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Adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with a body length about 14 inches (or 37 cm). |
Few days ago, someone anonymously called in Georgia rare bird alert center and left a message about seeing a rare bird, Scissor Tailed Flycatcher (STFL), at Bartow County. Many birders hurried there and saw this beautiful flycatcher and some kindly posted the GPS location. Due to my busy work schedule and knowing there is a nest nearby that parent birds will hang around for a while, I wasn't planning to go out that soon but something happened .....and I found myself at Bartow County, Sunday morning.
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Aerial fight between STFLs and a RTH. Click image to enlarge. |
It did not take me long to find this Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. As I witnessed this gorgeous bird happily flying back and forth between the nesting pine tree and the meadow off Highway 411, capturing grasshoppers (STFL's main diet) on ground and snapping insect in the midair, farm house owner came out with his dog and I gestured him for allowing me to photograph at his property. Suddenly, three Red-tailed Hawks showed up! Immediately not one, but two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers started chasing these unwelcome guests. In less than few minutes, two hawks gave up and flew off, one hawk was still fighting with these two flycatchers. Mother bird felt her beloved mate could take care this fierce hawk, she then flew back to guard her chicks (at least two in the nest). Father bird bravely defended his territory and chased the intruder for the next 10 minutes or so. Overwhelmed for what I just saw, I could barely move my eye away from my camera viewfinder and thought I might miss something. One time, Father flycatcher literally got on the back of this Red-tailed Hawk and rode with the hawk (see picture below). They both swooped up and down for round after round and Father bird has no single thought of giving up! I could not tell you what this brave STFL did to this hawk. The only thing I can tell you is this flycatcher held on to the hawk's back and had a hell of roller coaster ride! But I am sure he was risking his own life and telling this hawk " leave my family alone or I will fight you to death!" Wow...what a brave heart and an awesome dad!! After a spectacular aerial battle, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher defeated his enemy and he went on to catch more bugs :)
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Male STFL bravely defends his territory and young ...Click on image to view on black You can see from this picture he is riding on the back of this Red-tailed hawk |
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Now you know why this bird is rare to Georgia :) Image source: Allaboutbirds.org |
Note: The article can also be seen in June Issue of Bird Watcher News
Acknowledgement:
I would not be able to post these shots and video (coming soon) without many thanks to the enthusiastic birders who spotted and posted the location of this STFL and to my teacher Georgann Schmalz's great instruction for helping me to locate this bird. The direction Georgann gave me, it seemed like, she was right next to me, clear and precious. And, with less than 30 seconds of chat, my eyes spotted this beautiful bird right on the fence pole! Also I'm grateful for the farm owner who granted me a right to view and photograph at his property and all the trouble and fuss birders bought to him :)
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Linda,
ReplyDeleteyour pic of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher riding the Red-tail is amazing!
Billy
Thanks everyone who viewed and commented my work!
ReplyDelete