Periodically this 'winter' an im. Sharp-shinned Hawk will fly  between my 
deck and fence, trying to flush some sparrows from a long row of  azalea bushes 
(sometimes even hop on the ground underneath).  This morning,  hearing the 
commotion that usually accompanies its arrival, I looked out the  window and saw 
the hawk sitting on the railing of the deck.
A squirrel came running across the yard, climbed the deck and chased the  
hawk off the railing.  The hawk flew over to the fence. The same squirrel  came 
down from the deck, climbed the fence and ran across the top, right at the  
hawk.  The hawk fled to a tree.  The squirrel ran down the fence,  climbed the 
tree, ran down a branch just above the hawk.  The hawk finally  left the yard.  
I am sure glad the squirrel deigns to let me live in his  territory.  Maybe 
this is why the sparrows spill seed from the feeders onto  the ground, a payoff 
to Mr. Big.
 
Tom Beal
Glenn Dale, MD