Magpies and Hawks

["Steve Carr" <stevecarr9 at msn dot com>]

While we are talking about magpies and hawks, I'll weigh in with another 
observation.

About 4 years ago, while watching a Merlin in Holladay, a Scrub-Jay came 
over to pester it.  It got within 6 feet of the Merlin and the Merlin 
paid no attention to it.  The Jay then flew away and 10 seconds later a 
Magpie flew in to continue the harassment.  (It's almost as if the Jay 
had run and told his bigger cousin to come and chase the bad guy away.)  
The Magpie squawked and moved closer to the falcon.  When the Magpie was 
about 3 feet away, suddenly the Merlin whipped around, raised its wings 
and hissed, and the Magpie flew off in complete disarray.

--Steve Carr
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