Californiaman Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 So I'm painting the trim in the house and open up the back door to do some detail work. I'm cruising along getting it done when all of a sudden I hear panicked, pain-filled screeches about 30 feet away under the apricot tree. A small falcon or other raptor-like hawk has this blue jay pinned to the ground and is digging in with it's talons. It's pinning with one and ripping with the other. The blue jay isn't going anywhere. Powerless to even struggle it's over in about 20 seconds. The falcon lowered it's beak into it's prey and tore out the blue jay's throat. I managed to get a couple of pictures off before the falcon flew off to enjoy it's meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidl Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 So I'm painting the trim in the house and open up the back door to do some detail work. I'm cruising along getting it done when all of a sudden I hear panicked, pain-filled screeches about 30 feet away under the apricot tree. A small falcon or other raptor-like hawk has this blue jay pinned to the ground and is digging in with it's talons. It's pinning with one and ripping with the other. The blue jay isn't going anywhere. Powerless to even struggle it's over in about 20 seconds. The falcon lowered it's beak into it's prey and tore out the blue jay's throat. I managed to get a couple of pictures off before the falcon flew off to enjoy it's meal. Pretty brutal isn't it. We have 4 Coopers hawks that hang around our place all summer. There is always some kind of carnage under one tree or another. At least they kill their prey before tearing it apart. It is surprising how often they miss their target though. If they are near water they will sometimes drown their dinner before strapping on the feedbag. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 There's an eerie quality to animals that kill their prey with no sign of aggression, completely oblivious to their new meals suffering. You expect to see lions, alligators, etc, violently killing their prey, but the birds, frogs, etc, just do it almost matter of factly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Funny thing about the photographs. It was almost as if the bird new I was photographing it. I tried to get a closer shot but it turned and looked right at me as if to say, "Hey... come on I'm eating here." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Nature is one brutal b*t*h! Then again I'm eating a piece of beef tonight that was most likely raised on some nasty feed lot and killed with a bolt through the head. I think we've managed to outdo nature! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted November 10, 2010 Author Share Posted November 10, 2010 Nature is one brutal b*t*h! Then again I'm eating a piece of beef tonight that was most likely raised on some nasty feed lot and killed with a bolt through the head. I think we've managed to outdo nature! T-Bone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky scott 29 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 National Geographic worthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 What was that old Time-Life video ad from TV? "Why do you think they call 'em animals . . . ?" Blue Jay ain't no slouch either. My grandmother always hated 'em because they bullied all the other birds. Closely related to the Road Runner here in Arizona, a bird that takes no sh!t from no one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky scott 29 Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Mutuial of Omaha's Wild Kingdom maybe?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted November 11, 2010 Author Share Posted November 11, 2010 Blue Jay ain't no slouch either. My grandmother always hated 'em because they bullied all the other birds. Closely related to the Road Runner here in Arizona, a bird that takes no sh!t from no one. Smarter and braver than most birds. I've seen them fly right up to a seed bag—one that I thought was clearly out of sight of all birds—and peck at it until they've opened it. We had two hanging around here most of the summer. Now I guess we only have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidl Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 I have a friend that feeds Jays in the winter and gathers upwards of 20 at a time. Thats a lot of blue. They are aggressive towards other birds but are no match for the family cat. They even put a bell on the collar of the cat to alert the birds but that cat is stealth. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 I once sat on a rock and watched a road runner and a rattlesnake battle it out. It took the bird about 5 min.s to take care of business. The snake never had a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Yep. A healthy adult cat that hasn't been coddled beyond his instincts is an impressive predator. My opinion is that they make the worst f-ing pets in the world, but they are fascinating animals. If I lived a bit more rural (without nearby homes) I would keep a few around and let 'em do their thing - outside only. Coyotes get 'em here, so they have to have some shelter to escape them or it's game over. Stray cats are rare outside the city, if you see one running around in the desert he's learned well to survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Natural Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 So I'm painting the trim in the house and open up the back door to do some detail work. I'm cruising along getting it done when all of a sudden I hear panicked, pain-filled screeches about 30 feet away under the apricot tree. A small falcon or other raptor-like hawk has this blue jay pinned to the ground and is digging in with it's talons. It's pinning with one and ripping with the other. The blue jay isn't going anywhere. Powerless to even struggle it's over in about 20 seconds. The falcon lowered it's beak into it's prey and tore out the blue jay's throat. I managed to get a couple of pictures off before the falcon flew off to enjoy it's meal. All living things exist at the expense of other living things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Saw this off my porch last month and it stayed still long enough to let me take a picture. As far as I know, it is still alive, lives close by and has stayed out of reach of my cat! Blue jays can be a real nuisance in our neighborhood. I think it was Darwinian what happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Ounce for ounce, I'm not sure you can beat the attitude of a hummingbird. Our feeders in the back provide plenty of enjoyment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Yep. A healthy adult cat that hasn't been coddled beyond his instincts is an impressive predator. If I lived a bit more rural (without nearby homes) I would keep a few around and let 'em do their thing - outside only. We keep cat food out at work. They keep the rats away, but the cats multiply so fast.. One in a while, we'll catch a bunch and local farmers will take them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Birds appear to be going about their business 'quite matter of factly' because they do not show facial expression we, as mammals can recognize. Birds don't have a mouth or teeth to sneer, or eyebrows to glare. They just ... are. Make no mistake about it it is a gruesome business they are in just to survive. There is plenty of adrenalin pumping and blood lust to get the job done. Actually a bolt to the head is more humane than what the rest of our fellow mammals would do to take a steer down. Most wolves and lions consider killing optional before consuming their prey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Yep. It ain't about killing per se; it's simply about eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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