Active Cooper's Hawks at Maplewood Park
Outdoor Ontario

Active Cooper's Hawks at Maplewood Park

Bird Brain

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Hi everyone.  I was at Maplewood Park today between 3:30-5:30pm.  The excitement started up at 4pm with hearing "cacking" and a variety of loud sounds.

Female hawk was sitting on top of a tall lamp (next to the wooden branches teepee) eating "something" - bloody chunks of meat and long trail of intestines.  The male was sitting nearby watching.  The female then flew through the woods, landed in the new nest and sat there for about 5 minutes.  Then she flew to the South part of the park and was sitting fairly low on a tree branch.  Eventually the male flew to a nearby tree and they were communicating with each other.  At 5:15pm, the female flew back to the new nest and stayed sitting in it.   The male flew a bit further South and was sitting low (about 20 feet above ground) on a tree branch, shrieking at a nearby squirrel.  

Amazing how much larger the female is compared to the male!  

Other bird sightings between 3:30-4:00pm ...

Blue Jays x 2
Cardinals x 2 (1m, 1f)
Chickadees - lots
Crows x 5
Hairy Woodpecker x 1 (female)
House Sparrows - lots
Red-breasted Nuthatches x 3
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Rob'in'To

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Mmmmmmmmmmm!  Who's hungry now?  Ha ha!  Cool sightings!  I should check this out, always up for watching Hawks.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Rob'in'To »
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Bird Brain

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Wed. March 30th - 12:15 to 1:15pm ...

Both male and female Cooper's flying around in NW section of woods, a variety of sounds and communication happening.

Female flew to nest, was standing inside, leaning down, moving something around then sitting high up in nest.  Eggs?!  :D  She then flew to a nearby tree and the male was then sitting in the nest.  

Other sightings today:

Crows
House Sparrows
Turkey Vulture flying overhead flying NE
White-breasted Nuthatches x 2
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


ostrich

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I visited the nest this morning before dawn,  I arrived about 6:30am and neither adult was on the nest.  My intention was to apply a technique for locating Coopers nests by listening for pre-dawn vocalizations by the adults (don't really need to locate the nest per se since it's already been found,  but I wanted to apply it anyway).  Right on cue at exactly 6:45 I started hearing vocalizations from the male - it took me a bit of walking through the woods to figure out where he was,  but he was perched in a tree somewhat east (taking Glen Erin to be essentially north-south) of the nest tree.  Shortly thereafter the female started replying - she was in a large tree further south and close to the path that goes towards the old nest,  right around where the Maplewood Park sign is.  

   The kept vocalizing to each other on and off (the male was making the short 'chip' or 'kik' call which is a common "I'm here" call for the male,  and the female was making the standard kek-kek-kek call in reply), and would occasionally both fly to different spots.  At one point the female flew to the woods immediately south east of the old nest, and the male was perched immediately across from it.  Eventually the male made his way up to the nest and perched in there for a with the female a few trees away.  

  I have never applied this technique before,  but the pattern of pre-dawn vocalizations with the adults should cease once eggs are laid - they go entirely quiet once incubation starts.  So this, combined with the fact that they definitely weren't on the nest overnight while it was snowing and raining,  certainly suggests to me that no eggs have been laid yet.  If someone wants to get out there over the next days at the same time,  hearing them go quiet might be the surest indication that an egg has indeed been laid (the nest is about a 15 min drive from me so I make no guarantees about being able to get up early enough to get out there on a regular basis  :D )
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by ostrich »


Lloyd

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Quote from: "ostrich"
I visited the nest this morning before dawn,  I arrived about 6:30am and neither adult was on the nest.  My intention was to apply a technique for locating Coopers nests by listening for pre-dawn vocalizations by the adults (don't really need to locate the nest per se since it's already been found,  but I wanted to apply it anyway).  Right on cue at exactly 6:45 I started hearing vocalizations from the male - it took me a bit of walking through the woods to figure out where he was,  but he was perched in a tree somewhat east (taking Glen Erin to be essentially north-south) of the nest tree.  Shortly thereafter the female started replying - she was in a large tree further south and close to the path that goes towards the old nest,  right around where the Maplewood Park sign is.  

   The kept vocalizing to each other on and off (the male was making the short 'chip' or 'kik' call which is a common "I'm here" call for the male,  and the female was making the standard kek-kek-kek call in reply), and would occasionally both fly to different spots.  At one point the female flew to the woods immediately south east of the old nest, and the male was perched immediately across from it.  Eventually the male made his way up to the nest and perched in there for a with the female a few trees away.  

  I have never applied this technique before,  but the pattern of pre-dawn vocalizations with the adults should cease once eggs are laid - they go entirely quiet once incubation starts.  So this, combined with the fact that they definitely weren't on the nest overnight while it was snowing and raining,  certainly suggests to me that no eggs have been laid yet.  If someone wants to get out there over the next days at the same time,  hearing them go quiet might be the surest indication that an egg has indeed been laid (the nest is about a 15 min drive from me so I make no guarantees about being able to get up early enough to get out there on a regular basis  :D )


Wow, nice work! But can you not allow them a little privacy you peeping Tom, you (LOL)?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Lloyd »


Bird Brain

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Quote from: "ostrich"
they go entirely quiet once incubation starts.
Thanks.  This is interesting to know!  :)  

They certainly weren't quiet this afternoon between 1-2pm!  Lots of communication happening, they were alternating sitting on top of a tall lamp post not far from North edge of woods then flying around the South end of the woods.  Neither hawk at nest this afternoon.

Other sightings:

Cardinals x 2 (1m, 1f)
Hairy Woodpeckers x 2 (females)
House Sparrows - lots
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Saturday, 1:30pm - female Cooper's Hawk makes an appearance at South end of woods then flys to far SE corner.  Male appears at 1:45pm.  At 1:50pm, they both fly NW through the woods towards the new nest.   :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Sunday, 2:30-3:30pm ... no hawks and very few birds.  Oddly quiet.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


cocosally

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Hello Jo-anne, I am back on tract! Due to some personal reason, haven't been able to bird for over 0.5 year! wasS AT THE PARK ON Sat 5pm ish, seeing both and a lot of talking between them. The nest this year will make it very hard to count those hawklets, however, so long as they keep coming back, I am satisfied and happy! :D
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by cocosally »


Bird Brain

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Quote from: "cocosally"
Hello Jo-anne, I am back on tract!
Hi cocosally.  Welcome back - it's great to see you again!  :D

Quote
The nest this year will make it very hard to count those hawklets
Yes, the nest is small and really high up in the tree.  Once the leaves come in, it will be quite hidden.

Apparently for the first 4-5 years, there were 2 babies each year ... then last year's 4 babies!  I'm wondering if this year will be back to 2 babies again?  Will be interesting to see what ends up happening.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Thursday, April 7th:

1:15pm ... female hawk was perched quietly on tree branch just South of new nest.  She was giving me the Evil Eye then flew to the ground at North edge of woods - didn't appear to be hunting and wasn't eating anything.  At 1:30pm, the male hawk made an appearance.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Saturday, April 9th:

2:15-4:15pm.  Time for some confusion!  :?

I sighted a male and female Cooper's Hawk close to the East trail.  Male was standing inside a tiny nest, moving things around and appeared to be building up the nest.  He was flying back and forth from the ground up to the nest.  Female hawk sitting on tree branch nearby watching.

So ... now I'm wondering are these the same 2 hawks from the last few weeks or 2 new hawks?!   I haven't been noticing any behaviour at the other nest for awhile.  

The new nest is very bizarre.  At first glance, it appears to be a small pile of leaves about 1-2 feet above another small pile of leaves - not as high up as the other nest.  Looking through the binoculars, they are twigs!  Hopefully you'll get to observe the male flying to and standing in the nest.  

How to even explain where this new nest is?!

If you're at the South edge of the woods, just past the one tree by the main trail, look into the woods, to your right and up.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Hi everyone.  Today's adventure from 3:15-4:45pm, back at the NW corner!  

On the paved walking trail, there's a large puddle surrounded by a lot of feathers!  

I sighted the male hawk perched close to nest then he flew to the ground and appeared to be eating something.  I went very slowly walking North through the woods and he flew away, back up towards the nest.  Then I sighted the female hawk sitting right in front of me by a small pond.  Can't believe how close she was - and how relaxed she seemed.  Eventually she flew up towards the nest.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


Bird Brain

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Thursday, April 14th ... 10:15-11:45am.  

Female hawk sitting on edge of Nest #2 (SE corner).
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".


ostrich

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Are they still going back and forth between the nests?  The pre-dawn vocalizations ought to be a good way to figure out which one they're really intent on using.  Maybe they weren't happy with the first one,  I'm not sure if Coopers will construct multiple nests normally or not,  perhaps they do and choose the one the female likes the best.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by ostrich »