Birding Brevard: Adventures of a Peregrine Falcon

By Dave Freeland

I was killing an hour at a car dealer's repair shop the other day when a guy across the room told me about an incident involving an Osprey where he worked, at Kennedy Space Center. "What kind of hawk could have taken down the Osprey?" he asked.

I answered "Peregrine Falcon," but was incredulous about one killing a bird as big as an Osprey. Later that day, I heard from my friend, Lisa Graham, a former Brevardian now scouting for birds in the United Kingdom while her husband, Dave, completes a two-year assignment with the Air Force. Seems that someone at KSC had e-mailed her about the same incident and sent her some photos.

"These photos were taken in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building, largest building on earth under roof) transfer aisle this weekend when a falcon took down an Osprey," the e-mail said. "People said the falcon hit it from overhead and sounded like a briefcase hitting the ground when the Osprey fell to the VAB transfer floor. I saw the falcon eating the Osprey, and it was there for several hours and definitely was proud of its kill as it didn't let passers-by bother it."

It seems the Osprey, with a fish firmly in its talons, made the tactical error of flying through the VAB's gaping open door to pass on to the other side. The Peregrine, no doubt roosting in the upper rafters, spotted lunch and took off in a 100-mph dive onto the larger hawk's back. The Osprey was no match for the stealth, speed and strength of the Peregrine.

It is incredible how varied a Peregrine's menu can be. Bruce Anderson, one of Florida's leading experts on birds and their behavior, forwarded me a reprint of a passage in a text describing a Peregrine's diet. Looks like it is omnivorous, though its choice is primarily birds and small mammals. There are many records of various other critters found in the stomach of dead Peregrines. One falcon even took a small Canada Goose, so knocking off an Osprey for a meal doesn't seem so preposterous at all.

Peregrine Falcons are well known coastal migrants, following the Atlantic seaboard from northern breeding grounds to wintering territories in the West Indies and South America. Florida is on the way and, with wonderfully improved breeding opportunities in the post-DDT era, we are fortunate to see many Peregrines pass by each fall and spring. Beaches and areas close to the ocean are best spots for observing them.

Where to Go: Waterfowl are returning in numbers to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and there is no better time to visit Blackpoint Drive than right now. Cross the Max Brewer Causeway east out of Titusville, follow the left fork to Blackpoint Drive and enjoy the multitudes of Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Mergansers and other winter guests of MINWR.

Bird of the Month: Two of them, both phalaropes. A Red-necked Phalarope was seen at MINWR,in Mosquito Lagoon from Biolab Road, in the first week of October, then a day or two later a Wilson's Phalarope showed up there. Wilson's seeks more typical shorebird habitat than the pelagic Red-necked, but each is a nice find in Florida. Seeing both within days of each other at the same spot is fabulous luck.

Your Question: How can you tell the difference between Glossy and White-faced Ibis?

A: Glossy is common in Florida (and elsewhere in the East) while White-faced is decidedly rare. I look at every Glossy I see for the blue facial skin, an easy confirmation that it's a Glossy. White-faced has brownish facial skin. There is also a difference in eye color at adult ages and in the color of fleshy parts (bill, legs).

Forward your birding question to me at freela148@aol.com. I'll answer as many as I can directly and will publish one each month in The Limpkin.