[CT Birds] Predators

[Glenn Williams]

Birders,

Predators seem to be aware that their postures,
behaviors, etc., may elicit vigilance in potential
prey.  Though I could by anthropomorphizing here, this
anecdote illustrates the point.

I was birding Joppa Flats in Newburyport Massachusetts
a number of years ago with a group led by Bob Dewire. 
We were looking at some peeps on a small flat within
fifty feet of us.  A Merlin flew by "casually", or as
casually as a Merlin can fly.  The peeps froze and
crouched but did not take flight.  Bob commented that
the Merlin was just doing a scouting fly-by before
coming back for the kill.  The Merlin perched at the
top of a nearby tree.  Bob noted that he was really
playing it up, as he had his back to the flats,
casually preened, etc.  He truly looked like a bird
without a care in the world.  Bob predicted that he
was just waiting for the shorebirds to forget about
him.  We put our scopes on the Merlin, enjoyed it for
a bit, and then went back to sorting through the
peeps.  At the point when everyone forgot all about
the Merlin, including the shorebirds, it came
rocketing in and grabbed a Semipalmated Sandpiper. 
Despite Bob's prediction, we were as faked out as the
peeps.

Glenn Williams
Mystic, CT


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