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The Falcon and the Pigeon

The wood pigeon awoke on her roosting perch,
fluttered with a nervous jerk;
warilysearching for sustenance,
above the peregrine made a fateful entrance.
The winter harsh and icy cold,
driven far from its familiar fold,
seeking food further afield 
to an urban garden that might increase its yield.
Under a biting wintry sky 
the short tailed falcon hovered high,
an efficient killer from above,more than a 
match for pigeon or dove.
Taking its chosen meal in flight,swooping sudden from 
a great height,
the momentum imprinting our window pane,
her throat slashed she soon was slain.
Talons sunk deep into the pigeons chest 
this finicky eater pecked at head and breast.
The lawn strewn leavings of a ravenous raptor,
as nature's journal leafs another chapter.

Copyright © Brian Strand | Year Posted 2020

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Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 7/9/2020 11:07:00 AM Oh my muse's favourite subject, in both poetry and painting; and come to think of it my foremost preoccupation as a birder- dreaming of keeping both. I thoroughly enjoyed this! I am also wholly intrigued, I have never heard of a short tailed falcon, please tell me the species, I am assuming it is European. ~Maureen Login to Reply Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 7/9/2020 11:45:00 AM I love all birds but I do take particular delight in finding bird bits leftover from a raptor's feast ;), The peregrine falcons have made a comeback and are doing very well in cities, Merlins (pigeon hawks) too. Brian Strand Date: 7/9/2020 11:35:00 AM Peregrine I think,we hadsimilar incident just a few weeks back,this time 2falcons ,2 pigeons ,feather filled front lawn,this was early afternoon,(we missed it, both of us napping,but during lockdown no kids passing by from school ..so another incidence of nature encroaching when humans ebb from the scene.