Archive for the ‘Coopers Hawk’ Tag

Cooper’s Hawk Photo-Artistry   1 comment

Cooper’s Hawk — Photo-Artistry by kenne

And I say to any man or woman, 

Let your soul stand cool and composed

Before a million universes. 

— Walt Whitman

Hawk In Mesquite Tree   Leave a comment

Cooper’s Hawk in Mesquite Tree — Painting by kenne

“For those of us who portray wildlife . . . our decision to persist in our quest for excellence is almost always based
on a love affair,
a fascination with the creatures of our planet, and a need to share this feeling the best way we know how.”

— Bob Kuhn (Wildlife Artist, One of the Tucson 7)

Immature Cooper’s Hawk   Leave a comment

Immature Cooper’s Hawk Photo-Artistry by kenne

“Until the mid-twentieth century, Cooper’s hawks were hunted as vermin. Indeed the farmer considered this
“chicken hawk” one of his primary foes. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 changed all that and became
Cooper’s hawk’s protection when it was amended in 1972 to include raptors, making it illegal to kill a raptor
or take their eggs or even their feathers. During that same period, chicken farming evolved to the current system
in which the chickens are better protected in environmentally controlled facilities; even the suburban farmer
with a backyard coop now focuses on other means of protection than his shotgun.

The beleaguered Cooper’s hawk of the early twentieth century became an endangered species in many states,
and the use of pesticides in the period after World War II further decimated the hawk. However, with the cessation
of some of the more harmful pesticides, a slow but steady increase in the number of breeding pairs began
in the 1960s to 1970s. Now, the population has recovered, and the species thrives once more.

Today, instead of regarding the hawk as a “blood-thirsty villain,” it is more fashionable to focus on
Cooper’s hawk’s admirable traits: his agility and speed, his hunting prowess, and his feisty attitude.
So now, we are more tolerant of his appetite for avian prey.”
Source: coopershawks.com

Heat And The Hawk A Photo-Essay   Leave a comment

One doesn’t usually see cooper’s hawk standing on the ground, so when I spotted this on the circle
curb I got my camera, first being careful not to spook the hawk. 

Slowly, I moved closer, realizing this was an immature hawk that might be having problems
with our 110-degree temps and was spending time in the shade.

The cooper’s hawk watches me closely as I continue to narrow my distance from the bird.

I start to move to the hawk’s right trying to create a different angle to photograph this young bird.

Finally, the cooper’s hawk began to move toward flight. — Images by kenne

 

A 4th 0f July Bath — Photo Essay   6 comments

On this 4th of July morning, I observed a Cooper’s Hawk bathing in our patio fountain.
Many birds drink from the fountain and occasionally will splash water on themselves.
However
, this morning was the first time I witnessed a hawk bathing in the water.

— kenne

Images by kenne

Cooper’s Hawk   Leave a comment

Cooper’s Hawk In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne

A beautiful bird

And a super partiture

Love dive booming doves

— kenne

Ready For Takeoff   1 comment

Ready for Takeoff (Cooper’s Hawk)– Image by kenne

ready for takeoff

flying comes naturally

not a leap of faith

— kenne

Cooper’s Hawk After Sex   Leave a comment

Cooper’s Hawk after Sex — Image by kenne

Sometimes to love someone, you’ve got to be a stranger.

— kenne

Sabino Canyon Still Closed   Leave a comment

sabino-canyon-clouds_coopers-hawk-blogFlag Over Sabino Canyon Visitor Center (11/07/11) — Photo-Artistry by kenne

I miss not being able to be out in Sabino Canyon, which will remain closed because of the Bighorn Fire till November 1st.
The Forest Service is keeping the Canyon closed to minimize dam and infrastructure damage due to flash flooding
during the monsoon season.

On Wednesday, August 5th, some Naturalists will be part of a Zoon meeting with Santa Catalina District Ranger, CJ Woodard.
He will give an update on the Sabino Canyon closure and be available for questions and answers.

— kenne

Adult Cooper’s Hawk   1 comment

Cooper's Hawk-72Adult Cooper’s Hawk In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne

A medium-sized hawk with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail.
In Cooper’s Hawks, the head often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded.

A Young Visitor On Our Patio   9 comments

Cooper's Hawk-0-72A 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   Leave a comment

Cooper's Hawk-72.jpgJuvenile 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

March 2019Adult Cooper’s Hawk in Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne

 

Cooper’s Hawk and Prey   1 comment

March 2019Cooper’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

 

Hawkeye   Leave a comment

Cooper's Hawk-72Cooper’s Hawk — Image by kenne

When it comes to birds of prey,
the eyes have it.
You may not always see them
perch on a nearby limb
but they will always
have an eye on you.

— kenne

Cooper’s Hawk — Photo-Artistry   2 comments

Cooper's Hawk-Edit-3-Art-blogCooper’s Hawk (Sabino Canyon Recreational Area) — Photo-Artistry by kenne

A swift predator
In Sabino Canyon skies
Visitors delight.

— kenne

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