ML646909156

Observation details

BAD NEWS. A Cooper’s hawk took the tanager. Second, third, and fourth visits today were at 10:52, 11:16, and 11:42. The first visit at 10:07 today was recorded on a previous shared checklist. Day 3 for this bird visiting the bird pond at our private residence. Day 1 (Fri 12/12): 8:45 and 11:42 Day 2 (Sat 12/13): 8:05, 8:10, 9:36, and 11:37 Day 3 (Sun 12/14): 10:07, 10:52, 11:16, and 11:42 At 11:42 the western tanager returned to the pond. Moments later, all the starlings, robins, and blue jays took off in a rush as a Cooper’s hawk landed in the cedar tree right above the pond. The tanager was the only bird that stayed in the pond. It was crouching low, watching. Seconds later the hawk swooped down, quickly plucked the tanager out of the water, and flew off with it clutched in its talons. RIP western tanager 😢

Additional species

• European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
• American Robin Turdus migratorius