I think I know who is to blame. The amateur experts tell me it is a Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk. Maybe!
At the very least they fight fair and don't use guns or bows and arrows. The Saw-whets don't spend much time on the ground, nor do most of our birds.
I've recovered 10 bird bodies last year. Two I took and released.
I have hauled out more frog bodies from the goldfish pond. I hope that is all. I'm not sure I can deepen it, it's 3' in the deep end. I'll look into a bubbler or heater. I feel awfully defeated.
I'm glad I brought some goldfish into the house for winter.
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| Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk |
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| Juvenile hawk at the goldfish pond |
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| hawk at the feeder |
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| Frog pond melting -no sign of the Muskrats, but the Wood ducks are back! |
I was happy to spot 6 Redpolls in the dead cherry tree. (It succumbed to the long winter last year, only 2 or 3 branches grew leaves.)
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| #69 |
16 comments:
I found where a hawk roosted when it ate muskrats. Lots of bones below. Coopers will stay where the food is good. Sad it battled a saw whet.
Beautiful feathered guests in your garden!
Your juvenile coopers is beautiful...I love the photo by the pond. But sadly it is wreaking havoc on your wildlife world, with the death of that saw-whet owl and the goldfish too! I hate that you've had those losses!
So sorry for the Little Owl.. But, the hawks shots are awesome. I love the cute deer and the pretty Redpolls.. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!
Sorry about the predation on your saw-whet. My pheasants have disappeared and a big red tailed hawk is hunting in this area. And so the circle of life revolves on! Charming video of the Smiths Falls muskrat. It seems to be enjoying the new grass shoots. So nice to see your wildlife cameos as they all go about their serious business of survival.
Cheers,
Florence
Nature can be cold and unforgiving! Don't feel defeated Jenn! So many birds and critters made it through the harsh winter because you cared! Love the Redpolls.
The hawk is very handsome. The deer are beautiful animals. Enjoy your weekend!
It is part of nature. As unpleasant as that can be.
Sorry to hear about the Saw-whet owl. Those photos are wonderful though. The realities of nature can keep us very much on our toes at times.
Hari OM
Such is the pecking order... it's clearly after all it can get. A thing of beauty in its own right... YAM xx
That's really too bad about your saw whet. However I guess the Cooper's hawk has to live too.
i have met a few people who love being at home ... i have times like that ... but i love traveling. & then i get tired of being away and love coming home. i keep saying i want to get overseas ... & i met a lady recently who said she has no desire to go overseas. i just want to see it because i have never been. makes me curious. ( :
have a nice weekend!! love your hawk.
Fantastic wildlife photos. How wonderful to be so close to nature. x
Such a feast of critters, Jenn!
ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Yes, it is nature, blog buddies. I've thought long and hard about whether it was a cat or the hawk. The kill site was different than anything the cats have demonstrated in their behaviours. The hawk has been more bold and more frequent. The saw-whet being here in the open, in the day time, was a clue. It seemed so vulnerable. I agonize over all of these deaths. It wear one down. I installed the Owl nesting box and hope it wasn't in vain.
Yes, Red. One snarky anonymous person, I deleted the post as spam, said it was a 'neighbour's cat'. I thought it was Buster for a time, but thinking it over, I'm not sure.
It broke my heart. It's been such a season of loss for us. I have to remember, with my depression symptoms increasing, that it's all a cycle.
Happily, hubby's cancer is holding steady and not getting worse. For now.
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