Snowy Pines | Click for larger view
We awoke to another snowfall this morning, bringing our season total to just shy of 70″. Running a little behind compared to this time last year, I am sure we will make it up with a snowstorm predicted for this Sunday.
I bundled up and went out just after daybreak to clean snow from our feeders and fill them with fresh bird seed.
While walking under our maple tree, the birds that were present were spooked by what I thought was my movement. Most of the birds visiting our yard mostly tolerate me as I putter around the yard. Chickadees and Nuthatches usually land in the feeder while I am filling it.
Shrugging it off, I continued to fill the feeders. As I walked back up the hill toward the house, I saw movement in the maple tree. Not 10 feet above where I stood, sat a Red-tailed Hawk. It had no concern what-so-ever with me standing almost directly beneath it. I had no camera, and I thought if I tried to go toward the house I might spook it.
Mourning Dove | Click for larger view
As I hoped that my wife might be looking out the window, I talked to the Hawk. “Mr. Hawk”, I said, “why do you have to come here and scare off the birds on such a cold morning?” The Hawk turned its head and looked at me.
“I know that you are probably hungry, but I love the birds that visit this yard. Maybe you can go on down the road and find a Starling.” The Hawk does a wing stretch, turns for a look towards the cove and flew off, all the while I can hear its mighty wings carrying it off.
WOW! What a treat to be so close to a Raptor. And what was really exciting was that it did not seem disturbed by my presence. Being that close and hearing those wings as it took off will be a sound that I won’t soon forget.
When I returned back inside to the warmth of our home, Sharon was in the basement tending to the dryer and had no idea what had happened outside. I told her of my encounter and we came back upstairs so I could show her where the Hawk had been. Looking out the picture window, I pointed to where a Mourning Dove was perched… the exact same spot where the Hawk had been not five minutes before.
Red-breasted Nuthatch | Click for larger view
Interacting with nature is such a treat for me. When birds do not flee because of my presence, or land so close that I could touch them, it brings a smile to my face. It’s like a mutual trust between me and the birds.
I once had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird land on the rim of my glasses while I was filling a feeder with nectar. I immediately froze, thinking that I might spook the little bird. The Hummingbird then flew to the cover of the feeder and then back to my glasses. He was wanting me to get the feeder filled, which I did while he sat there. I moved ever so slowly, replaced the top and hung the feeder back up. It then flew to the feeder and had a long drink.
There are so many stories to tell, but I would like to hear from you. What is your most memorable moment with a bird or birds? You can either post about it on your site and leave a link in our comments, or drop us a comment about your experience.
As promised yesterday, I have another video. This clip shows a White-breasted Nuthatch working its way up a tree.
Dimension: 520×420 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | File Size: 16.1mb
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Streaming Video of White-breasted Nuthatch | ©2009 birdingmaine.com
Today, I joined the North American Bird Phenology Program (NABPP). You can read more about it over at John Trapps’ site Birds Etcetera. Thanks for the info John!
Happy birding!
{ 5 comments }
What a great story. I can’t even imagine getting that close to a hawk! I can picture its face as it looked at you and can hear the heavy wings fly past me. I would have chills down my spine I tell you!
I too love it when I make eye contact with a bird. I often wonder if they know we are the ones taking care of them when we fill up the feeders. I guess I will never find out, but I like to think that yes they do. I want to be known as the sweet lady down the street who makes sure they never go to bed hungry.
My favorite story is a chickadee that landed in some brush near my gazebo. He landed there, started at me and did his famous chick a dee dee dee dee. I watched him and smiled and he did it a few more times. I finally did it right back to him and he watched me and then starting chaning the number of his dees at the end and I would copy it. Whatever number of dees he did at the end, I was sure to follow. It was a lot of fun and I was praying that my neighbors wouldn’t come outside to get their morning paper because they would have thought I went completely crazy talking to the bird like that!
Wonderul post!
It sounds like the hawk listened to you as well
Hope it got the starling down the road.
Well, my bird story is pretty simple. I still don’t know what bird it was. It was very very tiny, maybe 3 inches. I was sitting outside a church on a curb just reading a book waiting for the service to start. (They were having a 50th anniversary and I sang in the choir). This little bird just flew up onto my shoulder and sat there for about 10 seconds until I finally turned my head to get a better look at it. It had flown out of a shrub where the rest of it’s pals were. That was pretty cool, but I never did get a good look at them.
Enjoyed hearing about your hawk encounter! Wonderful photo of the mourning dove. And your hummingbird encounter made me smile – it must’ve been such a magical moment! I now have the chickadees eating out of my hand sporadically at the cabin – but I remember my 1st encounter w/ them. I was at Hartwick Pines State park and just stepped outside their visitor center onto the deck to observe their bird feeding station. Immediately a chickadee flew and landed on my head. The state park employee was watching and motioned me inside to give me some seeds. I went back outside with my hands full of seed and these little chickadees were landing on my hand, gripping my thumb and fingers w/ their tiny bird claws. To imagine that they trusted me that much – just thrilled me to no end.
Excellent story John! I’ve had a Cooper’s Hawk scoping out my feeders a time or two. I’ve never seen it make a successful hit but I have found tell-tale piles of feathers:(
HI john,
this is a wonderful post with very nice pictures and very nice stories. I love the shot of the red-breasted nuthatch. It is really beautifully captured in its environment… Well done.
Comments on this entry are closed.