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Hawk Terrorizing Neighborhood

13 years ago

We've had a Cooper's/Sharp Shinned hawk that has been around all spring. Some times it will disapear for day/weeks.

Today it was all over! The BBs saw it a couple times and headed for the hills. It was across the rd at a neighbor's house then suddenly tried to get a robin. It flew off appearing empty taloned. I wish I could have video taped it! A massive flock of robin sized birds chased it and called and dived at it. It has taken a female bluebird, a robin fledgling and other birds this spring but has also had trouble and appeared prey-less today.

I particularly worried about fledging bluebirds. Last year I had newly fledged (few day after) BBs and they stayed silent and yet again the hawk left w/o a thing.

Perhaps I should convince the neighbor to stop feeding birds a while?

Also it appears my BB pair need to do a better job with the brood. The last two days the young have been gaping a lot. They're on day 4 today going on 5. A few concerns here but no less glad to have young ones after loosing the 1st attempt to poor weather.

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Comments (2)

User
13 years ago
It's probably the hard-working parent of baby hawks trying to keep its babies from starving.

People who set up bird feeders create an artificial concentration of birds in a fixed location. Of course the predators will be attracted to those spots.
ohsoblue77
Original Author
13 years ago
I have something new here that's unusual. I just did my final inspection for the evening and 4/5 babies were gaping.

The fifth I thought was dead. It's in the nest with its head foreward and its feet pointing upward. I looked and it is still breathing. The parents have fed well today but these babies are so hungry!

I'm wondering if maybe it has been poorly fed compared to the others. I have some experience w/ this. If a nestling is too weak it will gape w/o being able to cheep. If it's near dead it won't be able to gape or vocalize. Just concerning. Hope he's okay!
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