This is BirdNode. A light September breeze wafts across a coastal estuary. A flock of common

turns wings over the water. Their harsh voices a sharp contrast to their sprightly appearance.

One plunges headfirst into the water, then bounces aloft, grasping a small fish in its

bill. But before the turn can swallow its catch, a dark bird with a sharply pointed

tail swoops in. The turn twists and turns in frantic flight, trying to evade its larger adversary.

Back and forth they race. The dark falcon-like bird gaining until it nips the turn's wing with

its hooked bill. The hapless turn drops its hard-won fish, which the pursuer catches mid-air,

engulfing its pirated meal. This elegant buccaneer is a parasitic

yeager, a relative of goals that is built for sprinting speed and predatory feats.

Yeager is German for hunter, and on its arctic tundra nesting grounds, the yeager hunts small birds

and rodents. The rest of the year, the parasitic yeager spends on marine waters, living up to the

first half of its name. In the late summer and fall, watch for yeagers over inland waters,

from Puget Sound to the Great Lakes to the Chesapeake Bay. Or see a video of one on our website,

birdnote.org. I'm Michael Stein.