By Don Quilici
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Sitting on a truck tailgate can get tiring at times. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
I can sit anywhere I want to. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Quietly waiting for dinner. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
I’m out of here, if you’re going to keep watching me. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Geez, go away, I’m trying to take a bath. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
One of the hawks with a bone from an unlucky prey. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
I’m hiding between the wires, where you can’t see me. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
An adult watching for an easy lunch. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
One of the three youngsters. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Psst, you’re facing the wrong direction. Photo by Elaine Quilici
As I reported last year, some newcomers moved into our Carson City neighborhood, and their arrival produced some good news and some bad news. The good news about the new arrivals:
They keep to themselves and do not have contact with us or our neighbors.
They get up early and do not stay up late.
They come and go, quietly, at all hours of the day.
They do not party and do not make loud noises.
The bad news about the new arrivals:
They totally ignore all of the neighbors.
They give you a cold stare when you try to approach them.
They leave if you get too close to them.
They make a mess on the neighborhood lawns and streets.
Who are they:
Last year, they arrived, unannounced, in our neighborhood and proceeded to raise not one, not two, but three youngsters.
So this year, our neighborhood now has a total of five grown individuals, who are constantly hungry and looking for food. And, to a person, all of the neighbors (including us) don’t mind that those five are hungry and looking for food. For you see, I am talking about the Cooper’s Hawks that now reside in the trees along our street.
Yep, we have five large, hungry hawks as neighbors.
Good news for the neighborhood:
Before the hawks arrived, many quail would eat our neighborhood’s flowers and vegetables, while lots of pigeons would constantly be noisy and messy.
Not anymore! They are all almost completely gone! Yahoo!
The quail, pigeons and other birds are very noticeable by their absence, except when we find scattered feathers (and even a couple of gnawed wing or leg bones) on our front yards.
Our flower beds and vegetable gardens are intact and doing nicely, while peace and quiet have returned with the other birds gone. Life is good for us! We have learned to be hawk lovers!
Bad news for the neighborhood:
However, being hawk lovers has come with a price tag attached to it.
The five hawks are very messy after eating and in addition to feathers and assorted bones, they also leave their “Calling Cards” on the street, sidewalks, driveways, lawns and vehicles, under the power lines where they perch.
Sigh, one of the hawks has even taken a liking to sitting on vehicles, and we are now having to wash off its calling cards from the top and sides of our vehicles and the front windshields.
Bad news for the neighbor’s black cat:
As I wrote last year, it became the target of the two larger hawks and when she ventured outside. they would see her and they would dive bomb it.
They would swoop down from their perches in the trees or on the power line, attack the cat and even knocked it sideways with their aerial attacks.
I believe that poor cat developed an inferiority complex, as it is reluctant to venture outside, nowadays, and when it does, it is constantly looking skyward and staying under large bushes.
I used to watch it quietly sneak up and pounce on unsuspecting song birds in bushes, but not anymore.
Now, it quickly scurries around while always looking up. Geez, how in the heck can a cat be afraid of a bird? Well, this “Fraidy Cat” is!
Finally:
Elaine and I always thought that our immediate neighborhood was very special, but based on what has happened lately, it is more than very special, it is unique! We have five hungry hawks for neighbors.
Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you about an unusual sight involving the hawks.
If he grins and says, “When the hawks are perched on lower power lines, a number of tiny birds will perch on the wires directly above the hawks,” he is someone who has sat with us on our front porch to watch the nature show.
— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor of Carson Now. Don’s wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor page photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.
