And a bird reflection that I didn’t know was possible.
First, I’ll set the stage. It’ll take me a while.
This is part of my back yard, garden and neighbor’s house. For most of the past year, our neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk would reliably land on my back fence at the precise spot I’ve marked with a yellow “X” to hunt songbirds at my feeders. Those feeders, out of frame to the right and slightly behind me, are along my side yard so from that hunting spot the Coop could survey my entire back yard for potential prey – including my grapevine next to my feeders. For obvious reasons, that grapevine is often loaded with hungry House Sparrows, House Finches, Lesser Gold Finches and Red-winged Blackbirds. And doves, both species, are often scavenging fallen seed beneath the feeder.
However, for the last month or so, the amaranth I’ve planted against my back fence for privacy have grown so tall (up to 3 1/2″ a day, I’ve measured) they’d block the view of the Coop if he hunted from his hunting spot on the fence. So, ‘he’ has abandoned that hunting spot and now hunts my back yard from my neighbor’s roof, usually from the spot I’ve marked with a yellow “Y”. From there he has a good view of my feeders. If he was anywhere else on my neighbor’s roof he couldn’t see my feeders because his view of them would be blocked by my storage shed.
Yesterday morning while I was working in my garden I looked up and noticed the Coop hunting my feeders from the “Y” spot on my neighbor’s roof. My photo gear was in the kitchen so I had to retrieve it but when I returned, he was still there. I didn’t have my tripod and my big lens is too heavy for me to hand hold, so I rested my lens on the end of the green horizontal 2″x2″ at the top of my cucumber trellis at the spot marked by a yellow “Z”.
OK, the stage is finally set for the photos that follow.
This was my view as I looked through my lens from “Z” to “Y”. The Coop was strongly side lit from his hunting spot right next to one of my neighbor’s solar panels.
All of these photos were significantly underexposed in camera, so I had to brighten them during processing.
I was hoping to get some action shots if he went after birds at my feeders but it turned out that I was standing between him and my feeders so that didn’t happen. Eventually, when he decided to fly to my neighbor’s yard and check out his feeders, all I got was a few takeoff and flight shots.
If I cropped fairly tightly on the bird, I managed to get a single flight shot that didn’t include any of the solar panels. But a vertical composition of this same photo was also interesting because…
it included the Coop’s reflection in the solar panels. If nothing else, a photo like this is pretty unusual.
I’d never thought about it before, but I had no idea that solar panels could/would provide a pretty decent bird reflection. I guess I thought solar panels had enough texture on their surfaces to prevent reflections this clear and crisp.
Maybe someday I’ll get a photo of the Coop in better light where his reflection in a solar panel isn’t partially blocked by vegetation. Given his reliable perching habits, I’m gonna try.
Ron
Beautiful phots of the Coopers perched and in flight, But I fill sorry for the sparrow and finches.
So much to see and learn about. I think that the Coop is looking particularly handsome in the second shot, where there is also a small reflection. Yet another advantage of going solar. Question: do you know how often he catches one of the bird feeder or vine birds? Seems like he doesn’t stop them from visiting.
Frances, I think I usually know when he’s caught one of ‘my’ birds because of the feather piles left behind. He seems to catch one in my yard every couple of weeks or so.
Good to get news of your backyard Cooper’s. A good friend of mine in Dallas had a Cooper’s nest a few houses down the street this year, and now the juveniles are hanging out in his backyard at times. So I’m getting lots of photos of Cooper’s lately.
Bill, I had a bird of year juvie Coop hanging around for a while earlier this summer but I haven’t seen it for a while so I think it dispersed.
How enjoyable to see the pictures and happy your bird feeders were saved can they be moved to a different spot? Best to you and your garden variety.
Linda, yes my feeders can be moved but my sprinkler arrangement puts limits on where they can go without waterlogging my seed.
VERY INTERESTING!!! Thanks for all the work in sharing this story.
Thanks, Judy.
Interesting how cropping (or not) the photo changes the story! With no narrative, the cropped one is “beautiful bird taking off”. But there’s so much more going on in the uncropped one, so the details get filled in.
So interesting, too, how Coop has adapted hunting technique as the garden has changed. As others have said, XYZ is totally helpful!
Thanks, Carolyn. It’s amazing how different crops can change the feel of an image, and the story that the image tells.
I love that you take so much time to “set the scene” and create a story to go with your photos. Your dedication to your craft, your garden and your birds — all of them worthy endeavors — is what keeps us coming back for more!
And Mr/Ms Cooper is a very handsome subject … with that wing-fling shot, “I’m outta here, Ron!” while showing off all the best hawk angles and features. ❤️
Thanks for appreciating the time and effort involved, Chris. That means a lot.
So fun! The X, Y, Z set-up helped tremendously. What a great day in your beautiful garden.
“The X, Y, Z set-up helped tremendously.”
Very good to know, Kathleen. That tells me it was worth the work required to label the photo and do all that explaining.
Fun post. My first thought when I saw the first picture was WOW the Amaranth has really grown!
Laurie, that stuff grows like it’s on steroids.
Thank you for the detailed set-up to the action shots. I always enjoy your writing regardless of the subject.
Dang, Amaranth grows fast (even in the shade from your neighbors’ elms)! I’m wondering if it might be hardy enough that even I could grow a couple.
I also spy several BLTs in your future. 😁
Marty, I can always send you some amaranth seeds this fall. If you have a sunny place to plant them, they should do just fine.
I’ve had BLTs with garden tomatoes 7 or 8 times so far this summer, including last night when I used toasted Italian bread. Liked it, a lot. Better than sourdough or multigrain, IMO.
I’ve also been eating so much homemade salsa I fully expect tomatoes to start coming out of my ears pretty soon.
You and the “Coop”–a pair of adapter Raptors, making adjustments
as needed–your garden is GORGEOUS ! Shot #2 reminded me of
the old hood ornaments that cars had in the 50’s…..
“Shot #2 reminded me of the old hood ornaments that cars had in the 50’s.”
I see what you mean, Kris. Thanks.
Beautiful! Even if a lot of work to explain the set up and the process of getting the shots. Guessing the light has to be “just right” to get a reflection in the solar panels?
Deer finally wiped out my meager Amaranth. Think we’re too far N for that particular plant besides the deer. It was worth a try any way!
We have VERY few Gold Finches this year and other birds aren’t that plentiful either. Grackles/Blackbirds/Magpies have gone “somewhere” – don’t miss them! 😉
Bull snake tree climbing season – UGH! Know they have to eat BUT! 😉
Thanks, Judy.
Amaranth needs a lot of light to do well. My neighbor’s two elm trees have grown so huge that I get more and more shade in my garden each year. In the past some of my amaranth has grown as tall as 13′ but this year it’s several feet shorter than that, due to shade. I’ve heard that my neighbor is going to remove those two elm trees this fall.
This is so great, Ron. You’ve done an excellent job of describing the scenario (that often plays out in my yard, too). And the reflection…very cool. Who knew?
“Who knew?”
I sure didn’t, Leslie.
I just now looked at the solar panels on the roof of my camping trailer. They sure wouldn’t provide a reflection as crisp and clean as my neighbor’s panels provided. If they provided a reflection at all.
Always appreciate starting the day with some of your Coops photos. Love how you have learned ‘his’ hunting habits. Look forward to more.
Our neighborhood Mockingbirds protest the presence of a Coops in a way that is distinct from that they vocalize toward each other in territorial disputes. When I hear that call from my home office desk, I usually do not have to walk too far from the front door to see it.
Thanks, Michael. It’s funny how we learn the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, habits of birds. If we pay attention.
Enjoyed the post very much. Regarding learning “habits of birds” I watched a hummingbird feeding at the tall, bushy marigolds outside my NW facing window and noticed that it avoided being in the sun. It only slurped from the shaded flowers. Is it because it’s hellishly hot here, or is that a habit of the hummingbirds.. i have no idea.
I’m not sure, Nina. I suspect the heat from direct sunlight though.
Oh, there’s a definite (not-so-subtle to my ear) difference between family arguments and warnings about the immediate presence of a Coop — I hear it all the time in my backyard. I call it “Hawk Talk”! 😂
A very enjoyable story. Thanks Ron!
Glad you enjoyed it, Rick. I babbled quite a bit so I was afraid it might be too much.
No! Bring it on. Really enjoy and appreciate the narratives.
Much appreciated, Michael.