A Visitor On The Patio (Immature Cooper’s Hawk) — Images by kenne
This immature Cooper’s Hawk perched on one of our patio chairs not far from the bird feeder frequented by doves for about one minute this morning. A mature hawk would have been up in the olive tree near the feeder. Even then, that doesn’t work as well as swooping from over the rooftop. They will learn. These images were taken through the patio door, which given the time of day the doors become a mirror.
— kenne
Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk On Patio Fountain — Image by kenne
This Cooper’s Hawk is probably not the guy that captured the Mourning Dove that I posted several days ago (Cooper’s Hawk and Prey). Since doves also frequent the fountain, it is not unusual to see hawks in the olive tree on the patio.
On the morning the dove became the hawk’s prey there were feathers near the patio door. This was not unusual since doves have been known to fly into the patio door leaving a print on the glass and a few scattered feathers. However, this time there were feathers, but no print leaving me to conclude the hawk probably cornered the dove.
— kenne
Adult Cooper’s Hawk in Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne
Cooper’s Hawk and Prey — Image by kenne
Returning from a morning walk my eye caught a Cooper’s Hawk flying into a nearby Mesquite tree. After closer observation, I could see the hawk had captured a mourning dove. Since the tree was near my house, I quickly grabbed my camera and began shooting.
Predator and prey
Each seeking to win the chase
A daily event.
— kenne
Cooper’s Hawk — Image by kenne
— kenne
Cooper’s Hawk (Sabino Canyon Recreational Area) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
Photo-Artistry by kenne
– Andrei Tarkovsky
Cooper’s Hawk Fledging In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
— kenne
Cooper’s Hawk Painting by kenne
Cooper’s Hawk, New Years Day, 2018 — Image by kenne
This Cooper’s Hawk was spotted on New Years Day during a morning walk in the Sabino Canyon Recreational Area, northeast Tucson.
— kenne
Cooper’s Hawk Art by kenne
— kenne
Hawkeye (Young Cooper’s Hawk) — Image by kenne
— kenne
On Thursday of this past week, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists were teaching two first grade classes about predator and prey in a program we call “Now You See It.” My responsibility for the month of April is to coordinate the Thursday schedule with the teachers. Once the children are in the canyon, my job is one of “managing by walking around.”
While in the riparian area near the creek and dam I could hear a nearby cooper’s hawk. Following the sound, I spotted him on a dead limb high above the creek where he had caught a small bird. What a “real time” example of predator and prey for the day’s lesson. What follows are images and a video of the encounter, which I shared with the children.
— kenne
(Click on any of the tiled images for a larger view in a slideshow format.)
Cooper’s Hawk Images and Video by kenne
Predator And Prey — Cooper’s Hawk
— John James Audubon
