Seen in Richmond Today

It's not often you see a predator in action and less often in the heart of the city. Today, while walking through Monroe Park I saw a large bird float up in the way large birds seem to do, and swoop gently into one of the large oak trees. Even stranger there was a squirrel dangling from it's talons. I did not see the actual kill, but it must have just occurred. It was a quiet and barely noticable event, that I would not have seen had I not been looking just at the right time. I accepted it immediately, but still I could scarcely believed what I was seeing. I've never heard of hawks hunting right in the city. The only birds of prey I know of in Richmond are Perigrine Falcons and Osprey. This might have been a falcon, but I'm not sure. I walked over to the tree and watched it rip it's prey into bite size shreds. There were many other squirrels in the park completely oblivious to the danger above. It's been so long since they've been hunted by anything that they should be easy prey for a falcon. It would be neat if this bird set up permanant shop in the City. I'll have to contact the Virginia Wildlife Federation and let them know what I say. I"m hopeing they can tell me what I say. I'm only sorry I did not have my camera with me.