Where have our birds gone?
We've suspected a predator must be near. The American Black Ducks and the Mallards, the Common Redpolls and the Black Cap Chickadees haven't been making their morning appearances to feed. Even the squirrels and the pheasants have been hiding or skittering quickly over the snow.
Last weekend, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk sat on a maple in our yard for hours.
And something happened...some of the ducks must have flown in close to see if there was cracked corn on the snow for them. Something happened because Gary says there's a female duck lying dead in the neighbour's yard, a mess of blood and feathers.
And every day since the weekend, we've had a lone Mallard sitting in our yard. He comes early and stays all day. Unusual behaviour. He eats a bit, but mostly he sits and sits, and searches the sky.
Is he waiting for her to return?
7 comments:
Aww, sorry to hear the birds have gone into hiding. that is sad. At least he feels safe in your yard.
Hi Gwen,
The birds will return as the hawk was likely just passing through. And harsh as it seems, there are lots of ducks around the area. I feel empathy for the lonely Mallard right now. But that's life, isn't it?
Yes, but we wish it wasn't.
It's always magnificent to see birds of prey, but so sad to see them kill the smaller birds. Poor lonely mallard,
Oh no..but a sharpie couldn't take a duck..and a coopers would have a hard time..I too have ducks..and hawks.. it is the sad reality that everything has to eat...Michelle
Hi CGP,
I don't know if a sharp-shinned hawk could kill a duck, but something did. There are peregrines in our area too.
Hello Rambling Woods,
There are many different hawks in our area. Some stay and some are migrating through and stopping to eat.
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