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Cooper's Hawk at my window

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

12 years ago

I was just sitting at my computer where I can see out of one window and have a limited view of the kitchen window as well. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement, glanced over, and saw a Cooper's Hawk on the pokeberry and rose a few feet way from the kitchen window. The camera was next to me so I grabbed it and got two shots before the hawk flew off. I don't think I've ever seen a hawk that close.

That explains why there were no small birds in view out of the computer window.

Claire

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Comments (6)

lovefornature
12 years ago
How beautiful!!!
kendra2003
12 years ago
Oh my! That is a close up. I have never seen one come in that close before. I think it's cool that you happened to be there at the time to see and photograph it.
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
12 years ago
Another example of fortuitous good timing this morning - I went into the kitchen to get some more coffee this morning (camera had been left on the island) and saw this Cooper's Hawk on a birdfeeder hook.

It looked around a bit

and then decided "Gotta go"

and it was gone, leaving some ripples in the atmosphere.

Claire
lovefornature
12 years ago
I hope all your little birds are being very smart during this time :) though I absolutely love hawks.
domino123
12 years ago
They nest in the mature elms and maples on our street in front of our house. I feed my birds in my back yard where the hawks can't view them from the mature trees. A neighbor nearby set up a feeder in the middle of his yard, but soon noticed that the hawks would swoop in and make a meal out of them as they had a clear view from their nesting site. So he strategically moved his feeder location out of their view.

I've landscaped my back yard to give birds various shrubs and trees, including evergreens, for shelter and protection from predators.

When I see the Coopers Hawk (or chicken hawk as my neighbor calls them) exploring my back yard, I chase him away.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
12 years ago
My yard is densely planted with shrubs and trees and ornamental grasses, etc., so the little birds have good protection. They're also very well fed so they can sprint out of hawk sight when warned.

It always startles me when I watch from the window and only a few birds are visible. Suddenly an alarm is sounded (crows? jays?) and multiple little birds erupt from the vegetation and disappear. I had no idea there were so many birds out there, and they could fly so fast.

I occasionally find a pile of feathers, mostly Mourning Doves who seem a bit foolhardy.

Claire

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