Cooper's Hawk
- Hope's Inspirations
- Jun 14, 2024
- 2 min read
I'm working in my spare bedroom when all of a sudden I can hear the birds in the backyard absolutely losing their minds. I went to check and there he was. I walked out at just the right time because he was trying to snatch a bird from the bush. Me coming out scared him and he landed on my back wall. All the birds went silent. I was frozen, I didn't have my phone or camera on me and I had to debate enjoying the moment or trying to capture it. I took a good look at the hawk and then ran for my camera. I get outside and start shooting and the sound of the shutter has him fascinated. He stood there looking at me and titling his head like a dog when they're confused. Although I was grateful for the moment, I realized my backyard was now his hunting ground.
Squeaky (Named by my neighbors) is a Cooper's Hawk. Their name comes from a New York Scientist named William Cooper. Just like us, their eye color changes as they get older. They start off a blueish-gray color, then turn yellow as a young adult and red as a full adult. Unfortunately, these hawks and humans have not had a good relationship overtime. Cooper's Hawks use to be called "Chicken Hawks" and caused problems for farmers. Because of this, they were hunted as vermin. Thankfully in 1972 The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was amended to include raptors. This meant that it was illegal to kill them, and take their eggs and feathers. Unfortunately, the use of organochlorine pesticides including DDT in the mid 20th century caused the hawk to become an endangered species in many states. Again in 1972 that pesticide became banned and the population of Cooper's Hawks began to increase.
Learning about their history makes me thankful I get to see them all the time here in SoCal. Squeaky has been around our neighborhood for the past year. Him and the crows have quite the rivalry. You'll see him on your feed again.(:
Have you seen a Cooper's Hawk? If so, where?!
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