Cooper's Hawk: "Practice Patience"

What is all that racket?

(Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk - photo by Neil Barker - January 27, 2024)

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A dead tree offers opportunities to observe above.

Nearby alarm calls ring out as a warning of your presence.

Patience and perseverance are needed to help you daily.

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I took these photos on January 27, 2024. I was nearing the end of my hike and was dropping some seeds for the Black-capped Chickadees and Northern Cardinals when I heard the chickadees making alarm calls. I looked around for a minute or two and then saw this juvenile Cooper’s Hawk.

I felt this glare. I was leaning against a tree to steady my camera and some snow had fallen from the branches. This Cooper’s Hawk had seen the snow falling from the branches, noticed me, and was trying to identify what I was. I continued watching. The hawk looked around and also preened a few times. It was a nice encounter and I moved on after about 10 minutes.

Hat-tip to the Black-capped Chickadee Northern Cardinals for their warning calls. I would have not seen the Cooper’s Hawk without those chickadees and cardinals warning everything nearby. I am always learning to listen and be aware of the sounds Nature on my hikes.

I think of the ripples caused by this Cooper’s Hawk in the area. The hawk lands in this tree. Black-capped Chickadees and Northern Cardinals see the hawk and raise the alarm. I hear those alarm calls and look for something the chickadees and cardinals do not like.

I see this hawk. I stop to watch this bird. The chickadees and cardinals continue their alarm calls. A minute or two later I hear some American Crows about 30 yards away cawing.

Have the crows seen this hawk? Have the crows heard the alarm calls from the chickadees and cardinals? What is the reaction of this hawk to the cawing from the crows? Ripples causing ripples and echoes of echoes…

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