The Odd Couple!

Now a conundrum..do owls and hawks get along together well enough to become friends?  To answer this, I researched all I could  find on both the Great Horned Owl and the Cooper's Hawk..the two birds in question.  Most all I could find said that there is no way that these two birds should be friendly with one another. The Great Horned Owl should be a predator to the smaller Cooper's Hawk, yet, it seems as if I have a pair that are buddies. Early this morning, my friendly mockingbird awoke me at the crack of dawn.  Normally, I would have gotten up and headed to the pier to watch the sunrise but this morning a fine mist of rain and distant thundering changed the plans.  I sat listening to the mockingbird and staring out the window.  Suddenly, the watchbirds of the Bayou sent up a ruckus!  The blue jays had found some intruder and they were not about to sit idly by and let it interrupt their peaceful morning.  After a few minutes, I heard the telltale call of a Cooper's Hawk come from the nearby pine tree.  Aha!  So that was the culprit!  Rain or not, I slipped out the front door and to the rose arbor.  From there, I could see the pine tree but also get a bit of shelter.  Sure enough, I saw a large bird in the treetop!   I took a few pictures before retreating into the Little Bayou House.  I knew better than getting my camera soaked!  I had my picture of the hawk and was plenty satisfied.

Great Horned Owl waiting for breakfast.

Imagine my surprise when I viewed the pictures and found that I had not photographed a hawk at all!  Where there should have been a slender hawk was none other than the Great Horned Owl!  Now that was strange!  Surely, I had not misheard or imagined the call of the Cooper's Hawk.  It is very distinct.  But..pictures do not lie.  I had taken a picture of an owl.  Hmmm?  By this time, the rain was harder and the smaller birds had chased the predator far down into the Bayou.  For now, there was peace at the feeders.

Great Horned Owl on the lower limb of a pine tree.  Cooper's Hawk sitting just above.  These two seem to be unlikely friends.

A bit later, I heard the same ruckus.  This time it was back behind the shed so I had a bit of cover.  Sure enough, I heard the Cooper's Hawk call.  Surely, that owl was not mimicking a hawk!  I photographed the owl.  After about five minutes of staring at the owl, I heard the call again.  The owl had not made the noise!  Just above the owl was a hawk!  The same two birds were once again in the same tree.  As matter of fact, they were just a few feet apart!  I watched as the blue jays pestered the poor hawk. None were even noticing the owl for the moment. Finally having enough of this torment, the hawk flew down behind the peach orchard.  To my surprise, the owl followed and landed in the same Black Gum tree that the hawk had chosen.  This was getting too strange!

Cooper's Hawk eyeing the doves at the bird feeder.

Were these two friends?  Was there some sort of relationship based on food supply?  Was the owl using the hawk to deter the wrath of the blue jays?  I have no clue but whatever the attraction is between this odd couple, it seems to be working.  I will keep watch on the feeders to see if either or both raptors are hiding nearby.  My poor doves will be double-teamed!