares. I am finding remains, feathers of bluejays, mockingbirds and woodpeckers, a large brown shell, regurgitated bones and enormous droppings. we are infested with killer birds. if you scan youtube you will find a recent video of a perigrine drowning a white face ibis, while a class of students brought to witness this rather rare bird watches this most unfortunate turn of events in the marshland.
the first killer bird attack I witnessed was wintertime near a pond with people around, the redtail had a female mallard on the ground and pulling feathers from her body proceeded to eat it right there. they never miss, they are killing machines particularly wintertime when no cover exists. the most recent I witnessed was a juvenile redtail killed a squirrel a baby and wasnt interested in eating it just played with it as my dog found the scene, it sat on low branch disinterested. one remarkable time a few summers ago with scores of people in our local park, right in front of me a young couple walking were amazed to see a predator bird swoop down and grab a robin, part of a group of robins on the ground right in front of us, you could feel the rush of air as this huge creature flew down, the rest of the robin grouping went totally beserk. woodpeckers sadly will become near exinct as wintertime they do not migrate so the bit of protection summertime foliage provides will be gone in fall as the numbers of perigrines, sharpshinned, redtails etc. skyrocket.
by the way, predator birds were re-established in cities around the country over the past 30 years and they are back with a vengeance spreading to suburbs, back yards, parklands, wetlands (you must see the perigrine/ibis kill). watch your critters.
