Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Lake View Ave: Juvenile Cooper's Hawk

Photo: Gary Macheel, November 9, 2015.  Monday morning, a young Cooper's Hawk paid a visit to Macheel's yard. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

When Macheel sent me this photo, I immediately knew I'd seen a similar raptor near the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase and the Red Car Property a few months ago.  I've often seen Cooper's Hawks flying north on Lake View, then take a left at Macheel's house, disappearing in the trees on the steep slope between Lake View and Silver Ridge.

Red Car Canyon between Lake View Ave  and Corralitas Drive is prime Cooper's Hawk territory.  Cooper's Hawk's are forest dwelling hawks that have adapted well to the urban forest on Silver Lake and Echo Park.  They like to hunt in the dense trees and have remarkable maneuvering ability. 

Additionally, be on the lookout for Great Horned Owls.  Macheel said he and his wife "saw it on our morning walk two days ago...gliding above us...white underbelly and wings."

Click here for all our Cooper's Hawk posts. 

Learn more about Cooper's Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology