ML647282771

觀察細節

Observation of Sparrowhawk Hunting Behaviour; Every evening, a flock of Rosy Starlings performs murmuration between the hill and the adjacent fields. Today evening, a smaller flock of about 30 individuals started from the fields and moved towards the hill, beginning to murmurate as they approached. As the flock entered the hill area and flew directly over me, bulbuls from the hill suddenly began screaming at the top of their lungs, giving continuous alarm calls, indicating the presence of a predator on the move. Immediately, the Rosy Starlings changed direction, turning back and descending rapidly towards the fields from where they came. At that exact moment, a Sparrowhawk suddenly emerged from the hill and launched into a high-speed chase, diving downhill after the flock. Realising they were being chased, the Rosy Starlings increased their speed. The Sparrowhawk, with its wings slightly held back, accelerated into a steep dive at tremendous speed. The chase was so fast and intense that for a moment I thought I was watching a Peregrine Falcon (At that time, I was not certain it was a Sparrowhawk until I later reviewed the photographs). The Sparrowhawk closed the distance very quickly and reached them, and I thought it had caught one of the Rosy Starlings. At that instant, one panicked individual broke away from the flock, veering sharply to the left. The Sparrowhawk immediately switched targets and followed this single bird. This appeared to be a deliberate hunting strategy; flushing one individual from the group and focusing entirely on that isolated target. While the main flock plunged into an acacia tree on one side, the separated Rosy Starling headed towards another acacia on the opposite side. Just as the Rosy reached the tree, it performed a sharp banking manoeuvre and dived straight into the dense foliage for cover. The Sparrowhawk followed immediately, entering the tree right behind it. From the initial chase to this final manoeuvre, it happened in less than three seconds. After that, there was complete silence, and I could not determine whether the hunt had been successful. A few minutes later, the Sparrowhawk emerged from the acacia tree and flew back to the hill with empty claws. The hunt was UNSUCCESSFUL, even though the Sparrowhawk’s precision was so great that it never lost sight of its target’s movements, even at that speed and during such manoeuvres. The Rosy Starlings did not return to the hill that evening. Added images.