I started feeding birdseed three days ago. As I walked past the feeders this
morning, there were two Eurasian Collared Doves on the ground beneath the
feeders. They flushed as I walked past. I went down to the lower pasture to
work on a fence. I was kneeling when I heard a rush of wings. I turned and
looked up, only to see feathers floating down about 30 feet away from me. A
flock of crows came in and landed in the tops of nearby trees, apparently in
mob mode. I walked around, peering into the trees and finally saw a Cooper's
Hawk as it departed the large maple tree. It didn't have anything in its
talons and only a minute or two had passed since seeing the feathers
floating down.



I took pictures of the feathers that I picked up off the ground. If you want
to have a look, go here:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/29002564 at N08/5169977505/



I'm pretty sure the Cooper's Hawk struck a Eurasian Collared Dove, pretty
hard. Just minutes ago, I saw two of them fly by the window. I'm wondering
how badly the bird was injured.



Kelly McAllister

north of Olympia, WA (off Hawk's Prairie Road)