… threats are an everyday occurrence for all species and there can be serious consequences resulting from these threats, but then there are others which are pure and simple harassment just because the creatures feel like it. Such is the plight of our Coopers Hawk which was perched in a tree on the tee box in the back of the house. He was perched and looking for prey, but our local gang of crows decided that they would give him no peace and set up an aerial attack with several of them joining in the attack … one after the other they came in and buzzed the Coopers Hawk.
In the top photo our Coopers Hawk is looking up and over his shoulder as the first wave of attacks came in … in the first and second photos he is vocalizing his displeasure and made the determination that it was just a flyby … very close though.
In the shot below the crow is doing a near miss and probably traveling something in excess of 40 feet per second. After this shot, he swooped back up and fell in behind the other crows which were making life miserable for the Coopers Hawk.
Somewhere I have shots of another such harassment where the Coopers Hawk took a less than passive attitude to the attacks and body slammed the crow and sent him tumbling through the air. I have heard of other instances when the hawk has taken out after the attacker, killed it and ate it …. other birds are the primary diet of Coopers Hawks.
It was a great weekend, and the tool project will be wrapping up in the next couple of days. For whatever reason I found that I needed another tool chest after giving half of my tools away and it is on the way to being filled. The dining room will be back to normal tomorrow as the sorting is complete and all that remains is putting them away.
Four new photos are on the walls as I had some of my favorites printed … one 60″ x 30″ and three 48″ x 24″ prints … YES!
Have a beautiful day as we head into another new week … Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends and next we celebrate Christmas … a beautiful time of year!
Keep breathing and smiling … choose to have a beautiful day.
Cheers,
Ted
Hold high your head and be an honest man.
May kindness guide your daily steps, and in
Each deed and thought let Christ’s sweet soul
Always reflect itself, and love your fellow men
As I love you.
May words unkind and false ne’er pass your lips,
Nor harsh and low ambitions drive you on.
excerpt from Breaking Home Ties by Max Ehrmann
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
More about Ted Grussing …
