Dorothy, I hadn't thought of interruption, that would explain it, thanks...
that feels better, since it still seems likely to be the predators we already
know about and not a new and different one.

On Saturday 23 July 2005 10:30, theyoungs wrote:

>     Here is a possible scenario.  Hawks will hit a bird and if the
> surroundings are quiet, start to eat.  We have already come home (when the
> dogs are inside.) to a partially eaten bird and as we come in the hawk
> flies away.