Bird Watching: LOOK WHO CAME TO DINNER, 1 by docgipe

docgipe wrote:
Here is a photomanaged pix. Maybe that will help someone. I may never see it fly. We only get to see any preditor species in a glimpse a time or two each summer. It's size of about 20" would eliminate Sharp Shinned and the square tail eliminates the Coopers.
........Maybe we will not get an ID just from this pix??? My eyes likely would not be good enough to see a wing pattern in flight.

.......The gentleman from OK seems to be confused. I don't believe we have talked about any song birds in this thread with the exception of the one our hawk ate. I believe the birds of prey are banded and recorded to have lived, nested and fledged their young for many years at the same and different locations. We have local records that Bald Eagles have covered several hundred miles of movement from year to year because neighboring states have confirmed from leg banded birds as we have recorded eagles...both Bald and Golden from surrounding states in our state. We have others that have moved fifty miles and a year or two later came back into our area exactly where they were adults nesting or grown nestlings banded here that left and returned here over several years. Shooting them is a badge of honor among those that who would defy any authority. We catch and severely punish one on occasion but often that just puts them back in the hunt mader, ready to shoot more and a bit more skilled at avoiding authority. These are not hunters. They are poachers who kill for profit and honor amongst theives.
I know of no situation outside of young kids with BB guns shooting song birds with the exception of Starlings and English Sparrows. A major killer of song birds are the people who feed them to close to windows. Broken wings and necks are common as they fly into the windows. We try and help the feeders get moved and reset when this comes to our attention.