I had scattered seeds that morning and was surprised to look out the back window and see only squirrels where there had been literally a hundred birds just a few minutes before. I returned about 15 minutes later and still no birds. Lots of squirrels, but no songbirds. I decide to explore and sure enough, high in the tallest maple tree, was a hawk. And the birds knew it. This was a Broad-Winged hawk, too small to do battle with a squirrel, but the perfect size for dive bombing a dove or blue jay. I walked out to the tree, clapped my hands and yelled and finally the hawk soared away. I don’t know where my resident crows were, or they would have done the job for me.
I have two types of hawks, that I know of, that make regular flights across my back yard. The Broad-Winged and a much larger Red-Tailed hawk. When the big fellow is around, the squirrels make themselves scarce. I think a Red-Tail hawk could make off with a small cat or a poodle.
Hawks obviously play an important role in nature. They feed mostly on mice and rodents, though they catch their share of songbirds and animals. I’m all for hawks, but I’d rather they stay in somebody else’s back yard. The reason they are attracted to mine is, of course, because of all he birds I have.
It’s funny, though, that hawks actually warn their prey of their presence with their shrill cries. It’s as if they are giving the birds and animals a sporting chance. But if there is a hawk around, the birds can sense it and literally disappear.
I once went falconing with a young man who had a Harris Hawk. We had a German Shorthair Pointer and the idea was to find a covey of quail and let the hawk catch one on the covey rise. Sure enough, the dog went on point and the hawk took notice. His keen eyes scoured the landscape and the falconer moved ahead kicking, trying to get the birds to fly. But they wouldn’t. He kicked and kicked, and the dog held steady. There was no doubt in my mind the quail were there, but they knew the hawk was waiting, and they refused to fly, Finally, the covey took flight. The hawk was off like a rocket and as a singled-out quail reached a fence line, the hawk extended his talons. At the very last second, the quail took a quick dive and the hawk missed.
Later, the hungry hawk settled for a field mouse, pouncing quickly on the unsuspecting rodent. Once a hawk eats, he no longer will hunt. They are not like cats, who kill just for the hell of it.
I like hawks, but I like my songbirds better.
Squirrels? The hawks can have all they want.