Cooper's Hawk in our backyard

[sandih]

I am excited to report that a Cooper's Hawk has decided to make our backyard a hangout. We've seen him dozens of times in a tree in our backyard and he is a beauty. I'm sure he is hunting the many birds that come feeding in our yard but we love seeing him anyway.

No questions, just that I'd share!

[Birdzilla]

I always like seeing Cooper's Hawks. You are certainly in the minority--most people are very concerned about the birds they are feeding when they see a Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk near their feeders. The hawks only kill for food, so whether the feeder makes things a little easier for them or not, they will consume the same number of birds.

Sometimes the hawks do scare off many of the feeder birds, then the hawk moves on and the feeder birds return.

[sandih]

I was seconds too late to see the hawk kill a dove this morning. I happened to look away from the backyard and when I looked back, there he was on the ground, standing on his lunch.

I love my backyard birds, but birds of prey need to eat too!