Hello,



I have been observing a pair of Cooper's Hawks at Wallace Swamp Creek Park since mid-February; they have a nest high in a fir tree.



Sunday, I was quite a distance from their area when I heard repeated calls from the Cooper's. They have been quiet and elusive for some time so I was anxious to find out what was causing the commotion; maybe the babies had fledged. When I got there I could hear the hawk call from low branches very close to the trail. Everyone else in the neighborhood was pretty quiet, except one brave Mama Rufous Hummingbird; who was letting the hawk know in no uncertain terms that it was trespassing.



I don't know exactly where the hummer's nest is but I see and hear her in a nearby blackberry tangle almost every time I go by.

I saw just one hummingbird but I heard, possibly two more. I think the female and her fledglings were all taking on the Cooper's. They hurling verbal abuses at the hawk, I got one good look at Mrs. R, her beautiful tail feathers FANNED OUT, CHARGING the hawk .

The hawk flew from branch to branch staying about 20' from the trail; Mrs. Rufous was in its face the whole time. She finally drove the hawk deeper into the woods and the other neighbors Bushtits, Robins, and Chickadees etc. came out of hiding.

I had seen her take on this hawk once before, that day; I heard what sounded to me like a Junco's call note.

Since I hadn't seen Juncos in the park for a while, I investigated more closely and finally found a female Rufous scolding for all she was worth, face to face with the Cooper's.



Monday morning I saw a Cooper's soaring across the park's meadow, right on its tail were a Violet-green Swallow and a Hummingbird. They both charged the hawk, getting close enough to make the hawk flinch. Maybe they even hit it.

They may be little but those birds are sure BOLD!







Linda Phillips

Kenmore, 98028-2616

linda_phillips1252 at msn.com