Cooper's Hawk is Not Afraid of Me - Strange? (1 Viewer)

[birdlady2008]

Hello Everyone,

I am puzzled by the behavior of a hawk that has been visiting my backyard. This hawk, which I believe is a Cooper's Hawk, is visiting my wild bird feeders to prey on the birds. While he is quite awesome, I am going to take my feeders down for a few days until he decides to do his hunting elsewhere.

Here is what puzzles me - he is not afraid of me whatsoever.

Last week, hearing the wild birds go into an absolute frenzy, I looked out my back door, and there was Mr. Cooper sitting on the fence. I opened the door, went outside, and started to approach him, thinking he would be scared and fly away. He watched me, then calmly soared away when I was within about 6 feet. I was amazed that he let me get that close.

Today, again the wild birds went nuts. There were also crows dive-bombing something outside my window. Sure enough, there he was sitting on the fence. I opened the door, and approached him again. This is unbelievable - he did not fly away until I was within 3 feet - I could almost reach out and touch him. He just sat there and watched me - he is not afraid. And, my 11 year old German Shepherd was also in the yard at the time. When he did fly away, he didn't go far - just to the top of a nearby tree.

Is this strange behavior? I am fascinated that this beautiful, wild hawk is not afraid of me, and that he would allow me to get that close to him. My guess is that he has become accustomed to "the suburbs" and people, and he must be very hungry.

Anyway, this is my first post, and I welcome any feedback!

Thanks

 

[Kevin Conville]

Alfred Hitchcock tried to warn us!

Are the crows following you as well?

To your question though, I've never seen ANY hawk behave like that.
and... Welcome to BirdForum Kathy!

 

[KC Foggin]

Hello there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BF.

This time of year, hunger outweighs annoyance. BOPs usually nest earlier than your song birds and it is quite possible the BOP is anxious enough to get some food so that it will put up with more.

I know it's not always pretty to see but a BOP taking a song bird for a meal is nature and they have been surviving this way long before we came on the scene I would suggest you step back and watch nature unfold.

 

[apbarr]

I used to have a Sparrowhawk trying to take birds from my aviaries and she would allow me to approach to within a few feet before flying off

 

[JeffMoh]

Several years ago I went for a dawn walk around the Eco Pond in the Everglades. A Cooper's Hawk was sitting on a post and allowed me to get extremely close. I was able to spend several minutes moving around to film it from several different angles at a distance of literally 3 feet. The same morning, another Cooper's let me film it from perhaps 8-9 feet away. I'm sure it would have allowed me to get even closer but I wasn't able to because of the undergrowth. Both birds were awake and watched me intently but without the slightest sign of being alarmed.

I certainly have never before or since had any hawk of any species allow me to get anywhere near so close.

Jeff

 

[birdlady2008]

Wow....thanks everyone for your feedback.....this is very interesting. I've got my camera ready today, and I'm hoping that he (or she) will come by so I can do some filming. Will be sure to post the video here if I am lucky enough to see him today.

Thanks for your welcome to the forum!

 

[Dave B Smith]

Hello Kathy,
And another welcome to the Birdforum. Look forward to seeing some of your photos.

 

[juansalazar0024]

Hello Everyone,

I am puzzled by the behavior of a hawk that has been visiting my backyard. This hawk, which I believe is a Cooper's Hawk, is visiting my wild bird feeders to prey on the birds. While he is quite awesome, I am going to take my feeders down for a few days until he decides to do his hunting elsewhere.

Here is what puzzles me - he is not afraid of me whatsoever.

Last week, hearing the wild birds go into an absolute frenzy, I looked out my back door, and there was Mr. Cooper sitting on the fence. I opened the door, went outside, and started to approach him, thinking he would be scared and fly away. He watched me, then calmly soared away when I was within about 6 feet. I was amazed that he let me get that close.

Today, again the wild birds went nuts. There were also crows dive-bombing something outside my window. Sure enough, there he was sitting on the fence. I opened the door, and approached him again. This is unbelievable - he did not fly away until I was within 3 feet - I could almost reach out and touch him. He just sat there and watched me - he is not afraid. And, my 11 year old German Shepherd was also in the yard at the time. When he did fly away, he didn't go far - just to the top of a nearby tree.

Is this strange behavior? I am fascinated that this beautiful, wild hawk is not afraid of me, and that he would allow me to get that close to him. My guess is that he has become accustomed to "the suburbs" and people, and he must be very hungry.

Anyway, this is my first post, and I welcome any feedback!

Thanks

same situation for me, I got really close a CH that was on a nearby fence to the point that I could pet it if I wanted to and it just watched me the whole time. Took a cool video and left, next few days he was on the same fence so I walked out and approached it slowly and came about 5ft from it till it flew away to the top off a power line. A bout a week ago I noticed a nest about 15-20ft above my front door in a tree. Now every time I walk outside it dive bombs me and legit targets me as I walk around my apartment complex. The reason I say targets is because my neighbors are always out and it pays them no mind, As soon as I walk out it’s like game on. I don’t fear birds at all part of me thinks it’s kinda fascinating. But it’s getting to the point that I have to walk around with an umbrella just incase to protect my head. Someone please help.

 

[frank buck]

I too have witnessed this. There is one that hangs around our farm. In the winter he/she is much less wary of me than in the summer. As a previous poster said...hunger overshadows wariness.