Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
Mood:
Excited
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Unwelcome (?) backyard visitor
It's supposed to be quite mild in the Denver area today, altho at the moment it's overcast and kind of dreary. Always the positive thinker, I took a few items out to the clothesline instead of draping them over the rack in the laundry room.
The small birds, mostly sparrows, who are always hanging around in the shrubbery were vocalizing to beat the band, what I call a "chirpfest" but they seemed a little frantic today.
BUT, the source of their dismay was an immature Cooper's hawk, perched on a utility wire. It seemed to me the hawk wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do next, although I'm probably putting human attitudes and concerns into my understanding of his pose - the little sparrows were all audible, but not visible. I called Mr Woodstock to come see the hawk, and when he came out the sparrows decamped to the west in a flock, while Mr (Ms?) hawk moved a little east to our neighbor's fence.
I checked my bird book, and the color plate I found matches the hawk's appearance pretty closely. Cooper's hawks main diet is small birds according to Roger Tory Peterson, so the sparrows were right on in warning each other. And Peterson's description of the geographical range has the hawk in the right place as well.
The hawk supervised my laundry duties. when I looked out the back window a few minutes later it was gone. The sparrows weren't happy with the unexpected guest, but the humans who met him were pretty excited.
Woodstock
The small birds, mostly sparrows, who are always hanging around in the shrubbery were vocalizing to beat the band, what I call a "chirpfest" but they seemed a little frantic today.
BUT, the source of their dismay was an immature Cooper's hawk, perched on a utility wire. It seemed to me the hawk wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do next, although I'm probably putting human attitudes and concerns into my understanding of his pose - the little sparrows were all audible, but not visible. I called Mr Woodstock to come see the hawk, and when he came out the sparrows decamped to the west in a flock, while Mr (Ms?) hawk moved a little east to our neighbor's fence.
I checked my bird book, and the color plate I found matches the hawk's appearance pretty closely. Cooper's hawks main diet is small birds according to Roger Tory Peterson, so the sparrows were right on in warning each other. And Peterson's description of the geographical range has the hawk in the right place as well.
The hawk supervised my laundry duties. when I looked out the back window a few minutes later it was gone. The sparrows weren't happy with the unexpected guest, but the humans who met him were pretty excited.
Woodstock
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