PRIORITY: URGENT

PURPOSE: ANNOUNCEMENT

SUBJECT: NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED

Attention all scientists!

Erin Pontifis has submitted a comprehensive report on a new species she has been tracking for some time now. Due to their migratory nature, she has had to spend several months observing them from a distance, taking pictures when possible, although she states that caution is needed when approaching these massive predators.

These creatures have been dubbed Senfina Krizo, although Erin occasionally uses the colloquial name Screecher in her field notes due to the incessant nature of their vocalizations.

Included below are a few selected observations from her research:

Anatomy:

Thanks to my experience with Screech, a young Senfina Krizo I rescued after he was abandoned because of an injured wing, I’m quite familiar with their anatomy. A short, soft fur covers their bodies—Screech loves having his neck stroked!—while their wings have a shorter, coarser fur that thins toward the edges. Their feet are capable of grasping and lifting, and they can use their arm claws to hold onto a perch as well as for walking. Their large crest doesn’t appear to hinder their flight, and it seems to be used for heat dispersal as well as for balance.

Social Behavior:

Within a flight, Senfina Krizos display a loose social structure that tends to separate older single members, mated couples, and young adults not yet mated. Those in their prime lead the hunts, while the others provide backup if needed and eat second—or not at all if food is limited. During their breeding season, females who are nesting get first priority for food; once the juveniles hatch, they get priority. Through my observations, I’ve determined that Screechers appear to have “wingmates” as well, not necessarily of the opposite gender, who they prefer to hunt or roost with when migrating. This companionship continues even after mates are chosen, with parents sometimes taking a break from familial duties and spending time with a wingmate or two. Unmated Screechers will also help hunt to feed their wingmates’ juveniles. Uncle Cam (named for his fascination with my field camera) is a perpetual bachelor who will even take on watch duties for weary flight members, and he actually sings the juveniles to sleep, though I don’t know how they can rest with the shrill racket he makes.

Intelligence:

The relatively complex nature of their social behavior has led me to believe that Senfina Krizos have an uncanny intelligence. This was further reinforced by my experience with Screech, who seemed to realize almost immediately upon my discovery of him near my temporary camp that I meant no harm. He remained calm as I bandaged his injured wing, and after a few rough nights of his incessant squawking, he quieted down and only made noise once I’d woken for the day—he always greets my exiting the tent with a very loud shriek now. Once he was healed, I worried he wouldn’t be able to adapt to hunting after being fed by me for so long, but he proved how wrong that assumption was by taking down a Stranga Sciuro just minutes after I removed the bandages on his wing. I expected him to leave, but although he occasionally interacts with the flight I have been observing, he otherwise remains by my side. I have trained him to wear a harness, which he can both walk and fly in, and which carries a small field camera, in order to get some closer shots and video of the other Screechers. They have displayed some curiosity about it—especially Uncle Cam—but don’t appear to treat him any differently for it.