He's here every day for much of the day, but I don't think he roosts here at night. At first I was not happy with him being here as he was taking an occasional bird, but I've decided that he has to make a living too. And, wouldn't it be wonderful if he found a mate and decided to nest here? Of course "he" could be a "she". If that turns out to be the case it will become something like Garita or Garene. But for now it's Gary the Coopers Hawk. A couple of days ago Scottie noticed that Gary refused to put one foot down on the branch. We were concerned that he was injured, and I'd seen him make a major swoop after a dove, maybe hitting a branch. But, by the next morning, both feet were firmly gripping again.
I've worked so much with the dogs on the issue of NOT going after the birds. . . talking to them about the birds, holding a bird that hit the window and petting it, rubbing the bird on the dogs, etc., etc., etc., telling them how much we like the birds. Buck will still eat a dead bird, but neither dog goes after the live ones now. Anyway, when Gary swoops after a bird, usually a dove, the dogs go nuts barking at him, dashing at him, generally letting him know he's not to go after the birds. When he's just sitting in the trees they ignore him, but after he's tried for a bird close to the house they sit under the tree and bark at him! Goofy dogs.
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