Drama in the afternoon...

SunGloSunGlo Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
edited November 19, 2008 in Wildlife
A strange story with a happy ending...for the rabbit.

I was driving on a narrow road and saw a hawk on the ground acting like it was injured. As I found a place to pull over and exited my vehicle I noticed it was not injured, but had captured a young marsh rabbit. The problem was, the hawk and rabbit were of equal size and neither was about to give up the fight. It quickly escalated into a tug of war.

The lighting wasn't that great, but I managed to grab a few shots before deciding to end the standoff in favor of the young rabbit. A few quick stomps of my foot startled the hawk long enough for the rabbit to run into the bushes and freedom. The hawk was left looking around trying to figure out what happened.

The hawk turned out to be a cooper's hawk and the first one I had ever seen.

Have fun,

Phil

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SunGlo Photography
www.sunglophoto.com
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Comments

  • DonRicklinDonRicklin Registered Users Posts: 5,551 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    Interesting first shot, though a bit centered. NIce the hawk hung around for some portrait shots! thumb.gif

    Don
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  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    The hawk posed very nicely for you.
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  • i_worship_the_Kingi_worship_the_King Registered Users Posts: 548 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    You seem to have gotten some great posed shots, but missed out on the mid-mealers deal.gif
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  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    Nice shots... That appears to be a big rabbit for that bird. You must be related to my wife, the other day a cat captured a squirrel in our backyard, and she shortcut nature allowing the rodent to escape it's fate.
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  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    i would have been nice if you would have let it play out
    but you had to step in headscratch.gif
    Jeff W

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  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2008
    At least you could have bought him a cheeseburger. Since you did not let him finish his dinner:D
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  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2008
    Really interesting series, and a beautiful bird clap.gif
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  • CatoCato Registered Users Posts: 287 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2008
    That 1st shot is really something!

    Good for you for letting the rabbit live another day!
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  • leaforteleaforte Registered Users Posts: 1,948 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2008
    amazing.
    Growing with Dgrin



  • SunGloSunGlo Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2008
    Thanks for the comments everyone, they're greatly appreciated.

    I'm a great one for "what's wild is wild, leave it alone and enjoy the sight", but in this case it was a stand-off. There could be no clear winner. I was concerned about the hawk injuring one/both of its wings. It was using them to push against the pavement to keep from being pulled down the street by the rabbit. Also, if you've ever heard a rabbits cry for help you know it's pretty hard to just walk away.

    The area I was in is an abundant source of food, so I don't think the hawk stayed hungry for very long. Hopefully it chose a smaller target for its next meal.

    Again, thanks,

    Phil
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  • RxRickRxRick Registered Users Posts: 93 Big grins
    edited November 18, 2008
    That Coopers hawk is confused. They're supposed to eat other birds. We have one in our neighborhood and his favorite meal seems to be mourning doves. A rabbit is a bit out of his league.

    Great shots.

    --RxRick
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2008
    Excellent captures Phil.

    Normally I would never interfere with nature. I'm biased of course. Rabbits eat my landscaping.
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  • SunGloSunGlo Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2008
    RxRick wrote:
    That Coopers hawk is confused. They're supposed to eat other birds. We have one in our neighborhood and his favorite meal seems to be mourning doves. A rabbit is a bit out of his league.

    Great shots.

    --RxRick

    Thanks. Yeah, I think this hawk needed glasses.
    .
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  • SunGloSunGlo Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Excellent captures Phil.

    Normally I would never interfere with nature. I'm biased of course. Rabbits eat my landscaping.

    Thanks Harry. Normally I'm the same way, but this was an odd situation.

    In our area the common Florida rabbits tend to steer clear of the developed lots, so for right now we don't have your problem. The marsh rabbits seem to be even more reclusive and stay in the wetlands. Our biggest 4 legged problem are the armadillos.

    Have fun,

    Phil
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    SunGlo Photography
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2008
    What a moment. I have never heard of Cooper's going after prey this large. Usually they stick to birds. I'm not even sure if this Cooper's Hawk could have actually dealt the rabbit the fatal blow. Cooper's are rather small hawks with talons that come nowhere near the power of, say, a red tailed hawk.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • SunGloSunGlo Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2008
    Maestro wrote:
    What a moment. I have never heard of Cooper's going after prey this large. Usually they stick to birds. I'm not even sure if this Cooper's Hawk could have actually dealt the rabbit the fatal blow. Cooper's are rather small hawks with talons that come nowhere near the power of, say, a red tailed hawk.

    That's why I stepped in so to speak. The hawk even tried to fly off with the rabbit and the rabbit just yanked it back to the ground. There was no way the hawk could have won that fight. I felt that if it continued, the hawk was going to damage one or both of its wings.

    I appreciate your comment Stephen.
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    SunGlo Photography
    www.sunglophoto.com
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