- Jan 04 12:28 pm
#88530
Greetings birders!
I'm a bird lover whose admiration far exceeds his knowledge. I'm also a model glider flyer. And that brings me to the point of this post:
Incident no.1
Last week, my small, lightweight radio controlled glider was attacked -- and brought down! -- by two small hawks working in tandem.
The attack occurred above the playing field at Sir Winston Chruchill Secondary at 57th and Heather in Vancouver. The skill and speed of the birds was a sight to behold. One of them succeeded in knocking the tail right off the glider with a single strike. Amazing.
Unfortunately, I saw the birds only in silhouette. No markings were clearly visible. However, the birds' broad wingtips were obvious, which I believe identifies them as hawks. Their wingspans were no more than half that of my glider, which has a span 1.5m. Others have suggested they might have been Cooper's Hawks or Sharp-shinned Hawks. Certainly, they were smallish.
Incident no.2
After repairs to the glider, it was again attacked several days later while flying at the same location. This time the attacking bird had the slender, tapered wingtips typical of a falcon. Size was perhaps slightly smaller than the precious attackers. Again, no marking were clearly visible.
On this second occasion, I managed to fly the glider out of danger -- but only after a protracted chase, up and downwind, zigging, zagging, diving and climbing. It was touch and go. Again, the bird's agility and speed were amazing to behold. Later, looking in Peterson's, I thought it might have been a Kestral.
In the several years I've been flying model gliders, I've experienced only one prior bird attack. And that one was by a larger Hawk, in late spring time, over rural farmland which I took to be the bird's hunting territory. That attack was only half-hearted compared to the ones described above.
I'll also add that, in my experience, the park at 57th and Heather sees more bird of prey flyovers than other nearby parks. Might it be under a common route for birds to 'commute' back and forth from the river, Richmond, and beyond to points north? From flying gliders, I know the location is good for thermal lift. Updrafts of 'slope lift' also occur there.
Let me hasten to add that I am always respectful of all birds while flying model gliders, and purposefully avoid them. Their natural ability to fly is inspiring to me. In a small way, vicariously, flying model gliders allows me to share their world.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or information the more knowledgeable can share.
Regards,
Andrew
I'm a bird lover whose admiration far exceeds his knowledge. I'm also a model glider flyer. And that brings me to the point of this post:
Incident no.1
Last week, my small, lightweight radio controlled glider was attacked -- and brought down! -- by two small hawks working in tandem.
The attack occurred above the playing field at Sir Winston Chruchill Secondary at 57th and Heather in Vancouver. The skill and speed of the birds was a sight to behold. One of them succeeded in knocking the tail right off the glider with a single strike. Amazing.
Unfortunately, I saw the birds only in silhouette. No markings were clearly visible. However, the birds' broad wingtips were obvious, which I believe identifies them as hawks. Their wingspans were no more than half that of my glider, which has a span 1.5m. Others have suggested they might have been Cooper's Hawks or Sharp-shinned Hawks. Certainly, they were smallish.
Incident no.2
After repairs to the glider, it was again attacked several days later while flying at the same location. This time the attacking bird had the slender, tapered wingtips typical of a falcon. Size was perhaps slightly smaller than the precious attackers. Again, no marking were clearly visible.
On this second occasion, I managed to fly the glider out of danger -- but only after a protracted chase, up and downwind, zigging, zagging, diving and climbing. It was touch and go. Again, the bird's agility and speed were amazing to behold. Later, looking in Peterson's, I thought it might have been a Kestral.
In the several years I've been flying model gliders, I've experienced only one prior bird attack. And that one was by a larger Hawk, in late spring time, over rural farmland which I took to be the bird's hunting territory. That attack was only half-hearted compared to the ones described above.
I'll also add that, in my experience, the park at 57th and Heather sees more bird of prey flyovers than other nearby parks. Might it be under a common route for birds to 'commute' back and forth from the river, Richmond, and beyond to points north? From flying gliders, I know the location is good for thermal lift. Updrafts of 'slope lift' also occur there.
Let me hasten to add that I am always respectful of all birds while flying model gliders, and purposefully avoid them. Their natural ability to fly is inspiring to me. In a small way, vicariously, flying model gliders allows me to share their world.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or information the more knowledgeable can share.
Regards,
Andrew
- By BirdingBC
- By zwest