Encounter with a falcon

When Janet Toogood investigated a noise in her carport, the last thing she expected to see was a body with the killer nearby.

In this case, the victim was a pigeon and the killer a rare New Zealand falcon that has been raiding suburban backyards in recent weeks.

The falcon, believed to be a juvenile gaining experience from easy pickings before heading to the wild, has been seen most often between Ashhurst and Aokautere.

However, this latest sighting was at a home close to the Esplanade, the Manawatu River and bush.

"I was out putting firewood in a trolley in my carport and heard various fluttering noises," Ms Toogood said.

She dismissed the sounds as "birds on the roof" until she looked back while reversing down her driveway.

"I noticed this bird sitting on a piece of wood among some wood shavings on the floor of the carport. I got out and approached slowly and got within about five feet [about 1.5 metres] if not less.

"I could only see its back and head, which was turned watching me with bright eyes

"It was a very slender bird and looked as if it had dark brown or dark green feathers really a handsome/pretty bird was my thought ...

"I looked around and in the left-hand corner of the carport noticed some feathers and then saw a body, a white pigeon with black markings.

"When I picked up the pigeon the falcon obviously decided it wasn't much use hanging around any longer and swooped gracefully down the drive and up over the trees and off."

Ms Toogood said she tried to identify the bird from reference books and decided it must be a kestrel, or falcon.

Then she saw the articles about the falcon in the Manawatu Standard, which answered the question for her.

"I felt exactly the same way as your descriptions of people's sightings and their appreciation of the beauty of the bird.

"I wonder in fact why more isn't made of this falcon when it was such a beauty, and I am so pleased that you, anyway have given it full acknowledgement."

- Manawatu Standard