Can you imagine my surprise this morning when I looked out and saw a red tailed hawk sitting in the cedar tree near the house? How strange! And then I saw the pair of grackles that were defending their nest in that cedar. The angry grackles were doing their best to drive away the raider.
I picked up the camera, which lay beside me. I walked to the window and stuck the lens out between two slats of the blinds. And . . .
A grackle attacks the raiding red tailed hawk
The fury of the attack nearly knocked the hawk from his perch. He fought to catch his balance and won.
Red tailed hawk fights to maintain his position on the cedar
In final effort, the hawk reached back in toward the nest. Unfortunately, I missed the shot of red tail flying of with a hatchling in his beak and the parents harassing him as he flew away to dine in peace.
What a great thing to watch! Personally, I’m willing to sacrifice a grackle for the hawk’s benefit! Nice catch on the pix you did get.
I was very fortunate to capture those images. It was very interesting.
The sequence you captured is wonderful. We can picture the denouement on our own. I once watched a mixed gang of birds down a small owl and peck him to death.
Thanks. Good point. Now useful purpose would be served by including a graphic continuation of the scene. I have watched the smaller birds harass red tailed hawks, but only on the wing and never like this.
Boooooo! Bad guy wins??? 🙁
I don’t care much for baby bird season. Too much death and destruction for such wee souls.
Red tailed hawk must eat too. He serves the useful purpose of controlling the populations of some other species.
Okay . . . I’m glad I didn’t actually see the hawk eat the hatchling.
Aww, poor Grackles. 🙁
You certainly get some neat birds over your way. I remember your Eagle post being one of my all-time favorites.
The grackles stood close watch over the nest the rest of the day. The bald eagle post was one of my favorites too. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to capture an image of the golden eagle that is an infrequent visitor to this neighborhood.
Oh wow! I would have loved to see all of that. Good job cousin.
It was interesting to watch and the encounter left the grackles feeling upset the rest of the day.