tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376461317244790864.post822518912036576488..comments2024-03-27T02:27:45.613-07:00Comments on OC Birder Girl: Cooper's Hawk--Accipiter cooperiiOrange County Birder Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773083973078077728noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376461317244790864.post-88394811760090888422008-10-22T20:25:00.000-07:002008-10-22T20:25:00.000-07:00Since you mention hummingbirds, I am assuming thes...Since you mention hummingbirds, I am assuming these are birds you are feeding in your yard. I can understand your concern and anger that the birds in your yard were killed. It is natural to become attached to birds we feed. I can tell you that attracting a lot of birds to your yard to feeders you have out will always attract hawks like Cooper's and others that eat birds. It is a natural buffet for the hawks. You re-route the Cooper's Hawks by taking in your feeders for a few weeks until the birds go away. The Coopers Hawks will leave in search of other food. Then after a few weeks, put one or two feeders out. Try putting out water or plants that have flowers for hummingbirds. Planting bushes and trees and making sure neither food nor water is far from shelter in case of danger will help as well. You may not attract as many but they may stay longer in the shelter you provide and they will be safer in smaller numbers. They may even nest. Just to address the bodies you are finding of decapitated birds. Cooper's Hawks and other other hawks rarely leave prey and to my knowledge do not display territorial dominance with prey species such as doves, pigeons, or hummingbirds. I think something else may be happening. You may want to keep your eye out for things that might be scaring the Cooper's Hawks into abandoning very tasty prey. Another species of bird called a Loggerhead Shrike actually kills birds and hangs them up on fences and sharp branches for later. Loggerhead Shrikes have been know to kill birds as large as Dove or pigeons. Cooper's Hawks and other hawks are invaluable for keeping down the rodent population. Good luck, I hope this helps.Orange County Birder Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11773083973078077728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376461317244790864.post-2871904202106943862008-10-22T18:08:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:08:00.000-07:00Isn't there a way to safely re-route these Cooper ...Isn't there a way to safely re-route these Cooper Hawks to someplace else? They decapitate my doves, hummingbirds and pigeons. I never see them eat their prey. They either only attack and decapitate to show their territory or to enforce their superiority. Not once have I seen them consume their prey. They drop the bodies immediatly and the head later on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376461317244790864.post-316290446141891342008-03-29T05:05:00.000-07:002008-03-29T05:05:00.000-07:00As my nephew Charlie would say, "Excellent!" Glad...As my nephew Charlie would say, "Excellent!" Glad the pictures helped. Cooper's Hawks are great little hawks. Not as small as American Kestrals--who are downright cute--but smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk and the Red-shouldered. Whenever you have bird feeders, birds, or water, you also eventually have Cooper's Hawks. <BR/><BR/>I had several bird feeders on my patio at my apartment in the San Fernando Valley> One afternoon, a Cooper's Hawk crashed into my lattice during a fast pursuit of a bird. It ended up sitting one of my potted rose bushes.<BR/><BR/>You are close to so many great birding places in Huntington Beach including Bolsa Chica and Carr Park--right around the corner. I am sure you will see lots more bird activity. Again, glad the blog helped. "Excellent."Orange County Birder Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11773083973078077728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376461317244790864.post-72368245389115678582008-03-28T17:28:00.000-07:002008-03-28T17:28:00.000-07:00OC Birder Girl,We used your photo's and info about...OC Birder Girl,<BR/>We used your photo's and info about the Cooper's Hawk to help id one that paid us a visit, twice this March, and used our bird bath! We live just off the Meadowlark Golf Course and have never seen one this close. Thanks for being there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com