Thank you so much for your responses. Here are a few things I learned. Some said they have been known to eat squirrels. As a predator, if an opportunity is there it will take it. (Where we placed the corn is pretty wide open) Also, rats are hunted by the younger ones as an easy prey before they go after birds. It is amazing to me how strong hawks are for as little as they weigh. One had said they saw a Goshawk take a rabbit, so a good sized Cooper's could take a rat.
I had been hoping with the hawks we've seen around recently, that they'd do something about the rats. I just didn't realize it would be a Cooper's. Between the bird feeders and the duck coop where their food is kept, the rats have an easy food source. Thank you again. :) --- 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]
