My feeders have had a cycle lately of " fast and furious" frenzied feeding
or little activity.
Last week, I noticed a Cooper's hawk fly in and rest. Of course, the birds
had either scurried away or were in stone still posture. It remained 10
minutes or more, eventually flying away.
My husband a week later finds evidence of the Cooper's presence by
discovering the remains of what appeared to be a downy woodpecker wing.
Two or three days ago, the bird feeders were just abound with activity for
over an hour. It was actually hard to not be mesmerized because of the
circus like activity. The next couple of days, not much activity around
feeders. Even on the bracing cold day, not much activity.
Yesterday, the " plucked" feathers on the deck appear to be a smaller bird.
Mt husband thought maybe a goldfinch but uncertain.
I love feeding the birds. I admit I also give that " double meaning"
definition to.my bird feeders, aa my late wonderful friend Kay had coined
in a story. She had called me to tell me of her Cooper's Hawk acting like
some primeval "dinosaur" like behavior stalking the poor bird around her
feeder. When she described it, you would have thought you were in the land
of the lost, based on her vivid details.
I have since heard strange eerie sound on occasion that was that of a
Cooper's on the hunt as well.
Nature has a wonderful morsel daily...even if one of gloom and doom for
some.
Check out the links below for a brief bit of Bent and perhaps a little
about William Cooper and information, the bird's namesake. Charles
Bonaparte named it after Cooper, the naturalist/scientist, for it was
Cooper's specimens collected that were used for identification purposes.
http://www.coopershawks.com/lh_history.html
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/fieldguide/entry/coopers_hawk1
https://www.victoriawhalewatching.com/captains_log/coopers-hawk/
Enjoy the birds today. Meanwhile, my feeders remain rather sedate...calm. I
don't have to wonder why, if course...between warmer weather today and my
deadly visitor.
Melissa Turrentine
Bedford County TN
