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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 16, 2015 0:03:45 GMT -5
We were treated to high drama this morning as a juvenile Northern goshawk pursued and, finally, caught a Mourning dove. The chase wove from the highline to the meadow, back to the highline and then through our backyard and our side yard with the capture being made just above our back door, leaving the back stoop littered with feathers. I've always got such mixed feelings when I see these chases play out. Northern goshawks (like all hawks) have a huge mortality rate in their first year--most of them starve to death--so I like to see them succeed. On the other hand, I like my doves, too! I much prefer to see the hawks hunt successfully away from my house...maybe down by the lake, or off in the woods... This is the first successful hunt I've seen this year, though--lots of sweeps and lots of chases but most of our birds manage to escape, mostly thanks to the alarm put up by the Blue jays whenever the hawks are in the area. And yes, I had the camera, but I was so busy watching things play out with my mouth hanging open that I forgot it was with me! LOL That's why I had to post this in 'Stories' and not 'Photos to Share'
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Post by lyn on Feb 16, 2015 7:46:24 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this story Hazel. Your words paint many vivid pictures of the hunt.
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Post by naturelover on Feb 16, 2015 12:05:22 GMT -5
Sorry you had to watch the loss of your dove Hazel. If you would like, send the goshawk to me for a few doves. I'll even throw in a dozen siskins!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Feb 16, 2015 17:33:53 GMT -5
O.O Don't need no more siskins, Marilyn!!! LOL We're overrun with them! And the goshawk is too big to want to bother with the little finches... I root for both sides, but it was sort of sad about the dove... Today, though, the other 30-odd Mourning doves in the neighborhood were enjoying the feeders together. The goshawk was around this morning, but between the jays and the crows, it didn't stick around long. Once it catches something or it moves out of the area, the doves flock back to the yard...
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peggy
Hatchling
Posts: 50
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Post by peggy on Mar 5, 2015 16:54:46 GMT -5
It's great to watch natural happenings...even when we have mixed feelings! Great story!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 6, 2015 16:19:00 GMT -5
I think there was a similar drama playing out in the meadow behind us today but I couldn't see anything through the trees. The jays and crows were really tongue-lashing something, though. Probably the goshawk, but I always imagine it's a Snowy owl (wishful thinking, donchya know? )
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 14, 2015 14:13:46 GMT -5
Oooooo...goshawk is getting smarter! Yesterday I was out on the deck washing muddy dog paws and heard 3 Blue jays cry out a warning, flying in fast from the meadow. I looked up just in time to see 10 doves rocket out of the pines along the meadow's edge and the goshawk swoop UP from the meadow, roll belly up (I could see the fluffy white undertail coverts) and grab a dove out of mid-air!! O.O Sorry for the dove, of course, but nice to see that the goshawk is getting more creative in its hunting technique. It can move on any time now, though... o.o
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Mar 25, 2015 21:44:33 GMT -5
WOW!! Now that is drama - who needs television?!!!? I've been washing lots of Duke paws lately - glad we have the sun and dry desert back for a time!! Whew! And I only have ONE dog!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 26, 2015 12:59:12 GMT -5
Sure does make paw clean-up more exciting! We were almost dry, then we got another 3.5 inches of snow (just about our biggest snow event of 2015 so far!) and now we're back to Mud Season as it melts. So lots of opportunity to scope out the birds while cleaning up these days, but no repeat performances this week.
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Post by luv2bird on Mar 26, 2015 19:24:25 GMT -5
Oooooo...goshawk is getting smarter! Yesterday I was out on the deck washing muddy dog paws and heard 3 Blue jays cry out a warning, flying in fast from the meadow. I looked up just in time to see 10 doves rocket out of the pines along the meadow's edge and the goshawk swoop UP from the meadow, roll belly up (I could see the fluffy white undertail coverts) and grab a dove out of mid-air!! O.O Sorry for the dove, of course, but nice to see that the goshawk is getting more creative in its hunting technique. It can move on any time now, though... o.o Wow!!! That is drama. Do feel bad for the dove.
l2b
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 29, 2015 12:16:47 GMT -5
Lately we've had a sharp-shinned going after the siskins. Not with a lot of luck, mind you, but it's trying! I think if it swooped in from the woods to the south it would have better luck, but it seems to like the open space of the yard and swoops in that way from the north. Which means the siskins can see it coming and also that it has to take corrective action at the last minute to clear the fence. Yes, it's a young bird from last year. The adults always come in from the woods--that way they have cover, as well as the sun behind them when they strike and they do have a better percentage of success. Not sure what this young sharpie is living off of, but it's sure not the siskins at our feeders!
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Post by luv2bird on Mar 29, 2015 14:52:10 GMT -5
Lately we've had a sharp-shinned going after the siskins. Not with a lot of luck, mind you, but it's trying! I think if it swooped in from the woods to the south it would have better luck, but it seems to like the open space of the yard and swoops in that way from the north. Which means the siskins can see it coming and also that it has to take corrective action at the last minute to clear the fence. Yes, it's a young bird from last year. The adults always come in from the woods--that way they have cover, as well as the sun behind them when they strike and they do have a better percentage of success. Not sure what this young sharpie is living off of, but it's sure not the siskins at our feeders! Wow! You have lots of drama at your feeders; has the Shrike returned? and if he did, would the Sharpie chase him too? I wonder.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Mar 31, 2015 12:02:49 GMT -5
I suspect any of the accipiters might give the shrike a chase, l2b. Shrikes are really quite small--smaller than a blue jay--which always surprises me. I thought the shrike might be around today because the siskins were acting strange and flighty, but I couldn't spot him anywhere.
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Post by luv2bird on Mar 31, 2015 19:09:41 GMT -5
I suspect any of the accipiters might give the shrike a chase, l2b. Shrikes are really quite small--smaller than a blue jay--which always surprises me. I thought the shrike might be around today because the siskins were acting strange and flighty, but I couldn't spot him anywhere. Did not know they were that small, would love to see one, that would be a lifer for me.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Apr 2, 2015 10:07:05 GMT -5
Here's a pic from March of 2013 of one being held just before release after banding: Attachment DeletedClarice has small hands, but you can see that the shrike is not very big. Luckily, shrikes don't seem to be inclined to use those bills in self-defense, either...nary a peck out of any of the shrikes we've banded to date! For comparison, here are a few shots of the same person holding a blue jay: Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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