For the past several days a large Red-shouldered Hawk has spent some time perched in trees around my house.  I find it interesting that the other birds:  Mourning Doves, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches, etc. do not hide from the "shoulder."  When a Coopers Hawk or Sharpie is around, the other birds disappear as if by magic.  Today a couple of squirrels also acted unafraid of the hawk, approaching within 10 or 15 feet of its perch in a tree.


Cliff Comeau
Beltsville, MD