No, I am not starting a new group!
I took the following photos earlier in the spring but finally got around to posting them.
I found a bird, not just any bird, but a bird of prey, a hawk (not a falcon) perched on a tree out in a distance.
This is where my camera's zoom feature comes in handy. Here's a close-up look at him.
And another close-up of this magnificent bird.
Before I knew it, he was joined by a magpie. It was suprised that the magpie stood there, on the same tree as the hawk. I think he was there to taunt him. I guess he was not afraid to end up as a tasty treat for the falcon.
To my surprise, within a few seconds, there were two magpies teasing the hawk as if they wanted to gang up on the falcon. The falcon did not seem bothered at all.
Here they all are again a few branches of each other! Note that both magpies directing their attention towards the hawk.
Here one final photo of this unusual bird encounter.
I was glad to have my camera out and capture the unsual behavior of the magpies. I learned later when I was visiting the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge that magpiess are not afraid of the hwak and they sometimes make a flight towards the falcon and pull a feather out of the falcon. What is up with that? There is courage but for a magpie to try and pull a feather out of a live hawk is more like a death defying stunt. Why risk getting hurt over a feather?
I am glad there was no casualty when I observed the hawk and the two magpies who decided to join him on the same tree. I hope you enjoyed the title of this post and the photos of these birds which I spotted in Red Lodge. Happy Friday!
For a moosely fun group, check out Moose Monday ! :)
All photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.
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