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Kaibab squirrel
Sunday morning I lead a nature walk with only three visitors, all avid birders. (Sometimes these walks can be up to 30 people.) I’d been talking about the Kaibab Squirrel and we were all keeping our eyes open to see one.
Copper’s Hawk
We stopped along the trail to study some fossils and up in a Quaking Aspen we saw a Copper’s Hawk. I know, not a very good photo but the best I could do. Hawks are a predator of Kaibab Squirrel so we were very surprised when we saw one leaping gracefully along right under the hawk’s tree.
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Copper’s Hawk nest
We all had our cameras ready for the hawk to swoop down on the squirrel, but it didn’t happen. Could be the hawk was busy as a hummingbird was flying all around it.
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25 comments:
My guess is that the Coopers Hawk wasn't hungry. It probably had a squirrel for dinner already!
Gaelyn: That was an interesting story to go alomg with your photos.
Hi Gaelyn,
Thought you were going to have to tell a slightly different story! I liked seeing the hawk - at least the bird watchers went away happy (and the squirrel!).
Sometimes those critters just won't cooperate for their photo ops! I'm actually a little relieved not to see pictures of the hawk swooping down and abducting that cute little squirrel.
Marvelous shots, Gaelyn, and mountain.mama is right, those critters won't cooperate for their photo op! And I was glad to see the little get away, too!
Have a great week!
Sylvia
I thought I was going to watch the squirrel get taken..I haven't seen a hawk here since the trees got their leaves back, but we have both Coopers and Sharp-shinned in the winter...Michelle
gee, i'd hate to give that cute squirrel to any birds of prey. it's his lucky day...you have quite an interesting job!
How interesting, makes me want to be a part of your group. :)
I too thought we were getting a bloody hunting story ;)
Glad the hawk wasn't hungry, grin ;)
Critters always go there own way. Today the squirrel go a break and I so happy about that. In all the years I've been photographing still upsetting to see the remains of the caught ones.
What, no squirrel being torn to shreds by a hawk? That's the good thing in nature - they only attack when hungry. You just don't find serial killers in the animal kingdom.
That must have been exciting. It is amazing to see predator and prey so close to each other. Cute picture of the Kaibab squirrel!
Beautiful shots! Thanks for visiting My Muskoka !
I am so glad you commented on my site. I was trying to remember your page as I had a question:
Have you read book by Nevada Barr? She was a park ranger and wrote a number of murder mysteries I am in the process of reading.
hah...the cute little squirrel was saved for another day...i love the coloring of those little guys. cute as a button. probably weigh more than my kitten.
have a good day.
...or of course, he could have had a full belly. The Squirrel irjust sooo beautiful.
He probably just finished lunch and was not ready for supper yet. LOL!! Great capture Gaelyn.
So - the little squirrel lives to see another day! Phew!
Sometimes you get what you wish for and sometime you don't. I guess the hawk didn't get his wish, this time!
Very cool! Poor little ole' hawk was being harassed by the hummer? Perhaps the hummer and the squirrel were in league :)
Great story and photos. Perhaps the hawk wasn't hungry or peace had been signed for the time you were there?!!!
Interesting that the hummingbird would harass the hawk. Maybe the hummer had a nest in that tree. I wonder if the squirrel was just oblivious, or knew he had an ally as well as an enemy above.
What an interesting story, Gaelyn. I enlarged the photo and managed to see the hawk. I've not heard of a copper hawk. I'm glad too that the little squirrel was left unharmed. (((Hugs))) Jo
How funny! Maybe the hawk ate recently. I'm glad for the squirrel that it was preoccupied!
Those little squirrels are so cute. Which has the greater population numbers: Kaibab squirrel or Cooper's Hawk?
Maybe the hawk the squirrel's friend earlier! I'd love to see one of those squirrels! We didn't see any when we were tehre.
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