Last week, I saw a hawk with a rat in its talons flying along Rt. 29 near Kroger’s. On the hawk’s tail were a half dozen crows in pursuit. I don’t think the crows were interested in the hawk’s recent kill, they just wanted him out of their area. Hawk’s love to eat baby crows.
Then, I saw a small flock of grackles chasing a crow. Crows like baby grackles as a main course when available. I have also seen cardinals chasing other cardinals and robins locked in mortal combat and, of course, bluebirds bombarding squirrels near their house. It seems like no matter where you look in nature, the chase is on.
But one of the most interesting chases I have seen was this morning when one of our chipmunks somehow crossed swords with another chipmunk, and that chase was on. I think those two chipmunks would have left a cheetah in the dust. You have never seen anything move that fast. It was like two little, brown blurs.
If there was such a thing as Chipmunk Races, I would be a regular. Can you imagine 6 little chipmunks lined up at the starting gate with silk jackets and numbered bands on their sides, and…. “They’re off!”
Yes, I would pay to see that chase.