Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
I enjoy having interesting birds delivered to my house.
Meaning, of course, Cassin's finches in the front yard, Cedar Waxwings in the
surrounding cottonwoods, and other benign but exciting sightings. Today's
delivery was smashing!
When I returned home this
afternoon from the monthly COASST survey, I shucked my winter gear, gathered my
two cameras, and headed upstairs to return a phone call to a friend. Engrossed
in the conversation, I casually looked out the window and saw a little gray
feather stuck to one of the two windows. Hmmm. Pine grosbeak window strike? I thought I
had enough stuff hanging in the window to discourage any hits. We chatted some
more and eventually my gaze shifted to the adjacent window.
GOOD GRIEF! The window looked
like a rock had been hurled through it! There was a huge hole, with jagged
pieces of glass barely hanging on, the previously invisible protective membrane
flapping stoically as if to say, "I tried!" Glass shards glittered menacingly,
strewn all over the cabinet under the window. I stood up abruptly and looked
closer. A large brownish, streaked bird about the size of a fat raven sat
stunned on the roof, all fluffed up, a foot away. I had no idea what it was,
except a raptor of some sort but not an owl. I hastily excused myself and hung
up. Wow! The glass was everywhere, from tiny sparkles to larger shards blasted
over 6 feet away from the window, on the carpet, on top of papers, in open
boxes.
But of more interest was this
quiet, stunned bird. It sat there, deep brown eyes closed, then open, just
resting. Whatever enticed it to hurtle at high speed with enough force to break
two panes of glass was no longer of interest or even in memory. As I watched,
fascinated, I remembered my camera. What a unique opportunity for close-ups of
a raptor! The through-the-glass photos were a bit cloudy. Then I noticed the
convenient access through the split plastic membrane. I got some great shots of
this magnificent bird.
Suddenly, it gathered enough
reconnaissance to realize what was happening and managed to fly off to the
nearby Mt Ash tree and crash land. It hung there, almost suspended, wings out,
unable to really get a grip on a branch for a proper landing. After a short
time, it let go and flapped towards the ground. I rushed to the downstairs
window and saw it resting near the house on the deck. Bird 911 time.
I called the Alaska Sealife
Center rescue number and talked to Tim. He gathered the information and
mercifully agreed to send a crew even though it was not a marine mammal or
seabird. Then the interminable wait began. How agonizingly slow it seems before
aid arrives! It was not long however, before an inquisitive Steller's jay
discovered the inert raptor, sitting on the deck. Up went the alarm and soon
five jays danced around the eerily quiet predator. Black-billed magpies
answered the call and joined the taunting and outcry. The only positive result
of all this harassment was I could determine that at least the bird's neck
wasn't broken. It could turn and look this way and that at first one tormentor
then the other. Luckily, the alarmed birds kept a safe distance, but I did not
know how long their fear would last. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
After an interminable (but in
reality probably short) time, Seth and Julie arrived with a small crate,
blanket, and long-handled net. Sneaking around the side of the house, it was
almost anticlimactic to gently lay the net over the unprotesting bird and bag
it. After untangling the formidable looking talons, the bird was wrapped in a
blanket and transferred to the crate. Off to the ASLC for observation.
I cleaned up most of
the glass shards and installed a temporary cover over the shattered window, then emailed photos for ID. Opinions were mixed, but either a PEREGRINE or GYRFALCON. That bird could have hit the window at 200 mph! It sure
looks that way! It's incredible that he survived. Wow!
In the future, I will be
content to travel a bit to find awesome birds in lieu of replacing any more
windows!
Many thanks to the Alaska
Sealife Center for taking care of this magnificent bird.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
