As I was coming down the stairs, I spotted the Cooper's Hawk (Lady Hawk, I call her) on the ground.
I knew if she was on the ground she had probably made a kill ... and she had, a Starling.
She ate until there was nothing but feathers ...
I have ambivalent feelings about her killing at my feeders ... But it is really cold out there and I was glad for her. This will get her through another night.
Happy Wild Bird Wednesday :)
20 comments:
It is hard sometimes to watch nature at work.... but she is a beautiful raptor and I love the pictures.
Great shots of the Hawk in the snow, nature taking care of its self, its only when we interfear things start going wrong.
All the best Gordon.
All the birds need to eat, especially in the winter. I thought I read that the first year hawks have the hardest time.. Great sighting and photos.
I love seeing hawks at the feeders, the sign of a very healthy population of bird species, well done
everyone has to eat. beautiful raptor!
I know how you feel, I have had sharpeis and coops come to my yard looking for a meal.
Wonderful captures Andrea!
It indeed is nature being nature. They have to survive the only way they know how.
I posted starlings today. :) I made the comment they were pesky but they have to eat too.
They are magnificent creatures and even though it can be hard to watch it is natures way.
Beautiful!
She is absolutely stunning!!!
yes I can imagine how you feel - your birds eat from feeders; the hawk eats from live prey - it's nature's way
Well we all have to eat.............and starlings technically are not native birds. The Hawk was doing the native avifauna a favour!
That is the one drawback with feeders, I agree. I struggle with that, too. I know: they all need to eat, and survival of the fittest. It is hard.
She is beautiful, and she has to eat too. I don't watch when a hawk gets one of my yard birds.
I share both your ambivalence and your happiness that she is fed for another day. Ethics in a quandary.
What great photos, Andrea. I know how you feel. But I too, know that all God's creatures must have food in order to survive. I must say though that I have never seen a hawk in my yard. Maybe a couple of neighborhood stray cats, but no hawks. It is so cold here this morning. Actually, it's most likely me that is so cold. One of these days, my cold will be gone and all will be back to normal. I can't wait. You have a wonderful day. Pogo sends woofs to Izzi, hugs, Edna B.
What a beautiful raptor! Lady Hawk would find another meal if it hadn't been that one. Hope you don't feel responsible in any way as Nature will do what's needed to maintain balance. (Still tough to watch it, though!)
A bird has to eat! And it was a starling after all!
Time pressure is the bane of a bloggers life!! I never like leaving comments that could have been written without even looking at the pictures! It seems pointless - but I do feel obliged to reply, even if people have left comments if that type!
Yours (or course!) are of a different type - if I did awards, you would get one for best comments!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS: and don't think you have to write long comments all the time - just say hello if you are busy!
Actually I don't usually watch either, but on this day we were waiting for her to finish so we could take the dog out ... so naturally, if I had to keep an eye on it, I had to keep my camera on it.
Andrea
Very pretty images, even in knowing what has just taken place. Yes, it is part of the bigger picture and the way things were created to behave to survive. Her meal will hopefully get her through to the next. So few make it their first year out and even strong adults can be brought down by fierce Winters. Happy weekend~
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