Thanks for recording this, but why in the world would you deny this beautiful hawk his meal later on the next day, especially when he was in the process of eliminating a very harmful invasive species?
@PinkOld Glad you liked the video - and the hawk, Pink. Well, I interceded as a natural impulse to stop death. On reflection, allowing the hawk to eat, though involving death, sustains the hawks life. Like I said, it was an impulse. I live my life carefully to not harm life (vegetarian), but I do know most animals don't have that option. As for death being justified based only on "eliminating a very harmful invasive species" - my personal reaction is THAT reasoning is absurd.
@SeattleWebGirl You need to better educate yourself on the subject of introduced birds and the tremendous toll they have taken on indigenous species, in this case native songbirds.
If you understood what happened when Old World birds such as the starling, House sparrow, pigeon, and Collared dove were brought here, perhaps you would have gladly allowed the hawk -- himself a native species -- to take a few of the invasives out.
Read up on it or better yet, talk to an ornithologist.
@LostinNPR Thank you! You've a keener eye than me (with my little bird book). I'm bouyed by the confession that you, as well, were persuaded by my ID, but let the tail tell the real .. tale.
40 lbs per week is a bit excessive. The birds will become too dependent . I scatter feed on my drive but try to remember that I am supplementing their diet, not providing it.
@patsijean You're right, it's excessive and my husband says the same thing. But I've come to realize that about half the seed in the box is being gobbled by the grey squirrels that have decided my outside bin is a handy place to eat. They eat the peanuts and sunflower seeds, leaving the millet for the bird feeders. This year I've changed to providing bird suet and sprinkling seed in my hanging flower baskets that are now bare in winter. It seems more natural, albeit unnatural in fact.
Definitely a Cooper's. First; the size. Coops are a bit larger than crows. Second; the bill flows smoothly into the head. A Sharpie's bill is noticeably smaller. Third; the tips of the tail feathers are rounded and are showing white.
I don't mean to sound mean but next time you really shouldn't "break up" any of the hawks attacks. These beautiful birds are endangered in some areas and we must remember that this is part of nature. While sad, they need to eat too.
@tisxnotxreal You are correct, I shouldn't have intervened. After the first few times (and my neighbor advising the same) I left the hawk alone to hunt. I've seen him observing the bird feeders several tims and I tend to walk away from the window so as not to witness what might happen. While he may carry away small birds without leaving evidence, I've twice seen piles of pigeon feathers where the nature did her thing. It's still sad as I feed and enjoy the pigeons.
It's fine to intervene given that you've already intervened in nature by setting up bird feeders. The bird feeders put birds in an unnaturally vulnerable position, so you can intervene as much as you want - it's just as unnatural either way. Here in britain hawks are the opposite of endangered, we almost have too many of them now (along with too many pigeons etc)
@PseudoApollodorus Good point about the seed buffet we set out for birds and the bird buffet tempting the hawks. While I irrationally wish nature was vegetarian, I tell myself that, because of the 40 lbs of birdseed I go through a week, more birds survive than might otherwise and these increased numbers allow hawks to eat without really reducing the flocks. But in the past year, the pigeons that roost onmy roof have gone from 20 to about 10.
Thanks for recording this, but why in the world would you deny this beautiful hawk his meal later on the next day, especially when he was in the process of eliminating a very harmful invasive species?
That is absurd.
PinkOld 1 week ago
@PinkOld Glad you liked the video - and the hawk, Pink. Well, I interceded as a natural impulse to stop death. On reflection, allowing the hawk to eat, though involving death, sustains the hawks life. Like I said, it was an impulse. I live my life carefully to not harm life (vegetarian), but I do know most animals don't have that option. As for death being justified based only on "eliminating a very harmful invasive species" - my personal reaction is THAT reasoning is absurd.
SeattleWebGirl 2 days ago
@SeattleWebGirl You need to better educate yourself on the subject of introduced birds and the tremendous toll they have taken on indigenous species, in this case native songbirds.
If you understood what happened when Old World birds such as the starling, House sparrow, pigeon, and Collared dove were brought here, perhaps you would have gladly allowed the hawk -- himself a native species -- to take a few of the invasives out.
Read up on it or better yet, talk to an ornithologist.
PinkOld 2 days ago
Don't call it hunting if u don't have a gun it bird watching
cambelanger 2 months ago
@cambelanger Well, actually I'm saying the Coopers Hawk is hunting, not me. How can you take the time to comment but not take the time to comprehend?
SeattleWebGirl 1 month ago
@LostinNPR Thank you! You've a keener eye than me (with my little bird book). I'm bouyed by the confession that you, as well, were persuaded by my ID, but let the tail tell the real .. tale.
SeattleWebGirl 2 months ago
The second i saw the bird i knew it was cooper's hawk, not only the size but the darker head is a big key.
josephsmoviecompany 2 months ago
@josephsmoviecompany Thanks for the ID. Yes, definetly the consensus is Cooper. I'm going to change the video title to reflect the fact.
SeattleWebGirl 2 months ago
40 lbs per week is a bit excessive. The birds will become too dependent . I scatter feed on my drive but try to remember that I am supplementing their diet, not providing it.
patsijean 3 months ago
@patsijean You're right, it's excessive and my husband says the same thing. But I've come to realize that about half the seed in the box is being gobbled by the grey squirrels that have decided my outside bin is a handy place to eat. They eat the peanuts and sunflower seeds, leaving the millet for the bird feeders. This year I've changed to providing bird suet and sprinkling seed in my hanging flower baskets that are now bare in winter. It seems more natural, albeit unnatural in fact.
SeattleWebGirl 2 months ago
Definitely a Cooper's. First; the size. Coops are a bit larger than crows. Second; the bill flows smoothly into the head. A Sharpie's bill is noticeably smaller. Third; the tips of the tail feathers are rounded and are showing white.
phyllis1753 3 months ago
@phyllis1753 Oh, cool. I love that you identified each point of differentiation. Now I see it. An education by community!
SeattleWebGirl 2 months ago
Thats a Cooper's Hawk
Najakaouthia111 9 months ago 4
@Najakaouthia111 - Thanks. I was comparing the Sharp-shinned and the Coopers pretty carefully, but it's possible I was wrong.
SeattleWebGirl 9 months ago
I don't mean to sound mean but next time you really shouldn't "break up" any of the hawks attacks. These beautiful birds are endangered in some areas and we must remember that this is part of nature. While sad, they need to eat too.
tisxnotxreal 10 months ago 2
@tisxnotxreal You are correct, I shouldn't have intervened. After the first few times (and my neighbor advising the same) I left the hawk alone to hunt. I've seen him observing the bird feeders several tims and I tend to walk away from the window so as not to witness what might happen. While he may carry away small birds without leaving evidence, I've twice seen piles of pigeon feathers where the nature did her thing. It's still sad as I feed and enjoy the pigeons.
SeattleWebGirl 10 months ago 2
@SeattleWebGirl
It's fine to intervene given that you've already intervened in nature by setting up bird feeders. The bird feeders put birds in an unnaturally vulnerable position, so you can intervene as much as you want - it's just as unnatural either way. Here in britain hawks are the opposite of endangered, we almost have too many of them now (along with too many pigeons etc)
PseudoApollodorus 10 months ago
@PseudoApollodorus Good point about the seed buffet we set out for birds and the bird buffet tempting the hawks. While I irrationally wish nature was vegetarian, I tell myself that, because of the 40 lbs of birdseed I go through a week, more birds survive than might otherwise and these increased numbers allow hawks to eat without really reducing the flocks. But in the past year, the pigeons that roost onmy roof have gone from 20 to about 10.
SeattleWebGirl 10 months ago
Oh, squirrel: you in danger girl.
firebreeze 11 months ago
thats amazing footage. thanks for sharing
drewtonium 1 year ago
@drewtonium Thank you, Drew!
SeattleWebGirl 1 year ago