Wild coops

[Fawkes]

Just some shots I got of a young (last years) male coops in my back yard this morning. He got his feet on a crow before losing it and chasing it over my house.

The bands are from a local researcher - he has banded most of the city coopers as nestlings for 10-15 years.

I sent him the numbers, looking forward to hearing the backstory for this bird.







Taking off to hunt a crow...

[Zarafia]

Great pics, Emily! Thanks for posting them.

[michaelberan]

Awesome PICs Emily

[Fawkes]

Oops - just realized two were the same shot. Here's the other perched pic I meant to put up.

[AK Rev]

Hey, those are good! Thanks for posting as I can't get enough of Coopers. If you get some more, put 'em up!

[MAGASKAWEE]

Great looking photos, I love Cooper's.

[calebstroh]

Sweet little birds. We get migrants through my immediate area in the early fall/spring, etc. But no coops normally nest this low in the valley.

Love seeing them when they arrive (they're hell on the birdfeeder though...)

Again, great pics.

[Zarafia]

Sweet little birds. We get migrants through my immediate area in the early fall/spring, etc. But no coops normally nest this low in the valley.

Love seeing them when they arrive (they're hell on the birdfeeder though...)

Again, great pics.

LOL that's half the fun of having a birdfeeder! Feed all the birds

[YARAK191]

What do coops weigh that far north?

[Fawkes]

Not sure - no one around here flies one. I was going to try one this year but now I'm moving and what with a new job and renting again - hawking is not happening this season

We are north, but also right on the coast so it doesn't get cold at all. These guys stay all year along with all the redtails. Our RT's are westerns so they are smaller than out east (flew a male for work at about 800-860g) - might be the same for the coops. That said, I flew an imprint female for work a few years ago. Not sure where she came from but she was about 500g (imprint, doing demos, probably hunted lower) I think.

[FredFogg]

All I can say is a male coops going after crows is awesome! I doubt I would even attempt to fly a male on crows. I flew my female on them and she did fine but if I hadn't gotten to her a couple times, I am sure she would have gotten her butt whipped. LOL

[Fawkes]

Fred - I know! If I was staying around here this year I would be actively trying to trap that bird. As it is - I will just enjoy watching him and keep feeding the finches in hopes of seeing him again.