We’d be chatting, Mr An Onymous and I, about the history and development of Greek Drama and Tragedy. And the role of Satyr as a political statement. Among the playwrights were Sophocles, and Euripides, and how they used the stage to create the Spectacle and allow the characters and drama to develop. Anyway, you get the idea.
“The Rise and Rise of the Brown Falcon in Unfamiliar Territory”
All good plays need a title that might throw the unwary viewer in the wrong direction.
Curtain Rises.
Act 1
Scene 1. A roadway somewhere along the Western Treatment Plant. Single treeline along roadway. Magpies embedded in trees carolling among themselves.
Enter Stage Left. Single Brown Falcon, flying about tree height toward the roadway. Point to note. Brown is flying slowly and deliberately.
Scene 2. Brown approaches treeline directly toward Magpies. Still slow and deliberate.
Scene 3. In a fit of rage, the Magpies rise to attack Brown. Brown maintains slow pace seemingly unconcerned by the impending attack.
Scene 4. Magpies swoop on the slow-moving falcon. One more bold than the others locks on to Brown.
Scene 5. Magpie now clinging to Brown’s back begins to viciously peck at the Brown’s head
Scene 6. Brown rolls away and down, to turn upside down to both shake of Magpie and adopt a defensive legs up position.
Scene 7. Magpie, outclassed with the big talons, and knowing it, breaks off the challenge.
Scene 8. Brown exists Stage Right.
Act 2.
Scene 1. Second Brown Falcon enters from Stage Left, carrying a substantial ‘kill’. Flys fast and wide of Magpie Tree to head in direction of first Brown.
Curtain Falls.
And like the good Greek audiences of old, we had plenty to talk about, unresolved moments, challenges of the characters and the mystery fly past of the second bird.
Synopsis: Possible conclusion.
Brown 1 deliberately flew into the magpie territory to distract the magpies while its mate carried home the ‘shopping’. OR perhaps it was all co-incidental.
Either way my Drama Writing Mentor would have seen the Challenge of the Brown, as a form of hubris that met its Nemesis. Or, perhaps the Magpies were in fact the ones that did not see all the action unfold blinded by their one desire.
More to ponder.
Enjoy
Enter Stage Left
About to engage
Locked on. Brown seems unaware
Magpie pecking at Brown’s head
Defensive position coming about
Wise to stay away from those grappling irons
A wise magpie once said, “Time to fly away to live to fight another day”
Final Act. Second Brown carries home dinner.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Great story, whichever version we go with! And stunning photographs!
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Ditto!
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Some wonderful images of the interaction between these two birds. I enjoy seeing this sort of thing, usually it all happens too quickly for me, unfortunately, or there’s something in the road to obscure the event. Anyway, brilliant shots and story.
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Hi Rodger, It is partly a luck sequence. We were waiting out a Hobby that has flown, as we were getting ready to leave I noted the Brown coming by. Locked on to the falcon as the light was going to be good if it passed near us.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the maggies rear up, fortunately I kept on the Brown and it sort of all unfolded from there.
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Stunning shots Dave!!
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G,day Richard. Thanks for dropping by. Too cold to be out today.
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Amazing actors, all of them and so well photographed!
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G,day Derek, not something I’d have been able to stage manage that is for sure
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An amazing drama. The audience rises to an ovation!
Perfectly documented, David!
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Blow me away amazing captures David! The Magpie is an amazing and extremely intelligent survivor, but the Falcon is a great strategist and in this case shows a similar ploy top that of the cuckoo planting eggs. Your story is well illustrated, and I love the theatrical aspect of your presentation. Enjoy the weekend and stay warm!
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Hi AB, thanks for dropping by. Its taken me awhile to get it together to carry the drama of the moment. I am a great believer that Brown Falcons, (in particular) are great strategists. Every move is well considered and requires the least amount of energy for the greatest outcome.
I’ve spent lots of time with individuals over the years, and while never getting particularly close to the bird’s world, at least have been able to observe their actions. They are not the bird of ‘fly about and bit and see what happens’.
Always more to learn.
Good birding
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G’day David and thanks for the dramatic interpretation of your great shots with falcons and megpies as dramatis personae. A Greek drama indeed as it starts with the choir of megpies. Enjoyable as always.
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Hi Adam,
Sometimes the stories just write themselves.
And I guess a simple reporting would not have contained the drama.
Seeya
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amazing photography
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