I have a big bird feeding station set up under the grape arbor in the alcove on the southside of my house. I feed pretty much year round and as a result have a massive population of birds that visit throughout the seasons.
This morning I heard a boom, followed immediately by my wife yelling for me to come look.
On the deck was this sad sight:
Now it sits in the brush pile, awaiting a critter to take it away, or this weekend’s annual burn pile cremation. I think I need to put up warning stickers in the windows. This hawk has been taking out robins in the alcove, but this morning it missed and it missed big. A shame, for it really is a magnificent bird and was very amazing to hold, still warm and pre-rigor mortis.
I’m pretty sure it is a sharp-shinned hawk.