Tag Archives: hawks

A Triple Header

Posted on September 8, 2015 by AnnieRie

This weekend. For birders, and those who want to learn about birds. At Mt. Pleasant on Saturday.

Mike Kerwin is leading three different walks to observe bird migrations. At 8 am, the Howard Bird Club two hour early morning walk looking for migrating birds.

At 10 am, a Conservancy sponsored Wonder Walk which is focusing on identifying hawks while looking for birds.

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Followed by an impromptu hang out and watch the hawks in action, as they are very active over the Conservancy property. This is an opportunity to do as much or as little as you wish.

The events are free. After 9 am, the Conservancy building is open for restroom facilities and water.

Mike is seen quite often at Centennial Lake, hanging out over on the southwest side, watching the birds of prey. He is a wealth of knowledge in identifying raptors.

Do you know the difference between a Cooper’s Hawk and a Sharp Shinned Hawk. Mike can show you.

Hawk January 2011 058

Come join us. At 8 am with the bird club, or 10 am with the Conservancy. Mike will love to have you there.

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The Predators are Back

Posted on December 10, 2012 by AnnieRie

Yes, the hawk has returned. And not your garden variety wimpy hawk.

decorations and hawk 002

The other day I found squirrel feathers in the side yard. This has to be the hunter. He decided to plop himself on my feeder tree, and he proceeded to ignore all the little birds out there. He was looking for bigger rewards. The little hawk was out there a while back, but this is the first visit for our large hawks. He looks to be one of the Cooper’s hawks. We shall see if he decides to stand out in the meadow and hunt. Last year it was the favorite spot for mouse hunting.

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Two weeks ago, the little sharp shinned hawk was out there. So, now both predators have come home for the winter. It should be interesting out here. We will see if these visitors get as bold as the ones a few years ago. The ones that liked to hang around on my patio furniture about five feet from the back door and make way too much noise.

Hawk January 2011 058

Never a dull moment in West County.

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My Not So Friendly Back Yard Predators

Posted on January 15, 2012 by AnnieRie

We have lots of wild animals around here. Fox, possum, groundhogs, deer, field rats, mice, vultures, snakes …

… to name a few, but today I am going to focus on the hawks.

I have two or three different types that wander through, and occasionally they decide to stay and hunt. The one above, which looks like a Cooper’s Hawk, has been spending almost every day in our meadow looking for rodents. The weather being warmer than normal means the little mice and rats seem to be active in the fields.

Sharp Shin and Cooper’s are the two most common visitors here. When it snows, they love to buzz the feeders and grab mourning doves. Then I get to clean up the mess of feathers in the yard. When the Blue Jays are around, they will chase the hawk, ganging up and flying behind. The jays and the red bellied woodpecker will come up close and eat when there is snow. It does attract the hawks though, and mostly mourning doves seem to fall prey.

They get very brazen too, and decide my patio furniture is a great spot for resting and checking out the scene. They do sometimes perch on the bird bath and get water.

The circle of life here not that far from the cities. The plans we are making to add chickens here need to take into account the natural enemies that also reside in our woods behind the meadow.

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