[TN-Bird] Immature Cooper's on the deck + other "goodies."
- From: Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:01:29 EDT
Hello Birders,
At 6:53 AM, a gorgeous immature Cooper's hawk perched on a deck chair just
about twenty feet from where I was working at my computer here in the Charlotte
Park area of West Nashville (Davidson County) only a few blocks east the
Cumberland River's old Cleece's Ferry landing. Birds had been feeding on the
deck,
so the Cooper's probably decided to join my "Smorgabird" to feast on one of
my "guests." Since the "Immy" Coop was on the arm of the chair and at my
level, it was an eyeball to eyeball look. The darker top of its head was
evident,
and the long rounded tail was splendid. Naturally, my camera was on the
KITCHEN table where I'd left it after trying for hummingbirds yesterday, so
before
I could get back to the dining area and get it aimed, the "Coop" flew into the
tree above where it disappeared into the greenery. Interestingly, as the
bird approached the deck, one mourning dove slammed against the French doors in
a
hurry to get away. Although it made a massive "thud," it kept its composure
and managed to flee. The bevy of blue jays blared out their warnings to let
the Cooper's know it was not welcome. Otherwise, bird-dom has been silent, and
the deck is empty. I think "Immy Coop" is still in the tree above.
Until last Sunday, I have had NO baby cardinals at all this summer, and with
seven breeding-age couples, it seems strange to me. All my males have gone
through massive molts seemingly losing more feathers at a time than usual.
Finally, one "Daddy Card" brought ONE baby to feed, so I have quite a few
photos
of that activity. Yesterday, a "Mama Card" brought a second baby that she was
tending. Even though it seems that a lot of days fell between the arrival of
the two young birds, both adult birds were feeding both babies from time to
time, so I believe it is ONE family unit. Wonder if the Cooper's presence has
anything to do with the lack of cardinals? During all the years in the past,
I've had the little "black bills" all over the place.
Three mockingbird nests were filled with babies being fed when I left on June
13, but were apparently fledged and dispersed in the weeks that I was away.
I haven't seen any young mocks since my return. My adult mockers do not seem
to be doing "extra" nestings this year although all three couples are here to
eat every day. Now that the massive grape vine is filled with ripe and
ripening grapes, the mockers are "going for the grapes" instead of pouncing on
the
peanut butter as much. About ninety feet of very thick grape vine is covering
all of my deck rails, and it is constantly full of feeding birds.
The ONE baby towhee has been back to feed by itself several times, and the
parent birds have both been here on occasion.
I am overrun with baby titmice and chickadees, all of whom I've photographed
going for the peanut butter as well as enjoying the sunflower seeds and
thistle. As late as last week, one pair of chickadees was still feeding babies
inside an old downy woodpecker hole in my dead ash tree The downys were
hauling
sunflower seed to babies they were feeding in a tree in a neighbor's yard
behind my house.
Blue and lavender morning glories grow from container gardens on the deck and
have intertwined themselves with the grape vines. I just noticed a
hummingbird sipping from this morning's blossoms. A couple of cypress vines
have
intertwined in the grapes as well, but they have no blossoms this morning. I'm
having lots of immature and female hummingbirds feeding, but ONLY ONE male so
far
this summer, and he did not hang around long enough for a photo. Just a sip
or so, then up, up and away over the top of the house heading south!
When I just came back after answering the telephone and going to my back room
to get information for the caller, I found a freshly killed mouse (with a
hole in its neck) within three feet of the French doors. I did not notice
anything fly as I walked back into the room, but could "Immy Coop" have struck
in my
absence then left its prey in fright as I returned to the room?
Since returning from my trip, I haven't seen any cats in the area, so I don't
think that has been the problem regarding my cardinals & mockingbirds "poor
performance" in the propagation of their kind this year.
Cheers, prayers & blessings,
Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN
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