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April 2, 2009
Coopers Hawk
For the last couple of years we have had a raptor prowling the property picking off the quail, rats and small rodents that abound. During all that time, we thought it a Perigrine Falcon based on our brief glimpses of it and the description we found in Sibley's Bird Guide. We recently found out that our next door neighbor took an up close picture of it and checked with local wildlife officials who positively identified it as a Coopers Hawk. Listening to it's calls here, I would agree with that.
So anyway, there are now 2 and they appear to be a nesting pair which is cool but doesn't bode well for the quail population. It's a beautiful bird, however, and it's a joy to watch flying in and out of the walnut trees and soaring over the property. While I was pruning trees earlier this month, I was standing up in the Golden Delicious apple pruning away and caught some movement out of my right eye. I glanced over and one of them, the female I think based on the larger size, had alighted onto a branch on the other side of the tree. She stayed just long enough to check me out and then flew away, but she was only about 8 feet from me.
Long may the nest here and they are always welcome.
Posted by Jonathan at April 2, 2009 3:58 PM
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