FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Immature Cooper's on the deck + other "goodies."

[Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx]

Hello Birders,

At 6:53 AM, a gorgeous immature Cooper's hawk perched on a deck chair just 
about twenty feet from where I was working at my computer here in the Charlotte 
Park area of West Nashville (Davidson County) only a few blocks east the 
Cumberland River's old Cleece's Ferry landing.  Birds had been feeding on the 
deck, 
so the Cooper's probably decided to join my "Smorgabird" to feast on one of 
my "guests."  Since the "Immy" Coop was on the arm of the chair and at my 
level, it was an eyeball to eyeball look.  The darker top of its head was 
evident, 
and the long rounded tail was splendid.  Naturally, my camera was on the 
KITCHEN table where I'd left it after trying for hummingbirds yesterday, so 
before 
I could get back to the dining area and get it aimed, the "Coop" flew into the 
tree above where it disappeared into the greenery.  Interestingly, as the 
bird approached the deck, one mourning dove slammed against the French doors in 
a 
hurry to get away.  Although it made a massive "thud," it kept its composure 
and managed to flee.  The bevy of blue jays blared out their warnings to let 
the Cooper's know it was not welcome.  Otherwise, bird-dom has been silent, and 
the deck is empty.  I think "Immy Coop" is still in the tree above.

Until last Sunday, I have had NO baby cardinals at all this summer, and with 
seven breeding-age couples, it seems strange to me.  All my males have gone 
through massive molts seemingly losing more feathers at a time than usual.  
Finally, one "Daddy Card" brought ONE baby to feed, so I have quite a few 
photos 
of that activity.  Yesterday, a "Mama Card" brought a second baby that she was 
tending.  Even though it seems that a lot of days fell between the arrival of 
the two young birds, both adult birds were feeding both babies from time to 
time, so I believe it is ONE family unit.  Wonder if the Cooper's presence has 
anything to do with the lack of cardinals?  During all the years in the past, 
I've had the little "black bills" all over the place.

Three mockingbird nests were filled with babies being fed when I left on June 
13, but were apparently fledged and dispersed in the weeks that I was away.  
I haven't seen any young mocks since my return.  My adult mockers do not seem 
to be doing "extra" nestings this year although all three couples are here to 
eat every day.  Now that the massive grape vine is filled with ripe and 
ripening grapes, the mockers are "going for the grapes" instead of pouncing on 
the 
peanut butter as much.  About ninety feet of very thick grape vine is covering 
all of my deck rails, and it is constantly full of feeding birds.

The ONE baby towhee has been back to feed by itself several times, and the 
parent birds have both been here on occasion.

I am overrun with baby titmice and chickadees, all of whom I've photographed 
going for the peanut butter as well as enjoying the sunflower seeds and 
thistle.  As late as last week, one pair of chickadees was still feeding babies 
inside an old downy woodpecker hole in my dead ash tree   The downys were 
hauling 
sunflower seed to babies they were feeding in a tree in a neighbor's yard 
behind my house.

Blue and lavender morning glories grow from container gardens on the deck and 
have intertwined themselves with the grape vines.  I just noticed a 
hummingbird sipping from this morning's blossoms.  A couple of cypress vines 
have 
intertwined in the grapes as well, but they have no blossoms this morning.  I'm 
having lots of immature and female hummingbirds feeding, but ONLY ONE male so 
far 
this summer, and he did not hang around long enough for a photo.  Just a sip 
or so, then up, up and away over the top of the house heading south!

When I just came back after answering the telephone and going to my back room 
to get information for the caller, I found a freshly killed mouse (with a 
hole in its neck) within three feet of the French doors.  I did not notice 
anything fly as I walked back into the room, but could "Immy Coop" have struck 
in my 
absence then left its prey in fright as I returned to the room?

Since returning from my trip, I haven't seen any cats in the area, so I don't 
think that has been the problem regarding my cardinals & mockingbirds "poor 
performance" in the propagation of their kind this year.

Cheers, prayers & blessings,

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN