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I’ll start by saying, I know she has to eat, but… This sharpie was stalking our feeder for a few days. The blue jays sound the alarm first, then everyone scatters. The smaller birds dive into a bush near the feeder. The sharpie is smart. After pacing around the bush trying to get at some of the smaller birds, she flew up into a nearby tree. Camouflaged behind some branches, she waited. However, not to be outsmarted, the little birds did not return to the feeder until she was long gone. I haven’t seen her in a few days, so I think she’s moved on. I hope she does okay.

This is a tough time to be a raptor. Operation Wildlife has been taking in quite a few that have been hit by cars while hunting. Apparently, they like to hunt on the roadside because people throw garbage out. Rats and mice go after the garbage and the raptors go after the rats and mice–too close to busy highways.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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I went outside this morning and I thought, gee, it’s awfully quiet out here. There must be a hawk. Sure enough, I looked up at the tree in my neighbor’s yard and there was this beautiful sharp-shinned hawk surveying the yard. She picked herself a perfect space. Not only could she see the feeder’s in our neighbor’s and our backyards, she had a very good view of the feeder in the front yard. Smart hawk. As she flew away, I thought I heard her say, “Rats! Foiled again.”

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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I was sitting in the backyard watching all the birds dining on millet when everyone suddenly took off. I assumed a predator was around somewhere. This beautiful hawk flew down, then landed on the fence. I assumed everyone had gotten away, but when I looked at the picture enlarged, it does look like she has someone.  All of this happened in a matter of seconds.  The hawk has to eat, but I am always sad for the little birds. On the other hand, I have seen how a mob of small birds can bring a raptor down. I know this is how things work. The relationships are symbiotic. We humans often forget that. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

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(Edited per Dave’s corrections–Thanks Dave!) A sharp-shinned hawk grabbed one of the mourning doves that hangs out at our feeder. I’m glad we didn’t actually see this happen, just the aftermath. We had just been talking about this pair of mourning doves and whether or not they might nest in our backyard this year. I know this is the way it works. Many raptors starve and they must take every opportunity to eat. It was just heartbreaking to see the surviving dove sitting in a nearby tree watching. Very sad. Click on pictures to enlarge.