While out in the yard completing my “honey-do’s” I suddenly heard Sandhill
Cranes. But looking up, I couldn’t see any birds. I grabbed binos, but still
no luck. Finally, while up on a step ladder, I saw a flock of 40-50
Sandhills pass in front of a puffy white cloud. Only then could I see them.
They were way up, so they took a long time to traverse the open sky above my
yard. After they got beyond the cloud, without binos they were just dark
dots against a blue sky. When the surrounding trees cut off my view, I could
still hear them. Way cool.

Tom McCabe, Boise

This AM the Blue Jay was loudly & repeatedly screeching & the feeder had no bird visitors. A quick scan revealed a first yr Sharp-shinned Hawk perched in a cottonwood near the feeders. The hawk had no chance for stealth with the jay nearby.

I’ve been finding piles of Eurasian Collared Dove feathers about every 5 days at various places in the yard. So, I knew a sharpie had to be around. With the jay’s warning screeches, the hawk must have known the gig was up. So, the Sharp-shinned directed its attention toward the Blue Jay, flying straight toward it.

This is when Juncos, House Finches or the Collared Doves go into full panic mode & flee for their lives, and…often get nailed mid-air. But the Blue Jay just deftly out maneuvered the hawk, hopping a branch or two away, & suddenly dived at the hawk! The Sharp-shinned took off with the Blue Jay right on it’s tail feathers.

Now, the Blue Jay has returned hitting sunflower seeds as if nothing’s happened. Definitely, knows how to survive!

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot