Seward, Alaska
This was a day for
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS! In the morning, I watched a juvenile Sharpie chase
STELLER’S JAYS and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES around my neighborhood. He announced
his presence on a perch in a cottonwood with piercing cries, warning every bird
around. That only seemed to attract the Corvids, as if to play.
Nonchalantly picking at the
ground under the tree, the Jays feigned ignorance. Then down swooped the fierce
hawk and the Jays merely flew into the nearby spruce to jeer. Around and around
to no avail the hawk flew. Nearby Magpies chattered conversationally as if
critiquing its form. Were they coaches or potential prey? Judging from its lack
of success, either the hawk was not listening, or it just had really bad
judgment in its choice of prey.
Later that afternoon across
the bay, I spied another juvenile Sharpie perched on a snag, its tail spread
wide, its wings held open, trying to dry out. Though I was far away and in my
car, he fixed his yellow eyes on me and carefully turned around to watch me
watch him.
I left him hanging loose to
air dry in the light rain, hoping that both youngsters found something to eat
today.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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