Thread: Bunnies can fly!

.....sorry I couln't resist : Bunnies Can Fly! - YouTube

I have a small falcon in my suburban area of Canberra and I often see it flying overhead.

A couple of weeks ago I went outside and could here a commotion near my 101 and there were feathers around the vehicle and I thought next doors cat had got a bird - however there was a falcon was sitting on my pergola and I could hear some noise on the ground under the falcon. It was a very still alive native dove - looks like it had been eating some seed on my lawn when the Falcon swooped dragging it under the 101 to kill the dove but I came along. Interestingly the dove was the same size as the Falcon.

The dove had some puncture holes on its back - the tallon marks but was otherwise undamaged just in a bit of shock. As I approached it took off across the ground under my camper with the Falcon still sitting on the pergola. As soon as I moved away the Falcon was down on the ground looking for the dove - I chased it away and went looking for the dove - on one side of the camper looking underneath i couldn't find it but all of a sudden on the other side the Falcon appeared also looking for the dove. I chased the Falcon away again but it hung around for quite a while until I put the hose on it and it finally got the message and took off.

I found the dove hidden in the garden bed, quite lively so I left it there - the next day I couldn't find it and over the next week there was no dead smell so I assumed it recovered.

I was surprised at the tenacity and intelligence of the Falcon as it clearly understood the dove had moved and was actively searching for it on the ground as I was. Also the dove was the same size as the Falcon so quite large prey.

Falcons are impressive animals.

Garry