PEREGRINE FALCON DECLARES WAR ON RED FOX NEAR CLIFFSIDE NEST
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A photographer captured the astonishing moment a peregrine falcon launched a series of high-speed attacks on two young red foxes after they strayed into her nesting territory.
The rare footage was filmed by wildlife photographer Jack Zhi from California, USA, shot the moment in a known peregrine falcon nesting site in Los Angeles, USA where a pair of falcons were raising three chicks on a high cliff face.
Nearby, just 800 metres away, a family of red foxes had set up a den and were raising six cubs.
On one afternoon, two curious young foxes wandered into the falcons’ line of sight. That’s when the female falcon sounded her alarm and then took flight with deadly intent.
The intense video shows the falcon mother swooping down from her nest with precision, first targeting a fox exploring the beach below, then locking in on the second fox hiding in grass atop the cliff.
Zhi says he’s witnessed territorial behaviour from the falcons before, but nothing this sustained or aggressive.
While the foxes were larger, they were no match for the falcon’s lightning-fast dive attacks with one final strike possibly injuring one of the cubs near its eye.
Despite the drama, the fox was later seen walking away, and hasn’t returned to the nesting area since.
Jack said “The falcon mom spotted the foxes and immediately sounded the alarm.
“But the foxes didn’t seem to understand the danger.
“She launched attack after attack with laser precision. I couldn’t even capture them all on camera, she was that fast.
“It was hard to see that final strike. It looked like the fox got poked in the eye. I love these red foxes, so it was tough to watch.
“But I was also in awe of the falcon’s fierce maternal instinct. She was defending her chicks and the foxes never stood a chance.
“They learned their lesson. I haven’t seen them anywhere near the nest since.”
END
