Where The Wild Things Are

In our town, there are some raptor cages at the back of the high school. My son attends a preschool at the high school. So, in the mornings when it's not too cold, the birds are out in the enclosures. There is a permanent resident, a Kestrel named Hayley. And, they usually rotate a larger raptor with other wildlife rehabilitators. This year we have a barred owl named Scout.

We had an exciting moment last week. As we drove around the corner, we spotted a wild Cooper's hawk, perched atop the kestrel enclosure. I joked about "cousin Coop" coming for a visit. But, I knew in reality the larger hawk was looking for a meal. Technically, Cooper's hawks are falcons - short wings, long tail and they primarily prey on other birds and even bats, sometimes. It didn't surprise me that they would go after a kestrel.

I did not want to spook away the Cooper's hawk by opening the car door, so I put down the passenger window and took an awkward photo with my cell phone.

I only had a brief glimpse but I did not see the kestrel flying around in a panic and I didn't hear any distress, though I wasn't close, either.

But hey  - neat photo and the kestrel was safe in her enclosure.

I posted this photo to the Science Center Facebook page, thinking they would enjoy it. They asked me for my phone number to ask some questions.

I got the call this morning.

Hayley the kestrel was found dead in her pen on Sunday. *sad face*

She was a healthy little bird, and now they think the hawk might have harassed her into fatally harming herself in the pen. Autopsy pending.

Before this, the only suspect was a house cat that comes around and might have induced the bird into a similar panic.

Sad, but I'm glad I could shed light on their mystery.

An Alarm of Crows

Last night, at dusk, I heard crows cawing outside. I've had some experience listening to crows. They have a distinctive caw when they are raising an alarm. Usually, they are busy harassing a hawk. Being the raptor-phile that I am, I started glancing out windows, looking to the sky and trees.

I spotted one crow directly behind my house, perched in a maple tree. I couldn't see any hawk. The crow flew off, over the roof, and headed to the front yard. I followed from the kitchen to the living room and gazed out the picture window, still searching for a hawk.

Then I saw what the crows saw. I should have been looking down.

I just caught a glimpse of the red fox as it leapt over a stone wall into my neighbor's yard. I also spotted a white flash dashing. I assume it was a rabbit, but it all happened so fast it might have been the white tip of the tail of a second fox. Entirely unsure on that point.

If you've friended me on Facebook, this won't come as a surprise. Just two nights ago I overheard neighbors talking about hearing a fishercat, and it turns out foxes and fishercats sound similar when making their loud cries. I was suspecting a fox, I've had them traipse through the yard before. But with our healthy population of rodentia this year, I wonder if this fox will stick around. He has plenty to dine upon - chipmunks, red squirrels, gray squirrels, black squirrels, rabbits and we just spotted the woodchuck again over the weekend.

I'm fine with that, it's neat. Only slight concern is for my kids & wife outside playing. Rabid foxes, it seems for some reason, have no fear and attack people. I have no reason to believe this fox is unhealthy, but we'll be vigilant.