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Red-shouldered Hawk |
Hawk harassment--it happens all the time. A Red-shouldered Hawk sits perched in a branch minding its own business, doing no harm. Then, for no apparent reason, a Red-winged Blackbird begins to pester the hawk until it finally decides to fly away. But it doesn't end there; the blackbird follows the hawk to pester it as it flees.
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Red-shouldered Hawk |
Red-winged Blackbirds aren't the only culprits. Blue Jays sometimes get in on the action as well.
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Red-shouldered Hawk and Blue Jay |
And then there's those grackles. Sometimes they get into the action as well.
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Red-shouldered Hawk and Grackle |
Well I said that these birds harass hawks for no
apparent reason. The other day I was walking outside on a phone call, and I heard a bunch of commotion--there were Blue Jays in a tree going crazy. I walked over to see the cause for the alarm, and there was a Red-shouldered Hawk perched over a nest. I didn't see what it took, since I saw the hawk from behind, and it flew away from me. I had neither my camera nor my binoculars. But I strongly suspect it made off with at least one of the Blue Jay nestlings. I've seen these hawks flying with baby ducks and even Pileated Woodpecker nestlings. So, I guess if one of these guys is perched near your nest, you have some reason for some concern, and some justification for harassment.
I saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher harassing one this week, and then another going after an owl a couple days ago. I'm not sure why the hawk/owl doesn't just eat the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher! They just put up with the harassment.
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