COOnCR'S HAWK 121 



The follov. iiig account by Dr. Paul L. Errington (1932) illustrates 

 the ferocity and bravery of a Cooper's hawk in defense of its young : 



On July 7, 1931, I was visiting a juvenile Great Horned Owl that had previ- 

 ously been tethered on the ground for a study of its food habits in a woodlot 

 west of Pine Bluff, Wisconsin. The adult owl that was taking care of the 

 yc'ungster appeared at my approach, alighted in a tree near by, and started the 

 usual hostile demonstration of hooting and bill snapping. As if in answer to 

 the hoots, the cry of a Cooper's Hawk came from deeper in the woods, and an 

 instant later a female hawk dashed at the adult owl with terrific speed. Like 

 a skilled boxer, the owl ducked, barely evading the hawk's talons. Several 

 times in very short order the owl had to dodge as the raging hawk struck from 

 all sides. 



During the first part of this performance, the owl had been nearly as much 

 concerned on account of my proximity to the juvenile as it had been with the 

 attacks of the Cooper's Hawk. Finally, things became sufficiently hot that the 

 owl left the branch upon which it had perched, and launched forth in direct 

 and purposeful chase of the Cooper's Hawk, which kept just ahead of her larger 

 pursuer for several yards before doubling back, to wheel and strike again. The 

 hawk behaved as though utterly maddened, but she never let herself get quite 

 within reach of the owl's talons. Her safety was plainly dependent upon her 

 superior agility and precision of movement. For a brief space the action be- 

 came so fast that I could not see exactly what was happening, especially at 

 close quarters when it seemed that neither bird could avoid being hit. How- 

 ever, it is improbable that damage was done, for not even a feather was noted 

 to fall. The hawk soon went her way, cackling as she flew, and the owl was 

 free once more to center upon me its earnest attention. The hawk gave no 

 evidence of having seen me. 



A search of a few minutes revealed the hawk's nest 110 yards away. Two 

 juveniles, ready to fly, were perched on the rim. 



Many demonstrations of its impudent boldness in pursuit of its 

 quarry have been recorded. Dr. Charles W. Townsend (1930) says: 

 "The Cooper's Hawk, like the Sharp-shin, is bold in the presence of 

 man. I have known one, in pursuit of a chicken, to fly into a barn 

 where it was killed with a whip by a farmer. Another had trussed 

 and nearly eaten a Robin on the ground near my house and did not 

 fly until I had approached within ten feet." 



Dr. Fisher (1893) tells of one of these hawks that attacked Dr. 

 C. D. Walcott, while he was collecting fossils, apparently with no 

 provocation ; the hawk was repelled but renewed the attack and was 

 killed with a geological hammer. Mr. Forbush (1927) quotes Mr. 

 Farley, as follows : 



This Sunday morning, May 2, 19€9, soon after 9 (apparently his usual hour), 

 the Cooper's Hawk (or another just as bad) which is getting so many chickens 

 from poultry-raisers here on Chiltouville Hill, Plymouth (we have lost 25), 

 appeared, coming for the coops. Mr. Graves fired at him, but the hawk, not 

 stopped by the report, circled within a few rods and came in again. But the 

 second barrel sent him away, apparently hit. During this entire episode there 

 were five people standing close to the coop. A few mornings ago also, as Mr. 

 Graves was pounding away making another coop, the hawk caught and carried 

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