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Stunning Coopers Hawk

16 years ago

I have to admit that I am a real amateur at birdwatching however what happened to me last week was so wonderful I wanted to share! I love all wildlife and am active In animal and wildlife rescue, however birds have always thrilled me especially the raptors,I just moved to Dunkirk NY from Buffalo NY and am In a residential neighborhood, I have a border of 5 foot bushes surrounding my house, In where there are always a bunch of sparrows and I sit and watch when I am lazing around, Into this peace came A Hawk wich landed on the top of the bushes not 6 ft from my window!

He was not a red tail and had beautiful striping under the wings and tail. A bird book Identified him as a Coopers Hawk. ,he delicately hopped to the lawn at which point the sparrows did nothing. so he took to flight, turned back and crashed onto the top of the bushes,sending the sparrows in every direction, he did not get a meal, so once again he flew up...swooped down as smooth as glass and this time crashed HORIZONTALLY thru my bushes!!, sending sparrows,sticks and leaves flying all ways! no meal again so he swooped up to sit on a wire at which point I ran upstairs to get a better look. what a beauty he was! he disappeared only to return about half hr later to my lawn, but just hopped around the grass he looked quite healthy and fat, Is this unusual behavior? I have not seen him since, but I am always scanning the trees hoping to. either way It was a great experience!!

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Comments (2)

cearab
16 years ago
I have seen a Coopers do this twice while looking out my kitchen window. The first time, I went to the sink to put a cup in, and saw this grey thing at the back of my yard near a large overgrown yew bush. I wasn't sure what I was looking at until it moved. The Coopers was on the ground with his wings extended and diving into the middle of the bush where many sparrows gather. He repeatedly did this, and also did not get a meal Saw this again another day, and he went at the bushes from the top, front, and side.
Right now, there is a coopers out in my yard, perched up on a tree. He's been coming every day for a few weeks. They are beautiful to watch.
swampfarmer
16 years ago
these guys are cats with wings. they hunt on the ground, hide in plants, and blend in so well in the chicken yard i've almost stepped on them.nothing like getting a faceful of hawk in the morning to get the heart pumping!(they'll extend their wings to cover the prey.) although i love my chickens i truly admire and love our friendly nieghborhood cooper hawks! n
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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.
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