Thread: Predator and Prey

A large sharpshinned hawk threw out her wings, ascending and descending to her perch on the fence. A couple of juncos shifted position, but none of them left the shelter of the bare forsythia. A deserted bird feeder swung from the limb of a red maple in the other corner of the yard.

Then the hawk stood silent and still. Across a snow-covered lawn, from my warm house with its wide rear window, I watched. I could say I took no sides, but I'd be lying. I was rooting for the sharpshinned hawk to capture dinner. I'd been feeding the juncos, but the hawk had to eat too.

In my estimation the hawk was stymied. She was skilled in flying through scrub at the forest edge, but the interior of the forsythia was no place for a hawk to spread her wings in pursuit. The juncos appeared to share my assessment.

Then the hawk did the unexpected and sprung forward, wings folded. She grabbed hold on a branch but before she had her chance to hop through the forsythia the juncos cleared out of Dodge. The chase was on.

She'd singled out one of the slate gray birds with the white outer tail feathers and that's all I know because they swerved around the side of the house. I quickly ran outside but there were no birds in sight.

Tables turn. The junco is a predator as well as a seed eater. During the summer, about half the junco's diet consists of insects and other arthropods. During the winter, they eat mostly seeds and berries. The sharpshinned hawk is pure predator, a raptor. Maybe I fattened the junco with enough sunflower seeds to slow him down. Maybe he was easy prey.