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Project Noah Nature School
Accipiter cooperii and Colaptes auratus auratus
Cooper's Hawk after initial take down of Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker Cooper's Hawks are medium-sized hawks with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail. Cooper’s Hawk's heads often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded. Adults have steely blue-gray above with warm reddish bars on the underparts and thick dark bands on the tail. Juveniles are brown above and streaked with brown on the upper breast.
Wooded habitats from deep forests to leafy subdivisions and backyards.
This sighting and these photographs were taken on a Sunday afternoon, in a county park in the middle of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was with my wife and two grand kids ( ages 7 and 2) and we were there to see the wood ducks, and had just gone to see some owls. My wife took my grandkids to the swings and slides just about 150 meters from where this took place. There was a battle for life, as the northern flicker cried out and screamed and fought to escape. Those cries were heard by very few, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to make this spotting. I had no idea before hand that a hawk was in the area.
Spotted on Apr 29, 2012
Submitted on May 6, 2012
152 Comments (1–25)
Love all birds especially birds of prey
Thanks much, Hernandezwolf99, Searra K Baguley, staccyh, and Jack Settle.
Wow!
Great spotting, cant believe its taken me this long to come across it! Nature at its purest.
I love your pictures! You're right, something has to die for something else to eat. I witnessed a red-shouldered hawk catch a snake (I am a big snake and also a big bird guy) but I found it cool because of the precision on the hawk's side. I had to crop the pictures, because I only have a zoom power of 300mm, and I wasn't that close. But it was still really cool!
Thank you! I as well look forward to seeing much more of your spottings!
First let me say thank you for following me young Jack. I like you, love flickers and was sad to see its life end so violently. That however is the reality of nature. Many creatures including very beautiful ones fall prey to others. In this case, I witnessed the process almost from the very beginning. The Northern flicker was alive and screaming for its life, but the coopers hawk in his need to eat would not allow the bird to live. Nature sometimes can be quite violent and cruel. Keep up your quest to learn and study more about the amazing creatures that share your area with you. I look forward to seeing more of your captures in the weeks, months and years to come.
A belated thank you out sidegirl 0 for you kind words.
Wow! Although I like flickers, this is amazing!
very cooool
A very belated thank you Brendahoffman324, It appears that the powers that be do not think it important for people to see comments left for them on their profile. I would have responded sooner had I known you posted a comment.
Thanks so much Toucan. I appreciate your comments and am glad you enjoy my attempts to capture the beauty I see in creation.
Fantastic captures =)
http://www.facebook.com/william.joers
google+ is as follows: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105988208876...
Yeah sure...so sweet of u....can u provide the link of ur facebook page?
Adarsha B S, I have a facebook page where I will friend you if you request it. It can be found on my profile page. I also post photos on Google+. The best way to chat would be on facebook, and either place is good to see more of my work. I would be honored to call you my friend.
Thanks so much BrendaHoffman 324 I like this shot as well, it captures him well, and for those who look closely it allows them to know he was dining on a bird, as there is blood on his beak. Many think it just a portrait, and do not look closely enough to realize the blood both on his beak and tongue.
Yeah..thats surely an incredible spotting! Specially 2nd,4th,6th are just right in the moments...i am getting interested in making friendship with you after seeing your work! Can i know u?
Adarsha B S I love photography and wildlife and will spend at least a few hours a week trying to capture stunning photos. You are quite correct that this might be a life time shot for me. Rarely is a person in the right place at the right time and have a camera there with him. I was walking to make some captures of some wood ducks when this event went down. I would say I was blessed.
Thats a life time shot !
A very belated thank you TKBotting, and Adam Braz tb2 for your comments. To say I was blessed to be their to capture this is an understatement. Glad to share, and glad you enjoyed.
Amazing shots! Thanks for sharing!
nice find!!!!
Thank you so much for the kind and glowing words SunnyJosef
Incredible series.
Thanks Matimar1, fati1, and pauli1 for your wonderful comments. This is one of my favorite spottings. Often times I know the bird is there when I go to the area to make my spotting. In this case I was in the area to photograph some wood ducks and perhaps a green heron if they were still present. This guy kept me from finding the green heron and held up my shoot of the wood ducks. I am not complaining one bit. :)
Thanks Joshua, I am truly flattered.
Thanks as well Jen. J. This spotting simply happened because I had my camera, and the scene went down while I was in a place to witness it.