Years ago, I noticed that a Cooper's Hawk and Great Horned Owl seemed to be almost friendly if that is at all possible in the world of predatory birds. The pair could often be found in the same tree. Usually, I would notice the hawk first then, if I carefully looked, the owl would be just a few feet away. This odd relationship continued for years. Eventually, neither bird could be found. I would often hear hawks and owls but the odd pair had disappeared. Perhaps age caught up with them. I missed seeing these birds but life went on and they were soon nothing but a happy memory. Then...this morning...another odd pair appeared.
I was coming back from my usual predawn walk to the pier when I heard the loud call of a Red-shouldered Hawk. They have a very distinct (and loud!) call so it was easy to know who was in the backyard. I eased my way around through the garden and back behind the shed. There, in a tall pine tree, my loud-mouthed bird was perched. The sun had not risen enough to get clear photographs of the bird from my angle so I "boldly" walked out nearer the tree. I figured the hawk would take flight and that would be the end of that! Nope, the hawk continued to yell all the while looking down upon me. So...a few photo attempts through the darkness. It was not until I had taken a dozen or so pictures, that I noticed the owl just a few branches below the hawk. A Great Horned Owl stared at me without making a sound. Well, now! A new pair of odd "friends" were making the rounds...the owl for perhaps a final snack before nodding off to slumber-land and the hawk searching for its first meal of the day.
If I see these two together again, it will be an odd occurrence especially after the previous sightings of an owl and hawk together. That arrangement lasted nigh on 9 years. It would seem strange if another pair continued the saga. I will have to take special notice on my early morning hikes for the next few weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment