Super close up of a Cooper's Hawk sitting on the gate to my back yard 09262020 (Tucson: house, live)

[bkolodzi]

I was in my bedroom getting ready to close the window when I saw something big fly by the window. I slowly moved to where I could see out the window a little better and saw what I believe to be a young adult Cooper's Hawk sitting on the gate to my back yard in Green Valley. He was obviously hunting. I was able to slip away from the window and get my camera and return without scaring the Hawk, so I was able to get a couple of minutes of video from only 6 to 8 feet away. The video was through a window, so it is not completely clear, but it was a real treat to see this raptor this close. This was 7:49 am 09/26/2020. Just 30 minutes or so later, I was walking to my neighbors house to help with a courtyard project when I saw a Cooper's Hawk chase and miss a dove. He landed in a tree next to my neighbors driveway. I did not have my camera, so I got a little cell phone video, but it was not very clear, so I did not use it. The Music is a song called Tucson Tease by John Deley and the 41 Players from the Youtube audio library. I hope you enjoy the video!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T20yRi4-SE

[hikernut]

Nice!

We saw our first one of the year last week. Usually they are pretty skittish, but it let us watch for a few minutes before leaving. One of our dogs saw it fly in and land on a neighbor's tree.

[bkolodzi]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Nice!

We saw our first one of the year last week. Usually they are pretty skittish, but it let us watch for a few minutes before leaving. One of our dogs saw it fly in and land on a neighbor's tree.

Lucky you hikernut! These birds are just so beautiful and majestic, it makes my soul happy to see one! I have seen them in action and they are amazing in the air when after prey, it is like watching a WWII dogfight!

[MGS4EVER]

I have a nesting pair of Coop's in my tree. Yours appears to be an adult based on the tail feathers. My hawks had 3 babies: 2 male and one female. They were a treat to watch all summer. They love water and I have 2 shallow water "bowls" basically what you put under pots to collect the water. If you have those, make sure you clean them every day to prevent the spread of a deadly disease.

When my Cooper's were learning to hunt, they tried everything. One morning they tried the pack approach. There were birds flying everywhere! The 3 Coop's and small birds flying for their lives! It was hilarious. They would love to hang out on my back porch on one of my chairs. I could sit there with my morning coffee and just watch her. They grew up watching me from their nest, so I guess they knew I wasn't a threat.

[bkolodzi]

Originally Posted by MGS4EVER

I have a nesting pair of Coop's in my tree. Yours appears to be an adult based on the tail feathers. My hawks had 3 babies: 2 male and one female. They were a treat to watch all summer. They love water and I have 2 shallow water "bowls" basically what you put under pots to collect the water. If you have those, make sure you clean them every day to prevent the spread of a deadly disease.

When my Cooper's were learning to hunt, they tried everything. One morning they tried the pack approach. There were birds flying everywhere! The 3 Coop's and small birds flying for their lives! It was hilarious. They would love to hang out on my back porch on one of my chairs. I could sit there with my morning coffee and just watch her. They grew up watching me from their nest, so I guess they knew I wasn't a threat.

You are SO lucky to have a nest nearby!!! I have a neighbor about a block away that had a nest in a Palo Verde tree just outside their backyard fence, and they said they would get physically attacked if they went in their back yard! Apparently a baby fell from the nest and some rescue group came out and re-nested it. When those young ones were gone, they brought out an orphaned pair to see if Momma would take care of them and she did! It was a really wonderful story!!!

[MGS4EVER]

Originally Posted by bkolodzi

You are SO lucky to have a nest nearby!!! I have a neighbor about a block away that had a nest in a Palo Verde tree just outside their backyard fence, and they said they would get physically attacked if they went in their back yard! Apparently a baby fell from the nest and some rescue group came out and re-nested it. When those young ones were gone, they brought out an orphaned pair to see if Momma would take care of them and she did! It was a really wonderful story!!!

When the "kids" were still in the nest, one, the female, decided that she would fly down to see me at the pool. She was still too small to really fly and could not get back to the nest. We put her back on a lower branch and she rested there all night. In the morning though, she worked her way back up the tree to the nest by hopping from branch to branch. About 40 ft. She's always been my favorite. She's the one who would hang out on the chair on our back patio. Not now, of course, she's older and has left the nest. I've only seen one of her brothers hanging around in addition to the parents.

[bkolodzi]

Originally Posted by MGS4EVER

When the "kids" were still in the nest, one, the female, decided that she would fly down to see me at the pool. She was still too small to really fly and could not get back to the nest. We put her back on a lower branch and she rested there all night. In the morning though, she worked her way back up the tree to the nest by hopping from branch to branch. About 40 ft. She's always been my favorite. She's the one who would hang out on the chair on our back patio. Not now, of course, she's older and has left the nest. I've only seen one of her brothers hanging around in addition to the parents.

Very cool that you got to participate in the hawks life!!!

[NORTY FLATZ]

Awesome bird!

[Hawk J]

Howdy Bart, Awesome bird & video...

Sometimes a pair of Bald Eagles or Osprey nest in an old growth Doug Fir along the canyon. We immensely enjoy watching them. At times they take some fish out of the bass pond.
Thankyou.

[bkolodzi]

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

Awesome bird!

I 100% agree with you NORTY FLATZ!