Avoiding a group of falcons who have marked him as their predator has now become one postal worker's daily mission.
"All of a sudden I felt a big old thump on my head, almost knocked me down," said Ron Eudy, a U.S. Postal Service mailman who's attacked by a group of falcons every day during his route along a south Abilene block.
For the past two weeks Ron Eudy has had to step into the battlefield.
It's a block along his mail delivery route where a group of falcons have marked him as a predator.
"It's a thump, I promise you. And luckily it hits me in the head and it's a bang, it ain't just a little thump," said Eudy.
Neighbors along the block have become his allies.
"I said 'Look out Ronnie, here he comes again,' and you could hear him hit the top of his hat," said Marvin Smith, one of the homeowners along the block.
The birds don't seem to bother anyone else, just Eudy and only when he wears a specific hat, so now he comes prepared.
"I switched hats and when I wear this blue one they don't come after me so it's something about this hat. I don't really know what it is," said the mailman of 26 years.
The falcons are really trying to protect a nest they've built inside a tree in front of one of the homes along the block.
Eudy doesn't see the birds as enemies, but has actually grown quite fond of them.
"You know they're taking care of that baby that's up there in the nest. They're just doing their natural thing," he said.
Which may be good, because they seem to have become a part of the neighborhood.
"I'd like to leave them just where they are. They're a beautiful piece of nature and they're good rodent control. They're not harming anything and it's a nice little scenic thing to see," said Karl Muench, the owner of the home with the tree where the falcons have made their nest.
"It's a wonderful thing to be able to see wildlife right in your backyard," said Smith.
"All of a sudden I felt a big old thump on my head, almost knocked me down," said Ron Eudy, a U.S. Postal Service mailman who's attacked by a group of falcons every day during his route along a south Abilene block.
For the past two weeks Ron Eudy has had to step into the battlefield.
It's a block along his mail delivery route where a group of falcons have marked him as a predator.
"It's a thump, I promise you. And luckily it hits me in the head and it's a bang, it ain't just a little thump," said Eudy.
Neighbors along the block have become his allies.
"I said 'Look out Ronnie, here he comes again,' and you could hear him hit the top of his hat," said Marvin Smith, one of the homeowners along the block.
The birds don't seem to bother anyone else, just Eudy and only when he wears a specific hat, so now he comes prepared.
"I switched hats and when I wear this blue one they don't come after me so it's something about this hat. I don't really know what it is," said the mailman of 26 years.
The falcons are really trying to protect a nest they've built inside a tree in front of one of the homes along the block.
Eudy doesn't see the birds as enemies, but has actually grown quite fond of them.
"You know they're taking care of that baby that's up there in the nest. They're just doing their natural thing," he said.
Which may be good, because they seem to have become a part of the neighborhood.
"I'd like to leave them just where they are. They're a beautiful piece of nature and they're good rodent control. They're not harming anything and it's a nice little scenic thing to see," said Karl Muench, the owner of the home with the tree where the falcons have made their nest.
"It's a wonderful thing to be able to see wildlife right in your backyard," said Smith.
Comments
They are not falcons. They are Mississippi Kites, small migratory hawks who migrate to the northern hemisphere from the South America every spring. They prey on small birds and large insects and are protected, as are all migratory species. It is against the law to disturb them in anyway, including capturing them, removing, moving or destroying their nests. They are beneficial to the environment and will not hurt people They are only trying to protect their nests and their babies by scaring people and other predators away. Teenagers tormented the nesting pairs in Cobb Park so much one year that few return to the park to nest anymore. Now they find trees throughout the city to nest in. These are magnificent birds and should be cherished, not feared or harassed in anyway.
Sharon N.
July 21, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I can understand the beauty and magnificence of having the falcons living so close to your home, as well as reaping the benefits of the rodent control service nature is providing, however, imagining walking in the shoes of the veteran Mailmen I can only visualize the terror. Imagine neighborhood children riding around on bicycles and skateboards wearing white helmets. See in your mind's eye the sheer horror induced upon these innocent victims. Compare the fear experienced by the grown men to that of possible children. I would venture to suggest capturing the falcons and releasing them into the wild, a wildlife preserve or even the Abilene Zoo if they would take them.
Doug D.
July 19, 2012 at 8:50 am
