Concord, Mass.
1893.
Aug. 20 
(No 2)                              
  While passing around the Glacial Hollow this afternoon
we came upon a small mixed flock consisting of six
or seven Chickadees, an Oven bird, A Solitary Vireo and 
two young Chestnut-Sided Warblers. They were high up
in the pines at first and we had to 'setup" a good
deal to get them down into good view. Presently a 
Cooper's Hawk began screaming not far off and then 
next moment came flying through the trees and alighted
on a low branch not ten yards from us and literally
in the very midst of the Chickadees & Warblers which
curiously enough showed neither surprise nor alarm
but went on feeding or flitting about within a few
feet or yards of their dangerous neighbor. Their confidence
proved to be not misplaced for the Hawk a young
female in fresh autumn plumage showed no desire
to molest them but for a full minute sat erect
& motionless regarding us with an expression of mingled 
surprise and suspicion. She then flew quietly away in
the direction whence she had come but the moment
we resumed "screeping" she returned and circling half
around us alighted again. This was repeated half a 
dozen times or more the screeping never once failing
to bring back the Hawk post haste although she
did not come quite as close as at first. Her approach
was always heralded by a sucession of shrill squawking
cries (ke -e-e-e) agreeing in form with those of the young
just from the nest but louder, more penetrating, and
more Jay-like in tone. Chapman thought the bird 
mistook our "screeping" for the call of its parent bringing
food, I that it was looking for a wounded or entangled
bird which it hoped to capture. It flew swiftly & when 
dashing through the trees avoided the dead branches with ease &
grace.
[margin] Ball's Hill[/margin]
[margin] Strange behaviour of a Cooper's Hawk[/margin]