[EBB Sightings] Flying the Coop(s)

  It was raptor heaven this week at Huck*. When I
arrived in the late morning, the hardworking eagle
parents were taking a well-deserved rest upon the com
towers at Sibley. The hulking female was at the very
top of the middle tower, her mate just below, and to
the right. While I watched, the male dove off his
perch and into the air currents (what a pleasure it
must be to ride the thermals again, after so many
weeks of rain). He circled purposefully over the green
hills. The resident red-tails were not too thrilled
with the competition, and took turns dive-bombing
their more ponderous neighbor. As the red-tails flew
in for the strike, the eagle turned upside down at the
last minute, presenting a more formidable surface to
his tormentors. 

Another big, long-winged raptor flew by the perched
female eagle. She gave it nary a glance. When it
wheeled, I again noticed broad white patches all the
way to the trailing edge of the wings. A harrier? And
maybe that ?ferrugie? that I saw last week was really
a harrier, too. Tricky little devils, especially when
IDing them in bad light at a distance.

While gazing out over the canyon at the second
overlook, a pair of Cooper?s hawks flew by at eye
level, their under-tail coverts blazing white and
fluffy. I don?t think that their intended prey finds
them very cute, though. This fiercely handsome couple
was probably thinking along the lines of, ?Gee, honey,
beautiful day, isn?t it?? ?Why yes, dear. Let?s go
kill something.? 

Back at home and in my garden, another Cooper?s hawk
made a pass over my backyard, chasing a hummingbird.
Testy, testy. A hummer?s not much more than a
mouthful, and rather hard to catch (the coop didn?t).

The spectacle of life, and death, continues; beautiful
to observe, deadly serious to the players. But what a
privilege it is to be a witness.

Debbie Viess
Oakland

*Huckleberry Botanical Reserve, EBRPD.