I didn’t see the Cooper’s Hawk at first. Its plumage dissolved into the withered leaves, as if it had grown from the ground itself.
Only when I stepped closer did the shape resolve — the curved beak, the steady eye — and I understood I was looking at a Cooper’s Hawk. Beneath the raptor lay its prey, which I initially mistook for a small bird.
Much later, studying the details, I realized I had been wrong. The hawk had taken not a bird, but an American red squirrel.
Even after the initial strike, a hawk remained over its catch to ensure there’s no movement left. With mammals like a squirrel, that can take a little time.
Hawks are vulnerable on the ground. Other predators — crows, ravens, even other raptors — might try to steal the catch. Staying on top of it protects the food.
On the ground, hawks are powerful but exposed. Sitting still is sometimes the safest choice.
Generally, life is good.
