Falcon sighting
Walking up Polk County's White Oak Mountain isn't a wilderness experience. The road is paved and passes many homes along the way. A condo complex greets you at the ridge line near the peak.
Still, mountains offer surprises. Mine Saturday was a close encounter with a peregrine falcon ...
I'd walked a little more than two miles up the mountain road that rises steeply from Houston Road just outside the little town of Columbus, N.C., and had just passed the point where it crosses Shunkawauken Falls. A fluttering from the rocky hillside just ahead and to my right caught my attention, and I looked in time to see a flash of feathers flying away - pretty darn fast. It was a large bird but the wingspan was too short to identify it as a hawk or eagle. I thought maybe it was an owl. It quickly disappeared up the road ahead of me.
Then, less than a minute later, here it came back - almost right at me but at a height of about 10 feet and just to my left. It seemed like no more than a couple of seconds before it zoomed past and dropped over the side of the mountain and out of sight. But that was plenty of time for a good look.
It was the first time I'd seen a peregrine falcon in the wild but there was no doubt about the ID. The bird had a compact, muscular look, with the appearance of a big chest and shoulders. Its wing motion was rapid - a high turnover rate, like you'd say about a sprinter's legs. Other large raptors beat their wings more slowly. Its head had a squarish shape. Its beak was sharp and curved. Although my only companion on the walk was my dog, Murphy, I couldn't help shouting out as it zoomed past - something like, "Wow, a falcon! Unbelievable!" It really gave me a thrill. What a beautiful bird.
Peregrines have been reintroduced to North Carolina since becoming extinct or nearly extinct by the early 1970s. Here's one Web site with a little information about that. One place where they've been released is Chimney Rock Park near Lake Lure in Rutherford County. That's only a few miles from White Oak Mountain - as the falcon flies. But maybe a pair has taken up residence in Polk County. I hope so. I'll be looking for them next time I'm there.
By the way, falcons reportedly also are seen at Hanging Rock State Park. Can anyone post a sighting?
Comments (4)
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If I'm not mistaken, one of those lives in downtown Raleigh (thought it could be a hawk). The thing is DEATH ON WINGS for pigeons.
Posted on March 14, 2005 3:10 PM
Raleigh must be fat city for a falcon. Got to protect all those statues of our honored statesmen.
Posted on March 14, 2005 3:51 PM
Yes Doug you were correct in your sighting. I live in Polk Co. Tryon to be more exact and have seen the pair you are speaking of in the area between Columbus and Lake Lure. You will also be interested to know that there is a pair of eagles in the Tryon area. I have seen them on their daily flight over Hogback Mtn. just over the Tryon Country Club. I have watched as they ride the thermals created over the golf course. One has flown very close to my house on several occassions while the other soars just above.
I am not sure of the reason they fly so close but I can say that I have a huge life size bronze eagle in my front windows. The statue has wings in a catch position (just as if it has just caught prey). My wife and I have often wondered if one of the eagles thinks the statue in the window is real and they are flying close to see.
It takes a sharp eye to see the hawks you spoke of but you nailed it. Hopefully with this pair we will see many more in the area soon. Same with the pair of eagles.
Posted on March 15, 2005 12:30 PM
mrproduce,
Thanks for the confirmation.
I hope the eagle attracted to your front window won't present a problem. A Cooper's hawk crashed through my living room window in High Point a few years ago. It was stunned but, very luckily, unharmed. When it started to revive, I gently pushed it out my front door with a broom. It sat on the front steps for a few minutes and, after recovering its senses, flew off. I can only guess that it saw the reflection of a bird in the window and was swooping in for the kill only to meet an unpleasant surprise. It was also fortunate that I happened to be home when this happened. The idea of a full grown and possibly angry hawk flying around in the house was pretty scary.
Posted on March 15, 2005 12:52 PM