Cooper’s Hawks Make a Home in Leschi

Early in the summer I put out a new bird feeder and perhaps coincidentally a few minutes later about 15-20 large birds flew into a big tree across the street overlooking my garden. They perched for about half an hour and then flew together south and disappeared from my view.

With my new binoculars (and new interest in birding, thank you Nick Djunic for the beginner course at Seward Park Audubon) I could see they were Cooper’s Hawks. I learned there are many active nests in the Leschi area and beyond. They’re being monitored by the Urban Raptor Conservancy (https:/urbanraptor.org). On Seafair weekend, I happened to walk by the Leschi Natural Area at the corner of Terrace Ave where members had just banded and released a young Cooper’s Hawk. Conservancy members waited patiently for half an hour as the hawk watched a caged bird (safe for the bird, they assured me) and finally swooped down for the prey to be caught, banded, and released.

The Conservancy started in 2018; its members are scientists who study 19 species of raptors including eagles, falcons and owls. The website has their annual reports as well as from the Puget Sound Peregrine Project (founded 1994) and Seattle Cooper’s Hawk Project (founded 2004). The site is full of information and amazing pictures. Ed Deal, one of the board members and recognized raptor expert, told me that the biggest risks for the population are window hits and rodenticides. They have been following 80 nests this year, with 69 successfully fledging. Also, interesting that many nests are in Seattle Parks and Recreation properties.

Back on my bird feeder I put a cover to protect the birds at my feeder but later I found remains of two tiny birds in the garden.  I don’t know whose meal it was, but I remind myself: circle of life.

~Chris Surawicz