"It was in fact a woodcock. The woodcocks will often hit buildings when they do their spring mating courtship flights. On full moon nights, or any other night that is clear (but full moons work best) the Woodcock or "Timberdoodle" will take flight and then make erratic, sharp descents. On the way down, the wind tearing past the bird's feathers makes a most unusual sound.
The bird was dead by the time I made it downtown. I know of a cemetery downtown where an Indian chief, "Joc-O-Scot", is laid to rest, and I used to pay my respects at his grave when I was birdwatching in the cemetery (green spaces in a desert of concrete are an oasis to migrating songbirds). Erie Street Cemetery is right across the Street from Jacobs Field, the home to the Cleveland Indians!
I placed the Woodcock on top of the chief's headstone and wondered whether back in the day, he ever hunted and ate woodcock?"
Our thanks to Scott Wright for his care and concern for peregrines and other birds who need help.
Challenge: The day of the woodcock's fatal collision with the Tower City building was Sunday, March 7. Do you know when the full moon occurred?
Look for falcon eggs any day………
To watch the falcons live go to:
http://www.falconcam.apk.net/ Our thanks to EcoCity Cleveland for providing the FalconCams as a public service.
The photo is courtesy of Scott Wright and can be used in any non-commercial publication, electronic or print, but please give him photo credit.
