There has been a litter of Eastern Cottontails in my yard, cute little baby
bunnies all over (much to the annoyance of the gardener) This morning while
enjoying my tea and watching a bunny eat apples in my front yard an adult
Coopers hawk swooped out of nowhere and crashed into the bushes which the
bunny bolted into. The hawk, precariously perched on a slender branch,
wings flapping to stay upright began to give its Chk chk chk chk call. It
did this for 2 minutes, then flew up and crashed into the brush again,
calling constantly. I think it was hoping to spook the bunny out where it
could get at it. Not to be denied, the hawk then flew down landed at the
edge of the brush and walked back and forth, peering into the dark tangle.
I wonder if there had been a way in, if the hawk would have crawled into the
bush. Finally it gave up on its non cooperative breakfast and flew out of
sight....or so I thought. It returned about 5 minutes later, flying low and
fast and obviously scanning.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Snohomish County