Cooper's Hawk: "Hunting Practice"

What is it that you are seeing beyond the sight of others?

(Cooper’s Hawk - photo by Neil Barker - August 5, 2024)

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In you I may see the past, present, and future all at once.

An eternal Now of unforgettable experience.

What is it that you are seeing beyond the sight of others?

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I took these photos on August 5, 2024. Here in Ottawa Canada, Monday August 5, 2024 was a civic holiday and I went for a morning hike at Britannia Conservation Area. I was fortunate to capture some images of an immature Cooper’s Hawk.

There were actually a pair of immature Cooper’s Hawks flying and perching and circling in this area. The hawks were sending the local American Crows into an annoyed frenzy. Several times the hawks would make half-hearted dives at the crows.

I think this Cooper’s Hawk may be the offspring of the adults I encountered several times this spring. I have included links of those encounters at the end of this post.

This Cooper’s Hawk was checking out the world around them. They were watching the crows, some songbirds in the trees, and Eastern Gray Squirrels and a Red Squirrel on the ground.

A few seconds after I took the above photo, this Cooper’s Hawk dove off this branch and glided directly over my head. I froze and watched them make another half-hearted attack - this time after those squirrels on the ground.

This hawk seemed interested in figuring out what they could do and practicing hunting. The entire experience was exciting to watch and something I will long remember. I wish you and your sibling well on your life journey!

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