1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 



45 



other water fowl. The flight of the Duck Hawk is so marvelously fast that even 

 chicks have not a chance to escape unless there is some pond or slough nearby 

 into which they can dive. The writer remembers standing, with several com- 

 panions, on the shore of Summit Lake one late October day, when, upon hearing 

 a sound like a heavy wind blowing through the tules, vv^e turned and saw a duck 

 plunge into the lake from a height of not less than six hundred feet. The splash 

 of the impact resembled the report of a revolver. "Bullet hawk", called one of 

 the men. and looking up we saw one of these long-winged pirates making ofif for 

 a new field. 



At another time we noticed a small flock of teal winging their way toward 

 us, with a black speck fully a quarter of a mile in their wake and slightly above 

 them. The flight of the ducks, rapid as it was. seemed slow in contrast to that 

 of the hawk. The latter was almost upon the unsuspecting birds in an incred- 

 ibly short time. Suddenly the ducks scattered and half a dozen teal fell with 

 cries of fear into the water almost at our feet. Had there been no water direct- 

 ly under them at the moment the hawk was seen there is no doubt that at least 

 one duck would have been captured. A friend tells of seeing a Duck Hawk dash 

 at a lone goose that was flying over, striking it head-on with such force that it 

 fell within a few feet of the observer. Besides a broken wing the bird seemed to 

 have suffered otherwise to a great extent, for it soon expired. 



During the winter of 1903 one of these hawks was seen many times about 

 my father's place near Clovis. A flock of Brewer Blackbirds that fed in the cor- 

 ral back of the barn was levied on for a heavy toll, and in a manner against which 

 the birds seemed totally unable to guard. I happened to be within a few yards of 

 the corral one afternoon when the falcon hove in sight. He seemed aware of 

 the exact location of the blackbirds, and with a dash of speed so rapid that I 

 could hardly follow his movements, circled completely around the barn, seized 

 his victim without pausing, and with powerful strokes of his long pointed wings 

 made off for some more .secluded place. The blackbirds hardly knew what had 

 occurred and before they could give a hurried "chack" and take flight the hawk 

 was almost out of sight, so with a nervous half-foolish manner they settled down 

 again as if realizing that something had occurred, but totaUy unable to under- 

 stand what it was. 



One bright January day I noticed a coyote sneaking through a field of stub- 

 ble, and as he seemed unaware of my presence I concealed myself to see if I could 

 learn something of his habits. As he trotted along a jack rabbit suddenly jumped 

 up and came straight toward me, and the coyote was not long in starting in pur- 

 suit. When they were within less than .one hundred feet of the place where T 

 was hidden there was a sudden rush of wings and a duck hawk dropped like a 

 meteor straight for the rabbit. When within about ten feet of the ground the 

 hawk spread his wings and attempted to seize the rabbit, which, however, es- 

 caped by suddenly turning back, but in so doing came very near dodging into 

 the mouth of the coyote. The roar of wings seemed to slightly disconcert Canis, 

 who was not prepared to take advantage of so good an opportunity, and before 

 he realized what had happened the hare had decided that things were getting too 

 lively and was covering the ground with long leaps. The coyote loped along 

 behind, evidently not desiring too close an encounter with a creature that could 



