[Bristol-Birds] Sharp-shinned and squirrel

Area Birders,
Around midday today an immature Sharp-shinned made a pass by my feeders and
managed to nab a female Cardinal. Too bad it wasn't one of the pesky
Starlings. The hawk came down near some shrubbery with its lunch and
proceeded to eat. After watching for about 15 minutes I noticed a Gray
Squirrel hopping along coming toward the feeder, but it was on a direct path
with the raptor. Finally, it got within 4 feet or so of the hawk. It stood
on its back legs and stared. The hawk stopped eating and stared back. This
lasted for about 10 - 15 seconds. Then the squirrel went to the left,
climbed up into the shrubs and climbed out directly over the hawk's head,
about three feet above it. The hawk kept looking up at it between bites.
After a short time the squirrel climbed down from the shrub and hopped away.
I think this was a young squirrel that has been coming to the feeders since
back in October. It was just too immature to know better, or it was very
dumb. Either way it managed to get away with its skin still intact this
time.

Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA


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