I am new to this forum, and I know very little about birds, but I am trying to learn more because I do enjoy watching them. We live in town, but it's an area with a lot of tall (50 to 70 foot) trees around our home. It's like a wooded area for sure. We have an amazing array of birds and wildlife living in our neighborhood. We have a source of running water about 30 feet from our house.
Early last Fall I noticed a hawk in a tree by our house. I had never seen it before. I thought it was just passing through. Early this Spring I noticed a large nest in a tall tree behind our house, and what looked like a similar hawk by the nest. Now we have at least 3 mature hawks living in our yard and within 100 yards of our home. They're here all day long. I think they are Cooper's Hawks. I will attach a photo of two of them. I am not sure how many are living in our area, but on a number of occasions we have seen 3 together at the same time. There could be more... they seem to be on the children's swing-set, or the deck, or fence - but they are always pretty close, flying through the trees here, perching, or at the water source - and making a distinctive sound. I'm a novice for sure, but it seems like they are calling and answering each other.
Our other birds seem to have left. I can hear them, but we really don't see them anymore. While I like watching the hawks, I do miss the other birds. Will they return, or have the hawks scared them all off for good? The only birds left are large crows (and one of the hawks got one of them a couple of days ago... which surprised me because the crows here are pretty big and hang out in groups... but this poor crow was by himself). The rabbits are gone now too. And we used to have a lot of squirrels, but rarely we will see one now.
Are these Cooper's Hawks? Will the hawks stay? Do they migrate (we are in Illinois in the USA)? I do miss the other birds and wildlife. Thanks in advance for answering our questions.
Early last Fall I noticed a hawk in a tree by our house. I had never seen it before. I thought it was just passing through. Early this Spring I noticed a large nest in a tall tree behind our house, and what looked like a similar hawk by the nest. Now we have at least 3 mature hawks living in our yard and within 100 yards of our home. They're here all day long. I think they are Cooper's Hawks. I will attach a photo of two of them. I am not sure how many are living in our area, but on a number of occasions we have seen 3 together at the same time. There could be more... they seem to be on the children's swing-set, or the deck, or fence - but they are always pretty close, flying through the trees here, perching, or at the water source - and making a distinctive sound. I'm a novice for sure, but it seems like they are calling and answering each other.
Our other birds seem to have left. I can hear them, but we really don't see them anymore. While I like watching the hawks, I do miss the other birds. Will they return, or have the hawks scared them all off for good? The only birds left are large crows (and one of the hawks got one of them a couple of days ago... which surprised me because the crows here are pretty big and hang out in groups... but this poor crow was by himself). The rabbits are gone now too. And we used to have a lot of squirrels, but rarely we will see one now.
Are these Cooper's Hawks? Will the hawks stay? Do they migrate (we are in Illinois in the USA)? I do miss the other birds and wildlife. Thanks in advance for answering our questions.
