Not based on true events

I’m afraid that there were thieves and villains abroad; thieves and villains and evil-doers. And two of these thieves, and villains, and evildoers had a plan; a plan to rob a house in broad daylight. And it was that day that they put the plan into execution with such a precision which few but ghosts can accomplish. All came about with a stunning perfection. A hole in the glass door was cut, the thieves were within and many an odd and wonderful trinket was present in their deep pockets. But that was when their woes began. They were just fingering an immense golden bowl of foreign make when an eerie laugh rose up within the house and echoed maniacally through its corridors. Both immediately froze and a chill crept  up each spine. “ What is that?” whispered the one in sheer terror. But before the second could reply, another haunting call rang dismally in the air, sounding nearer than ever before. The thieves now began to quake and shake, and the second began to wonder why the first had ever chosen such a ghostly house. Again came the cry, and the inside of the house seemed to darken at its ominous wail, and the first thief began to imagine ugly goblin eyes and ghostly faces peeping out at him in all nooks and crannies. It was indeed far too horrible to remain there a moment longer, and, the one clutching the bowl tightly in his arms and against his breast, they both slowly, inch by inch, with cold sweat running down their cheeks, backed to the pocked door. The terrorizing voice now seemed pleased with their retreat and began to chuckle softly to itself as the thieves retreated for dear life. But they did not do so swiftly enough. Suddenly, in an outburst of ire, the spirit rose to shrieking cackle, and both mortals dropped all they bore like hot potatoes, and scrambled madly to the door, pushing and shoving and yelping and whining. Somehow, they managed both to squeeze through its gaping hole, and to hastily replace  the removed pane without it shattering in their trembling hands. Then, eager to escape far and wide, the thieves turned, and crash, bang, boom, bang!, were toppled over by the enraged spirit itself. With that, the cause of their fright rose on long, slender wings, and gazed on as a troop of police vehicles came to a screeching halt before the home, and the thieves, yet dazed from their barrelling, were taken into custody. Finally, satisfied with a task well preformed, it landed lightly upon a spruce, for it had a spirit, but also a body, and was nothing more frightening than a normal, mortal Merlin.

Merlin
Falco columbarius

This small falcon is a native of Saskatchewan and will eat numerous small prey items, but sometimes takes down the larger Rock Pigeon. In the winter, Merlins are found in Central and South America and in the spring make the long journey here. They have a crazy cry, and could be grouped as another “ Loon of the Land” with the American Robin because of  its wild laughing tone. It used to be known as the Pigeon Hawk, but as aforesaid, rarely takes the large, introduced urban Feral Pigeon. Merlins are sexually dimorphic, the females being brown with a white specked breast, and the males in blue with a rusty one.