[TN-Bird] Agressive Northern harrier

Yesterday at Kyker Bottom Wildlife Management Area in southern Blount  county 
I observed aggressive behavior by a female Northern harrier.  I fist  saw her 
gliding along the dike beyond the maintenance barn when she suddenly  swooped 
and flushed an adult Cooper's hawk that then flew up and landed high in  a 
sycamore tree.
 
About 15 minutes later I watched a male harrier in the field to the right  of 
the maintenance barn.  I than noticed a female as she rose and  then swooped 
twice on a Red-tailed hawk perched in the top of a juniper  tree along the 
edge of this field.  The male continued out of sight but the  female 
flew/glided 
back along the hedgerow where she then swooped on the  resident Loggerhad 
shrike that promptly dove for cover in the brush.
 
Approximately 30 minutes later I watched a Red-shouldered hawk gliding past  
the Area 1 observation deck and land in a small tree beyond the treeline.  
Suddenly it reeled off its perch as a female Northern harrier dove on  it.  
 
The harrier(s) never made contact with any of the birds I observed but she  
sure acted aggressive towards other raptors.   I've seen the harriers  flush 
ducks but have not seen them swooping on hawks before. Was it one or  two 
females just feeling cranky on a gray day?
 
Warren Bielenberg
Maryville, TN

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