10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2011

I’ve seen young Red-tailed Hawk s who just don’t have the hang of it, counting on luck of good fortune to present them with a careless gopher or a rare easy meal. On this occasion Patch had secured a gopher and was dining on a streetlight. During the meal she was mobbed by several blackbirds and an American Robin.

Gophers 200

Gophers Blackbirds Tanzania Hunting 200

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Here Patch sits on a bench watching a pocket gopher tidy up the front of its burrow. Here she is carrying a squirming gopher over the heads of park-goers who actually notice the spectacle. The blackbirds had good reason to be cautious. The blackbirds had good reason to be cautious. Another strange encounter.

Gophers 183

Gophers San Francisco Blackbirds Hunting 183

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

The hawk was intent on finding gophers and I used its focus to my advantage and closed the distance gradually. It was thrilling to watch her navigate the park, deal with mobbing Brewer’s Blackbirds , Common Ravens , and Western Scrub Jays. She put up with most of it and then turned the tables on occasion.

San Francisco 213

San Francisco Gophers Hunting Blackbirds 213