For quite a few days I had not seen the Hawk Babies on those trees next door, though I did see them circling quite a bit and gliding about on the air waves the way they do, over the city.....then, pretty much nothing. I have no idea where they go now or if indeed they have moved on to greener pastures...But then finally, very late Thursday Afternoon...on July 3rd, there was one Hawk Baby up on one of the trees, (at least I think it was a Hawk Baby. It might have been one of the parents).....It made me so happy to see them again...or I should say one of them, again....
I went out to the landing that precedes the steps going down the side of my house, carrying my sturdy camera with me and began to snap away, as I have done so very many times in these past 2 1/2 months...And I saw a strange phenomenon......
I saw something I had seen only a few other times...a little bird flying around the Hawk. The Hawk, seemingly indifferent to this little bird.
Only this time there seemed to be a kind of aggressive insistence to this little birds visit.....Well, here are two little Videos showing you better than I can tell you.....
More To Come......
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had this to say:
Your video of the hawk and the
mockingbird were interesting.
I live in central west Florida
and view many kinds of birds from
my backyard. We have a pair of
redtailed hawks who frequent our
area & "sad to say" like to eat
the smaller birds. The mockingbirds
are quite brave and will attack
the hawks when they are in the
area...especially when they are
nesting. I have seen them fly at
their tail & chase them off.
Last week my husband was washing
the car in the driveway & a mock-
ingbird who was nesting in the
tree above him, flew down and
flapped its wings right on his
elbow as he was bending down.
He said it didn't hurt and he
was amused. They will fly right
at your head if you are in
"their" space. So maybe your
mockingbird was trying to chase
the hawk away.
I enjoy reading your blog.
Looks like you had a lovely
birthday with good friends.
Jann- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 2:04:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi Naomi! Since my Hawk babies have been around I've done quite a bit of research and have learned a lot about them. In regards to the mockingbird you saw with your hawk, here is what I've learned:
" It is commonly harassed by crows, magpies, owls, other hawks, and even songbirds over territorial disputes, though it is generally not injured". I thought my babies were gone because I didn't hear them yesterday but today they were here again. I had no idea how long they would stick around but again, in doing research I found out that once they leave the nest to start flying, also known as the 'fledging' period that lasts up to 10 weeks while they learn to fly and hunt. Don't you just love them?! I do!- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 2:33:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Oh how interesting. I'm thinking maybe it's a territorial thing and that is one brave mockingbird!
We've apparently just been through a learning to fly time at work. I bird built it's mud nest on top of a light just over our door and hatched at least two babies. Last week we'd see their heads occasionally as we went by but it was difficult to get a good look as two adult birds would swoop down at us. You had to be quick. Now they are gone.- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 4:19:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi, when my children were young and played out in our yard all the time, we had a mockingbird that would "dive bomb" and attack us when we went too close to a certain tree. She had a nest in it and was afraid that we would get her babies. Maybe that mockingbird has built a nest nearby and was afraid? Although yours did look more playful than the one I mentioned. I can't believe the hawk just sat there and took it....LOL
- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 5:17:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Great pics. I wish I could provide some information, but I've got nothing.
Have you confirmed the big one is a hawk? It's obviously a bird of prey, but it looks to large of a hawk and the beak looks more "eagle-ish."
Cheers.- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 6:46:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I think time will tell if there is a nest nearby that the bird is protecting. But imagine the nerve of pecking at the hawk and the hawk just taking the hits.
Hmm, very interesting video. You sound like you recovered from your partying too!- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 11:43:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
That bird reminds me of the Cuban guys here in Miami. They're always pecking at the women! (Sorry, I can't be of any more help!)
I love the pictures! I'm glad you saw the hawks again...it's a good sign!- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 5:34:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Yep, I'm in agreement with your other Commenters, that little bird was likely nesting nearby and didn't take kindly to a predator that close. I've seen this quite frequently.
- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 5:40:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
The little bird was angry.
The big bird didn't give a shit.
So it goes.- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 5:41:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I'm sorry to say that the little bird was fighting not playing. She probably has a nest and eggs or babies somewhere close. Baby birds are on Hawk's menu. It's sad but it's nature.
- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7:22:00 PM PDT
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Alas, not a lot of hawks in Toronto. Ha!
- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7:56:00 PM PDT
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Well, it sounds like Old Horse Tail got it out plain and simple....lol
Our cats are always getting "dive bombed" by the mockingbirds. They don't like it and run for cover...Keep watching those babies.- Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 10:06:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I vote for the "nest nearby" group lol.. birds get pretty aggressive when they have young of their own in a nest. But the hawk sure seems undisturbed by the whole thing lol
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 3:29:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
As other commenters have said, protective behavior is what I see the smaller bird doing. I have watched tiny songbirds dive bomb eagles and the eagle only wants to get away. It's strange as the eagle would kill and eat them if it could, but the birds stay above and seem to move faster hence chasing off the bigger bird. You got some fantastic photos. How symbolic
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 7:49:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I've always been amused by how brave little birds seem to be about attacking hawks and eagles -- and how unaffected the hawks and eagles are.
Just this weekend I watched a tiny bird harrassing a young bald eagle who was flying over a nearby field. Another time I saw something similar, only it was an adult bald eagle. That time the eagle reacted a bit and actually rolled in the air! It was a bit like watching a 747 roll -- whether it's technically possible or not, it just looks wrong!- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 9:26:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Birds are so fascinatng; I often wonder what they are thinking. Had a parakeet that made his own sentences, nun and verb, but you have an interesting thing going on there!
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 11:46:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
The little one is one brave bird! I think it's trying to scare the other one off.
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 4:03:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Those videos are great. I'm afraid I must agree with others here. I have seen this behaviour in birds in the UK. If a bird of prey gets too near a nest then the smaller bird parents will 'see off' the larger bird in order to protect their young.
Those little mocking birds seem to be quite fiesty :) Thanks for sharing these little insights into the lives of your wild neighbours :)- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 4:17:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I think your previous commenters have said it all. The mockingbird likely has a nest nearby and knows all too well what hawks like for dinner.
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 7:03:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Well they seem an unlikely pair, like the contrast between a peace dove and a war hawk. But in this case I think the white bird is the aggressor. I have seen small birds harass bigger ones like this.
- Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 8:14:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi, there are many hawks on the Pinehurst golf courses...and more than once I have watched a hawk dive down and pick up a squirrel in its claws and carry it to a nearby tree top. Just a week ago it happened about 10 yards in front of my golf cart as I was driving to a course. I hate em!!!
- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 2:39:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Miss you Noami....sorry I did not visit earlier my computer crashed ;(
Thanks for sharing your pals again :D- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 8:22:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Great pics Naomi!!
- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 10:23:00 AM PDT
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Beautiful!!!! So much grace!
- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:56:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Remember me? I have just faded away, I know, but I feel the old blogger in me gearing back up. Having some health problems that I haven't wanted to blog about, but am feeling more like getting back in the groove of late. To that end I decided to stop by and am so glad I did. The things you see, and are able to capture photographically, are amazing. Thanks for sharing them!
- Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 2:28:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Wow! You did an amazing video Naomi! Just great seeing the little bird knocking and pecking
the hawk! And the hawk was impassible! LOL! I have no idea what the little bird was doing... so interesting indeed!
Thanks my dear for your nice comment on my blog yesterday! I could not comment because the Blogger was very bad yesterday!- Friday, July 11, 2008 at 8:09:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Nice videos Naomi!! I think Old Horsetail Snake had it right! LOL
- Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 11:26:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Because you paid attention, it's amazing what you caught on video, Naomi!
I think I agree with some of the other commenters here. I know next to nothing about bird behavior, but it does seem like a territorial thing to me.
Terri
http://www.islandwriter.net- Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 9:05:00 AM PDT
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