Hello all,
While watching our bird feeder in a maple tree near our porch we
witnessed a dramatic example of life and death - prey bird defensive
behavior. A male and female black-headed grosbeak were feeding along
with American goldfinches when a sharp-shin hawk zipped into the tree.
All of the prey birds scattered except for the female grosbeak, who
stayed completely frozen at the feeder in one position for 8 to 10
minutes while the hawk perched nearby in the same tree about four feet
away. Going against the “prime directive” we walked to the other side
of the tree and the hawk flew away, giving the frozen grosbeak a chance
to make a hasty retreat.
Cheers,
J Mello
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