There was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk flying around the neighborhood this fall so I had a pretty good idea what was happening when there were lond periods of absent birds in the back yard. In December I found three bird kills just in MY 15'x100' back yard, with many feeders, and another kill in the front yard (1 Junco, 1 male Cardinal, 1 Downy, 1 possible Robin wing). There have been no Morning Dove kills, so the hawk must be saving them for the hunters ;) .
I am now seeing a Cooper's Hawk waiting in my porch which is enclosed on three sides and open to the South. This is a nice view out the window at a distance of less than 10'. Yesterday I was watching the Cooper's and a squirrel 30' away on a fence. The squirrel was moving a little (cleaning/scratching) with no concern except for facing the hawk (the hawk WAS moving). I even scared the hawk in to flight with no reaction from the squirrel. Peterson says "Chiefly birds" but that squirrel looked like easy pray. This was the same area that a huge Cooper's or Goshawk brushed my head with it's wing while chasing some sparrows several years ago. I was wondering if the two hawk species are seen in the same neighborhoods, since I have not seen the Sharpie for a while? Dan Mehner Gilbertville on the Cedar --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
