Bird Watching: More Bluebird Happenings , 1 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
Speaking of mockingbirds and hawks. I was surprised and saddened two days ago to see a hawk swoop in a take a bird off the perch near the mealworm feeder. I saw him do it but it happened so fast I couldn't tell if it was one of my bluebirds. He flew to the trellis at the back of our lot and proceeded to work on his catch there. I reeled off more than 400 pictures, mostly trying to tell what species the captured bird was. It turned out to be a female house finch. I was releived, but still I felt guilty since the bird was where she was because of seed I put out.

Some of the shots are very graphic, as you might imagine. But let me tell you about the mockingbirds. The trellis is only 20 feet or so from their nest where they had several chicks ready to fledge. The mockers did not notice the hawk for a few minutes, but when they did, they began to dive-bomb him repeatedly until he left, with them chasing him.

In this first shot you see a mockingbird zeroing in on the hawk.