We interrupt the regularly scheduled report on last weekend’s hawk banding to inform you of an urban Cooper’s hawk observation that happened today.
WARNING! This post is not for the squeamish. In Nature, the fight for survival can be brutal and this post is going to describe an incident between a hawk and a pigeon. If you would rather think of all the animals and birds getting along like a Leo the Lion cartoon, you may want to skip reading the rest of this post.
I needed to take care of some grocery shopping this afternoon before we were hit with a line of thunder storms. When we came back from Duluth last night, you could feel the humidity, I had a tough time sleeping last and the air felt heavier throughout the day today. I left to go shopping and I as I walked past the side of my building, I noticed an odd lump next the bushes that border the apartment building’s property. It suddenly dawned on me that the shape was a Cooper’s hawk mantling over prey. There was white flash and I realized it had a pigeon and it wasn’t quite dead. So, I dashed upstairs to my apartment for my digiscoping equipment.
I came back down and the hawk had changed position and was facing me with the pigeon. This was a Cooper’s hawk hatched this year based on the brown and white plumage. It’s also a female based on her size compared to the pigeon–she’s a big ole girl. The hawk seemed antsy, and had a tough time balancing on top of the pigeon. When I took the second photo, I found out why:
The pigeon was still alive and struggling to free itself from the inexperienced hunter. I have always thought that Cooper’s hawk was one of the worst ways to go–especially a young one that doesn’t quite know how to use all of its equipment yet. Cooper’s hawks squeeze repeatedly, and since their toes and talons are thinner than a red-tailed hawk, it’s kind of like a death by sewing machine needles. When a Coops starts to feed, prey isn’t always dead. Experienced birds can kill quicker, it makes it easier to feed and they don’t waste as much energy. I started to debate with myself as to how long I can watch this, let alone take photos.
And then the pigeon rolled and was free (I took a photo but all that was left was a few feathers floating), it took off like a shot right over my head, the Cooper’s followed in hot pursuit at eye level with me to the right side of my face. I felt a slight breeze in its wake. The pigeon crossed the busy street right over the cars, the Cooper’s gained quickly. The pigeon raced over a parking lot towards some trees, the hawk caught up and nailed it in mid air, there was a puff of feathers and both fell to the ground.
I crossed the street at searched the parking lot. The young Cooper’s hawk had made it to a small yard at the other end of the lot. If you look between the dark gray car and the yellow garage, you can see a small lump on the ground. That’s the hawk. Don’t worry, I got her in the scope:
The pigeon was still putting up a fight, although not much. You could still see it breathing the scope. The young and hungry hawk could no longer wait and had to feed.
You will note in some of the photos that her mouth is open. She was panting hard. I could feel sweat dripping down my back under my rain jacket from the humid conditions, I can’t imagine what it feels like when you can’t sweat, have to fly hard and try and kill something half your size to survive. I didn’t approach any closer to the hawk, she was having a tough enough go at trying to eat for the day and I could get good enough photos from this distance.
As she was feeding, the pigeon finally stopped struggling and breathing. A few times the hawk would mantle–spread out her wings and tail to look big and intimidating and hide the prey. I wondered what would cause that.
I soon had my answer. A gray squirrel was investigating the situation, squealing out its protest of the hawk near its tree. I could hear cardinals chipping a warning to each other and robins giving their high pitched warning whistles as well. No one was happy about the Cooper’s hawk.
The hawk continued to feed and then mantled one more time. This time and older gentleman and small dog were approaching, both appeared oblivious to the feeding hawk.
The man and dog were too much and the Cooper’s flew away with its kill. I’m always amazed at what I spy in our neighborhood. I always wonder if my other neighbors ever notice this. Did the people driving down the street notice the pigeon with the hawk in pursuit mere feet in front of their windshield? I did feel bad for the pigeon (I feed them off my window ledge), but also realized that they hawk had been having a hard time of it herself just trying to survive. Will she able to continue to navigate the busy Uptown area already populated with quite a few adult Cooper’s hawks? Will she last the fall and winter?
I will say, she looked so big compared to all the tiny sharp-shinned hawks we banded this past weekend. Speaking of which, we will now return to our regularly scheduled hawk banding updates.
Absolutely fantastic, Sharon! Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
You blended just the right amount of compassion for the pigeon AND the Coop….it’s gotta be tough to be a predator or the prey.
Totally cool shots!
Very exciting Sharon. What great photos. Nice drama. Keep it up!
Right in my neighborhood! I’ve seen a bald eagle circle over the small dogs as we walked around Lake Calhoun, but I have yet to see a hawk. I will keep my eyes peeled.
Nice photos, Sharon.
We have a red tail in the neighborhood and one afternoon I came home to see her (him?) feasting on a squirrel on my back lawn.
The minivan was a bit too much and I had to laugh at this hawk flying off with a gray tail waving under its butt.
I love the picture with just the one feather “hanging” in the air over the grass–very poetic.
Hey! That neighbourhood is a jungle!
Good journalistic reflexes.
Love the photos. I’m always concerned that that’s what will end up happening to a cute little chipmunk my husband feeds using a squirrel feeder.
I can just imagine you flying to get your equipment saying “don’t move ’til I get back”, because this is gold.
I took some video just recently of a young Cooper’s trying to make a kill. I think it’s prey was a pigeon as well. I was surprised by how inexperienced it was. I think the prey got away but the video was fantastic. So amazing to watch.
That was a great post, Sharon. I consider myself privileged whenever I see the hawk capture something to eat in my backyard (which isn’t too often!)
A lot of people who feed birds don’t understand this aspect of birds of prey, so I’m glad you took the time to show your photos and explain the process for those of us who aren’t totally familiar with “the ways of the hawk.”
The drama that cameras and scopes were meant to capture! I’m sure you’ve probably seen this kind of thing lots of times, so thank you for sharing with the rest of us. It was like an episode of Wild Kingdom, complete with narration!
It is amazing what we can ee in our own neighborhoods if we just pay attention. Years ago we lived in a 3rd floor apt and noticed a pair of Kestrals nesting. It ws so exiting to see/hear chicks come along, and then watch the parents teach hunting skills by toying with the poor small birds who happened in the neighborhood. Your pictures and stories are amazing! Thank you again for sharing.
I agree it looks like a horrible way to go. I watched a Cooper’s hawk dismantle a starling (not too much sympathy lost on that one, I’m afraid) not long ago. He did start to feed before the starling was dead. It wasn’t pretty but I just couldn’t stop watching since I didn’t think I’d get another chance so close up.
Wonderful shots Sharon and I know that had to be tough to watch and it is amazing what goes on around us without notice. Thanks for that wonderful experience.
Sharon, what an exciting drama! Just like Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. So hard to watch from the pigeon’s aspect, but how great that a young Cooper was able to secure some food. I’ll have to keep my eyes open to all this “stuff” happening around us!
Kathy
I’ve seen Peregrine falcons around the University of Pittsburgh feasting on pigeons, too. Great photos! I wouldn’t have thought to grab the camera, I would have just watched transfixed.
Beautiful shots Sharon. Last spring my son was in his English class over at Southwest when a hawk chased a pigeon right into the classroom window. It pounced and ate the stunned pigeon with the whole class watching.
Needless to say, the “English” part of the program was done for the hour.
I live in Uptown (near the Green Mill). I likely witnessed the same Hawk dining on a pigeon yesterday on my front steps. She did not seem to mind me watching, close even for my comfort as the barely alive pigeon was reduced to a pile of feathers. I would have gotten my camera, afraid she would have been done when I returned.
Intellectually, I understand that the Cooper’s had to eat.
Emotionally, I detest anything that doesn’t kill what it has to eat, outright and instantly. It’s the only thing I don’t like about cats, too, and I have a few of them. Since they don’t go outside, I am spared that side of their nature.
I’ve got a pair of Sharp-Shinned hawks that frequent my back yard feeders, and do the same thing. They’ve been here a few years now, they do the job quickly.
I did witness a Cooper’s Hawk chasing down a mourning dove at my in-law’s house the Christmas before last, in Oak Park, IL. That poor dove tried so hard to get away…I helped him/her out. I yelled at the hawk. The hawk flew off. There are plenty of other birds for it to go after.
Then I felt guilty for doing so.