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Daily Bucket: Friday Sequence; House Finch Feedings and Cooper's Hawks Happenings [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-08-04

I never know what is going to present itself as I go out on my walks. On a recent walk when I was monitoring Cooper’s Hawk nests, I witnessed the wonder of a young House Finch getting fed.

The fluttering wings of the young finch first caught my eye and then the red of the adult male’s head became visible from behind some leaves. Here is the first sequence.

Young finch makes it clear what it wants.

Parent has to regurgitate first and then chick eats out of the beak.

This same sequence happened several times.

If you look closely, you will see each of the above 4 photos is minutely different.

When the parent flew away, the young House Finch followed out of my sight.

Before the banding season, I monitor nests to see how many young there are, what the banding status is of the breeding pair, and get to know the area. During banding season, I help find the fledglings and keep track of movement if there is more than one, and I watch for dogs not on leash or anything else that might get caught on the trap by mistake.

While I monitor nests or help out with certified binders who do the actual banding, I enjoy seeing the range of postures the Cooper’s Hawks show. They can’t move their eyes in their sockets, so they have to turn their heads. To get a good look at what is going on around them, they sometimes contort themselves into postures we would find impossible.

A neck-breaker for us if we tried it.

This is a common look as they check for predators or for parents bringing food.

Trying to follow a butterfly or hummingbird is a challenge.

Here are some other postures that aren’t so challenging.





Often when perched the young hawks lift one leg to their breast and stand on one leg.

I see you down there.

And since they are still moulting their downy feathers, as they preen the feathers get stuck in their beak. What do they do? They many times eat them.



Down goes one of its own feathers.

I went out looking for Coops to band this past Monday. Here are some of the photos that show what I find.

I won’t enlarge this photo. They eat all of their prey.

Rear view of a bird mantling, covering its prey.

Head up view of mantling, hiding the prey from other hawks.

Three of the four fledges at this site. When hawks are young, they haven’t developed the muscles to perch for the whole day. We see them reclined on a branch, resting.

“Quit nibbling on me!”

“Did you see that thing down there with the big glass looking up at us?”

When they fan their tail or wings, it is impressive.

Some prey feathers are spit out. Many of the bones and feathers are later cast out as pellets.

This Coop is giving a shout out to all those who leave a comment. Sequences would get a vocalization.

Thanks to all those that have authored a Friday Sequence Bucket. Let Appy or me know if you are interested.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/4/2184498/-Daily-Bucket-Friday-Sequence-House-Finch-Feedings-and-Cooper-s-Hawks-Happenings

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