posted by Tom Moertel at 11:27 PM /
While walking to the Beverly Shops recently, I noticed something unusual on top of a telephone pole in the distance. It looked like a large bird, a hawk perhaps, but it was too far away to make out. Still, it was striking, the straight line of the pole, climbing up from the ground, into the grasp of a large, powerful bird.
I didn't think much of it at the time. Just something fascinating to see. I resumed my walk and forgot about it.
But then, a few mornings later, I was making coffee in the kitchen. I looked out the window and – surprise! – there was hawk perched on the garden fence. It was beautiful (and a little imposing). My camera was nearby, and I managed to get a photograph (see below).
I'd expect large birds like hawks in forests, parks, or maybe a large cemetery, but in my backyard? Has anybody else seen hawks in Mt. Lebanon? In their yards? Are they common here?
Labels: birding, birds, hawks, Mt. Lebanon photos
10 Comments:
I've definitely seem them around town from time to time. In fact, we found a dead baby bunny in our front yard years ago. We called animal control to come and remove it. We asked the officer where the heck it could've come from and he stated that more than likely a hawk accidentally dropped it as it flew over our yard.
I don't want to incite a hawk culling movement, but yes, they fly around the wooded part of Mt. Lebanon park all the time.
Ian Donaldson
My son took a number of pictures yesterday of a hawk eating a squirrel on the hill behind our home yesterday - looks like the same hawk in your picture.
Bill Eayre
There are a number of such hawks in Mt. Lebanon, and have been for years. They seem to soar from neighborhood to neighborhood hunting for rabbits, squirrels, chipmonks and even nesting small birds. It is something to behold when a hawk gets too close to a flock of nesting birds and the birds attack the preying hawk.
Several years ago a large adult hawk suddenly landed on a railing of our deck...we being behind a window not more than 5 ft. away. The hawk was totally focused on and after our cat who had been sunning himself on the deck. The cat ran under a deck table & chairs and the hawk was unable to reach him, but flapped his wings and acreeched repeatedly. We startled the hawk by beating on the window, and it flew away. It was a long while before the cat would venture out onto the deck.
During the summer, when playing at the Tennis Center, we often see the circling hawks overhead.
Beautiful picture!! I've also seen them circling over the main park many times.
We live near Bird Park and have occasionally seen a hawk in our yard. Recently I saw a pair perched in a neighbor's tree. They looked like Cooper's Hawks.
Pam Pasternak
Great photo! Yes, we see hawks circling over our house frequently and we have also seen them in our backyard. It might be a red-tailed hawk, which are common in the eastern United States. They are about 2 feet tall.
I have frequently seen hawks on the light poles when walking the high school track and it makes me tuck my fingers in. One day, when I lived on Jefferson, I heard a sudden thump and saw feathers flying everywhere as a large hawk landed beneath my bird feeder. Sometime after that I found a racing pigeon in my front yard and was able to track down the owner through the leg band serial number and phone network of the racing pigeon people. Some man named “Merle” came to get the bird and he lived in Latrobe. The pigeon racing enthusiasts are an interesting bunch. You never know what you will find around here. How about those turkeys on Avon? (I don’t mean the residents…) – Charlotte Stephenson
Definitely! We've had a big nest in a tree behind our home on Woodland Drive and have witnessed some lively activity. I've watched them circle and swoop down on quite a few small rodents. In fact, we almost lost our pet rabbit one year when the kids took it out to play in the yard!
We've had one on Shady Drive East for some time. Teh rabbit population has diminished greatly because of it.
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