Last Sunday, I went up to Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Columbus--saw the sedge wren repeatedly giving his call--heard a willow flycatcher--and many of the usual birds at the wetlands area (although the wetlands are still dry.) Then I walked the grassland area to the north, saw a female ring-necked pheasant kindly pointed out by a ranger.  I heard and saw Savannah sparrows--and at one point there appeared to be a young one chirping cheerfully while perched on a shrub with parents watching nearby.  Suddenly, a swallow--and I think it was a barn swallow--dive-bombed the chirping youth and knocked it to the ground--but hidden by the high grass.  In other words, WHAM!  It never emerged.  I almost started to walk in..but that would be crazy.  What could I do?  The parent kept chirping but seemed to have no idea of what happened.

So, here I witnessed what happens in nature, but a barn swallow as the predator??  Just an observation but it left me kind of shocked.  Maybe the little bird got going again, I hope.

Dale Brubeck

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