Coopers Hawks and squirrels Horseshoe Park, Aurora

[JIM CONNELL]

 I have had a female ( I think ) Coopers visiting my bird bath for about 3 weeks now., she is there just about every day.

I have had her and a mature male and an immature at one time in the back yard.

I have seen a Coops pick up a squirrel a few times in the past on a neighbor's lawn, but my local squirrels ignore her.

I would think that squirrels would be a prey species for Coops but my tree rats don't give her any respect.

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

Jim,

I don't think fox squirrels are more than occasional prey items for Cooper's Hawks, usually females, almost never males (squirrel would be too big).  I also think when squirrels can see them, they aren't all that worried because of their ability to evade an attack.  Cooper's Hawks mostly get birds, with flickers and collared-doves being favorites.  Their normal MO would be sneak attack of large prey, chasing into dark alley (or bush) for small prey.  The biggest threats to squirrels in the city are Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, red fox, vehicles and people who consider them "tree rats".

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

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From: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of JIM CONNELL <jconn...@comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 10:48 AM
To: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Coopers Hawks and squirrels Horseshoe Park, Aurora

 

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