DEAR JOAN: Sunday evening, my husband and I have been within the kitchen making ready dinner, once we heard the sound of glass breaking behind the home. Upon investigation, we discovered that our giant image window in our bed room had been shattered.
There was glass all around the ground, and a 1-foot tall hawk was perched atop a curio shelf that hangs on the wall. I imagine it was both a sharp-shinned hawk or Cooper’s hawk, as each frequent our yard. I used to be too flustered on the time to take a photograph.
We had no luck getting via to animal management or Fish and Wildlife, as each have been closed on Sunday. Luckily, we have now a sliding glass door in our bed room, so my husband placed on a sturdy hat and went to open it. As he did so, the hawk briefly lit on his shoulder after which soared exterior.
Disaster averted, however my inquiries to you're these: Why would a hawk crash via our window like that to start with? It will need to have taken appreciable drive for him to go away such a gaping gap within the window. Ought to this ever occur once more sooner or later, what's the finest company to name to take care of it? Had my husband not been residence, I doubt I'd have been courageous sufficient to attempt to shoo it out. I can’t think about how a lot harm this hawk might have prompted, if we had been away on trip on the time.
Virginia Ludwig, Orinda
DEAR VIRGINIA: Effectively, that’s one thing to place within the household vacation e-newsletter.
As a result of Cooper’s hawks are recognized for aerial gymnastics whereas looking, it will be my guess that’s who your celebration crasher was. Both method, the hawk was most probably looking prey. Hawks are masters at chasing different birds and might get so targeted on grabbing dinner, that they lose observe of the place they're. The reluctant dinner visitor was in all probability flying in, out and between tree limbs in an try to flee its pursuer and may even purposely have flown near the window in an effort to shake the hawk off its tail.
I believe it additionally seemingly the hen was a juvenile, not skilled but within the finer artwork of looking. Though older hawks can crash into home windows, it’s extra frequent with youthful birds simply studying the ropes.
The hawk may need been so targeted on following its prey that it didn’t see the window, or the reflection within the glass may need confused it into pondering it was flying via open area. You may need to add some stickers to that new window to stop future crashes.
Calling animal management and the California Division of Fish and Wildlife is the correct factor. Sadly, as you found, they aren’t all the time out there. An alternative choice is the non-emergency quantity for police.
If the hen is injured, you need to name a wildlife rehabilitator. In Contra Costa County, that’s the Lindsay Wildlife Expertise in Walnut Creek, 925-935-1978. For different components of the Bay Space, try the state’s listing of licensed rehabilitators at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Well being/Rehab/Services
In any other case, offering a transparent exit is a wonderful possibility. I just like the hat thought, too.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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