What did you do today?

[Taffy]

How can you even tell the difference between a sharp-shinned and a cooper's hawk?  Other than size.

I had a very active bird feeder going until a cooper's hawk came around.  One day it dove over the house (2 stories) and caught a black headed finch, but not quite.  The finch escaped and dove down behind a trampoline.  I wasn't really to pleased with the cooper ruining my bird feeder fun and I went over and picked up the bird.  It died in my hands a minute later.  The hawk was out there watching me with hateful eyes.  I tossed the bird's body out in the snow and sure enough the hawk came and got it.  I think there was a lot more going on in that bird's head than in most animals.  He understood the situation.  In the end I weened the finches off my feeder because it was making it way too easy for the raptors (Kestrels have nested in a missing soffet panel for 20 years at the house).  

I'm considering the falconing hobby.  I currently have two parrots sitting on me while I type.  I don't think they'd be friends.  But you would not believe the amazing view and giant fields across the street from my new house.  Perfect for falcons!

Here's a pic of me and some kind of eagle in Mongolia about 12 years back.  That was not a happy bird, I don't think.  He's like the horses that work on beaches for tourists hehe.   Very authentic though!  His breath smelled like rotten meat-- Who knows what he was eating.

Charlie Horse - we have a point of view difference.      I always root for the raptors!  Raptors are top predators and 90% of them die in their first year of life.  Tweety birds are prolific breeders because they're prey.

It's tough to tell the sharp-shin from the Cooper's other than size.  I have both hunting our farm along with a number of other raptors.

Falconry is a huge commitment.  I can put you in touch with falconers in your area if you decide to do it.

That's a huge Golden Eagle on your fist.  They're really powerful.  Did you get to see it hunt?

Here's a photo of my Harris' Hawk, Sniper, when we were hunting rabbits.  He was a kamikaze hunter!