ATTACASKED BY HAWK

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1926, Page 4

ATTACASKED BY HAWK

AVOMAN’S BRAVE FIGIIT. AYHILE DEFENDING COAYS. SYDNEY, Aug. 12. There are few animals, birds, or reptiles, excluding a few venomous snakes in Australia and especially the southern States, of which mail, woman, or child need go in fear, but now and again incidents occur which prove that the farming community has, more to withstand than mere droughts, bush fires and tloods. One such incident happened on a station outside Goulburn, about 140 miles from Sydney, towards the cud of last week. 11l this case, a large eagle-liawlt attacked a woman. Ordinarily those birds are classed as posts, because of their custom of swooping down on helpless lambs, f'oultrv, and the like and bearing tlm off to tlieir nests on some rocky peak. In consequence a price is put upon their heads, for a bonus is paid for every head that is brought to each local land hoard. But generally these birds’ depredations cease at the preying upon the more helpless of man’s domestic animals. An exception to the rule was proved near Goulhurn, for there one fierce specimen of liis tribo launched ail attack against an unarmed woman.

The eagle-hawks have boon plentiful in this southern district this year and several instances of large birds being caught in traps have been published in the Press. Airs Gertrude Flynn, of Gilloigli Station, near Goulhurn, was the heroine of the desperate encounter with the bold,eagle-liawk. Airs Flynn’s evening task was to proceed to a paddock where the station cows were grazed, and bring, them to the yard for milking. One night'last week she setout on her usual duty, but while yet some distance from the paddock she was startled to hear them bellowing frantically, and presently when she came within sight of them was amazed to see them rushing madly around, frantic with fear. At first Airs Flynn thought that some wild dogs were at the heels of Hie cows, but her amazement grew when she observed that tho cause of the disturbance was a large eagle-hawk which was swooping down at the cows and pocking madly at them. AYitbout thought of her own danger, or even that: the bird would turn its attack upon her, AUs Flynn seized a stick and rushed to the assistance of

the cows. Hardly had Mrs Flynn drawn near the first of the cows than the huge bird poised above her, and then made a. violent swoop. Its first vicious dive caught her almost unawares, but she threw up a protecting arm and beat at it with the stick. One of its talons caught in the sleeve of her dress and ripped it from shoulder to wrist. (Several times this was repealed, and several large gashes were inflicted on Mrs Flynn’s arms, hut her stick landed too, and tore off little tufts of feathers from the hawk. Then when Hrs Flynn was becoming exhausted she found unexpected allies in several magpies, which flew down and set upon the larger bird with a chorus of shrill notes and busy beaks. It was then that the hawk heat a retreat. As Mrs Flynn anxiously watched it disappear, she saw it swoop once more, swoop and lift a lamb in its talons, sailing off into the blue.