Topic: Something rarely seen in a backyard…..
Last evening as I was sitting out in the sunroom practicing my guitar lesson, I saw something that I’ve never seen or heard of before. I have two bird baths located in my backyard and many birds use these for drinking water and of course, to take a bath. Usually, the larger birds take the baths. Birds like Cardinals, Robins, Mourning Doves and Blue Jays are the most frequent bathers. However, last night I saw this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8384830@N0 … 000376594/
Yes, what you’re looking at is a member of the Hawk family and I’ve been observing these birds in my yard over the years. I believe they are either Sharp-Shinned Hawks or Cooper Hawks. These birds feed on smaller birds and have an eye for the red house finches that visit my feeding stations. I’ve seen this bird dive right down on top of a ground feeding bird and actually jump into a bush to get its prey. Recently, when I came out of the sunroom door, I witnessed what only can be described as a National Geographic picture shot, had I had a very expensive camera and been ready to take the picture. One of these Hawks in mid-flight tried to pick off a red finch in mid-air. As the finch turned to avoid its attacker, the hawk turned with talons stuck out trying to grab the smaller bird. I guess you could call it a dance of death, but this time the little one got away.
Last year as I came out of the same door, I startled a Hawk which actually had just taken down a Blue Jay. As the startled Hawk took off with the Jay hanging below him, he accidentally dropped the now dying bird into a planting bed in my yard. As I went up to the Jay it was apparent that his life was over and with a few last breaths the life went out of him. A beautiful bird now gone, at first I felt sad, but then realized this is nature’s way. Yes, I did bury the bird in the planting bed that he had fallen into.
I must apologize for the pictures above. I really never thought I would get a chance to take them. Prior to getting the camera I watched the Hawk bathe and was really enjoying that scene. Finally, I decided to go get a camera. My good digital camera had no batteries in it because I was recharging them. So I took a less expensive camera and crept back to the couch I was sitting on. I had to shoot the pictures through a screened window so you may notice that the pictures are not perfectly clear. I don’t know about you, but many times when I go get a camera to photograph something this great, the subject leaves by the time I get back. This time though, the Hawk stayed and was really enjoying itself. It has been quite warm and very dry for quite some time now and I’m sure that water felt very good to my “little” friend.
I hope you enjoyed this little story and glimpse at nature. I surely did this past evening.
Roy
P.S. In the very last picture if you look close, you can see up in the left hand corner where I caught the Hawk as he left the bath. I needed to be just a sliver of a second sooner and it would have been a terrific photo! Oh well, maybe next time.....
