Moons and moons ago I was in Columbia SC while my other half was there on study leave. Gondwana never quite had squirrels so I spent a bit of time watching them. On a ledge on the outside of the Anthropology building at the USC there was a pigeon's nest partly obscured by the branches of a tree next to the building.

As I watched, a squirrel stalked the nest, which at the time was occupied by a fully grown pigeon. I thought the squirrel might be after eggs or chicks but, no, it went for the adult bird. It ate it on the spot.

Most of the locals I mentioned it to were surprised; I got the impression they all regarded squirrels as vegetarian fructivores.

Back home (here in the Oz New England and safe from squirrels) I don't get to see much in the way of predatory behaviour (except from banks) but I'm entertained by the rosellas getting stuck into the seeds on the trees and the Eastern Greys (kangaroos, to you) cluttering up the driveway. There is a wallaroo that lives up near the tank who pays the odd visit to the driveway and I get to hear gliders now and then. When the hawk moths come out after the summer rains and gather outside the lighted windows a boobook will occasionally crash into the window glass but I haven't (yet) had to deal with any neck casualties.

Cheers, Rowan