This is BirdNode, its early morning, and the winter sunrise bathes the horizon in pink.

A northern harrier, a lanky, low-flying hawk, systematically covers a broad expanse of

open ground.

The harrier flies slowly on candid wings, hunting just a few feet above the grass-covered

earth.

With a sudden mid-air twist, it slams its talons toward the ground, catching an unwary

rodent.

Just as the northern harrier lowers its head to partake of its quarry, a swift Peregrine

falcon streaks in on long angled wings, knocking the harrier off its still warm prey.

By snatching the harriers first morning meal, the falcon saves itself the time and effort

of foraging.

Biologists call this behavior piracy, or kleptoparasitism.

It's a scene repeated in many areas across North America, where birds of prey congregate

in winter.

In truth, piracy is almost routine, as our Peregrine falcon is about to find out.

Because just as the falcon took from the harrier and is now about to die, a massive bald

eagle, which had watched the entire drama unfold, flies in from a nearby perch to relieve

the falcon of its already once-perloined prey.

The eagle had better eat quickly.

Other eagles are watching.