I saw an interesting sight on my way to work this morning. As I was stuck in slow traffic moving up the hill toward Broad Street I saw a huge bird sweep low and then land on top of a traffic sign. It was a hawk. He was large and handsome. I thought it was a treat to see such a bird up close. He was perched very nonchalantly scouting the ground below. Suddenly another bird came swooping out of a nearby tree right at the hawk. It was a much smaller bird. It flitted around the hawk and then back to the tree and then repeated the maneuver.
At first I thought it was a blue jay since they can be quite territorial and I thought it would be up to the task of taking on a hawk. As I inched up the hill I could see it was not a blue jay. I took note of its markings. When I got to work I checked and I believe it was a Northern Mockingbird. Apparently this bird will take on a bird that is encroaching in its territory. Even though it was not a laughing matter for the birds, it made me laugh to see this bird take on the much more fearsome hawk. It is one of the few times I wish I had been stuck in traffic longer.
At first I thought it was a blue jay since they can be quite territorial and I thought it would be up to the task of taking on a hawk. As I inched up the hill I could see it was not a blue jay. I took note of its markings. When I got to work I checked and I believe it was a Northern Mockingbird. Apparently this bird will take on a bird that is encroaching in its territory. Even though it was not a laughing matter for the birds, it made me laugh to see this bird take on the much more fearsome hawk. It is one of the few times I wish I had been stuck in traffic longer.
