Evening star., 1945-12-13
This and That
By Charles E. Trncepeu.
"BROOKVILLE ROAD"


Dear Sir:
while walking along the other after
noon 1 passed half a dozen pigeons
feeding in the grass
am not an admirer of pigeons, but
could not help but think how clean and
nice looking these birds looked.
Evidently my eyes were not the only
ones watching the pigeons, for suddenly
l was aware Of sort of shadow in a
tree across the road.
Nor was the only one aware of that
shadow.
The pigeons took oil with a rush,
and were out Of sight In a few seconds.
I have never seen pigeons fly faster.
The shadow was a large hawk with
a wingspread Of at least three feet. He
had SKINNED in over the trees and had
attempted to take up a position on a
branch before making his bomb-dive
at selected pigeon.
The pigeons had seen him in time
They were on the grass one second and
gone the next.
The hawk made a few practice runs
over the location, at times coming as
close as so feet. He was a dark brown
IN color. I was surprised to note how
thin his wings seemed. They bent and
curved with the wind pressure against
them.
THE hawk glided around for some
time as If looking for his prey. He
finally took off to the south and dipped
down behind some tall trees. I did not
watch him any longer.
There Is fairly large estate in that
lI..l
this vicinity have noticed the sudden
disappearance of their small guests
recently. it may be that this hawk is
the cause OF it. Sincerely, NJ j. F."
Hawks are not very brave.
Most of their food consists of mice,
snails and small birds, with an occa-
sional pigeon. Now and then one of
the larger hawks will get a chicken.
A hawk will empty bird feeding
station as if by magic. The songsters,
catching but a glimpse of that dread
shadow, simply evaporate. Instead of
flying high, they keep low and dart into
shrubbery, bushes and evergreens.
In this way they all save themselves
except the one specimen which the
hawk has decided upon for his dinner.
Hawks do not fly in Immediately to the
victim, but must first select a vantage
point from which to take off.
1t is this preliminary movement which
saves all of the feeders but one He,
poor fellow, seems never to be as fast
as the hawk is. The final dart is as
straight and swift as an arrow.
Hawks are sometimes captured by
placing bait inside pen of chicken
wire. The hawk closes his wings as he
drops into the pen, but when he tries
to spread them to take fight, he is
unable to get them open.
His talons hold the prey, so he is
not able to walk up the side of the pen.
While he is trying to get his wings
clear of the wire, he loses valuable
time, and this gives the trapper the
opportunity to jump out and seize him.
It may be imagined that a hawk in
such situation as this is torn between
two desires, one to hold onto the prey,
and the other to drop it and get free.
While he is trying to make up his mind,
he is caught.
1t Is a minor wonder why hawks in
suburban areas do not entirely break up
the sport of bird feeding. They could
do 1t if they wished, but evidently they
do not wish. Perhaps this should be
held in their favor.
Sometimes the presence of q hawk at
a bird feeding station will cause all the
small birds to vanish from the neighbor-
hood for periods varying from a few
hours to day.
There is nothing to do except to keep
food out and wait. Shooting at hawks
is dangerous In built-up neighborhoods.
Besides, one may kill a beneficial hawk.
The best thing to do is to point an
umbrella or rolled newspaper at the
marauder. This is lesson all hawks
seem to have learned. Usually the very
attitude scares them away and evidently
the memory Of 1t keeps them away.