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Subject:

Juveniles fly the COOP in Darnestown

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Don Simonson

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Fri, 21 Jul 2006 00:55:36 +0000

We have TWO baby hawks!  I heard an unusual hissing bird call this morning in the trees behind the barn, it persisted, and then I spotted one baby hawk perched, and then the other. They flapped among the trees, in our yard and the neighbors', and perched. Although they were opening their mouths wide begging piteously for food they looked very well fed!  I heard an adult calling far off. I had seen a big female adult yesterday in the yard. These are just-fledged Cooper's Hawks. Like most hawks and owls (and humans!), they leave the nest as soon as they can fly, but are not yet able to feed themselves. For several days they screech for food and the parents must bring it to them.  Cooper's Hawks diet consists almost entirely of small birds (and the occasional chipmunk or squirrel); normally the bluebirds, cardinals, etc vanish and freeze the instant a Cooper's appears anywhere nearby. This morning however, the small birds were going about their business in full view of the hawks. I ha
ve never seen this before. Obviously they knew these were very young hawks and posed no threat.  I made some sketches and then had to leave for work. 
Don Simonson, Darnestown, MD Montgomery County