This year we have lots of rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood and now we have a predator. It likes to get on roof gables and powerlines and screech and then swoop. I took a partial differential equations class back in college and one of the problems they had us work on is the mathematical relationship between the numbers of prey and predators. Turns out there there is no happy equilibrium. It cycles, the number of prey increases which after a delay increases the number of predators, and then they gobble up all the little cute prey animals and then the predators starve and the cycle starts anew.
I think it is a red shouldered hawk but I am in no way a birder so if somebody has a better id then please let me know. I submitted the pics to inaturalist dot org and they are waiting for more community ids. So it saw something, screeched and went swooping into a neighbor’s yard for something.
Hello Alan,
Great photos, they do seem to like a high perch. They can easily see their prey.
The second shot is cool, I can almost here it’s screech! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend! PS, I appreciate the visit and comment.
It’s a beautiful bird, nice photos!
Interesting tidbit about the cycle of predator and prey – I guess it’s all just part of the circle of life. Nice post, Yogi.
Gobbling up cute prey animals seems to be the way it was all set up in nature. Seems the ideal would have been to make only fruits, nuts and vegetables worldwide edibles but it wasn’t my call. Interesting cycle you speak of, I suppose humans are not the only species that deplete themselves of resources.
I saw the hawk the other day, with white chest. Not sure what type. Plenty humingbirds around.
Coffee is on and stay safe
You got some good photos, the Hawks here are too quick for me to get my camera out.
Wonderful captures and interesting theory about prey and predators.
Looks majestic, seems to be announcing something :))
Great photo of the hawk ~ ‘Survival of the fittest.’ ~ Way of nature ~ love the little critters, though. Xo
Happy Independence Day to you ~
Living in the moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
That is one big hawk. If I were a bunny, I’d be trembling. We’ve had hawks fly into our windows twice, luckily not killing them but stunning them enough so I could have a closeup view. Everything about them – eyes, beak, claws is kinda scary.