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Jan. 4th, 2021 11:33 amLike a lot of folks in this part of Massachusetts, my landlord has people in the family who use lobster traps and a boat. During the winter the lobster traps are stored on land. Specifically, along the back edge of this house's property. There's a fence marking the property edge. I think there's about a foot or so of space between the traps and the fence. Maybe less. They look like the ones here: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-stacks-of-new-yellow-wire-lobster-traps-at-state-pier-newport-harbor-24144967.html
One of the neighbors whose yard abuts ours has multiple bird feeders in the backyard. The local sparrows, finches, chickadees, titmice, etc. ADORE these feeders. They cluster up in nearby bushes and trees to get a crack at the feeders. They also love to cluster up on and occasionally in the lobster traps for this purpose. At the right time of day and under the right conditions, if you stand in the backyard you can see and hear the sparrows flying in waves every few seconds- "OKAY! EVERYBODY GET A SEED AND FLY BACK TO THE TRAP! REPEAT! REPEAT!"
The day before yesterday I saw the sparrows make a different use of the lobster traps. There's at least one Cooper's hawk in this area. Maybe other birds of prey, too, but I can only really vouch for one. Cooper's hawks are known to stalk feeders, since they represent an opportunity to get smaller birds as prey. I've seen one sitting in a tree on the opposite side of the property, watching the area where the sparrows were staging their waves. The day before yesterday? It came cruising in low under the tree branches and dove into the space between the traps and the fence.
Every. Single. Little brown bird. Dove into the bodies of the lobster traps in response. And started SHOUTING THEIR HEADS OFF.
I don't think the hawk was able to fit into any of the lobster trap openings, because it flew off a few minutes later with nothing in its talons or its beak, and once it was gone there were a few seconds of silence before the sparrows emerged and resumed normal twittering and feeder-raiding.
One of the neighbors whose yard abuts ours has multiple bird feeders in the backyard. The local sparrows, finches, chickadees, titmice, etc. ADORE these feeders. They cluster up in nearby bushes and trees to get a crack at the feeders. They also love to cluster up on and occasionally in the lobster traps for this purpose. At the right time of day and under the right conditions, if you stand in the backyard you can see and hear the sparrows flying in waves every few seconds- "OKAY! EVERYBODY GET A SEED AND FLY BACK TO THE TRAP! REPEAT! REPEAT!"
The day before yesterday I saw the sparrows make a different use of the lobster traps. There's at least one Cooper's hawk in this area. Maybe other birds of prey, too, but I can only really vouch for one. Cooper's hawks are known to stalk feeders, since they represent an opportunity to get smaller birds as prey. I've seen one sitting in a tree on the opposite side of the property, watching the area where the sparrows were staging their waves. The day before yesterday? It came cruising in low under the tree branches and dove into the space between the traps and the fence.
Every. Single. Little brown bird. Dove into the bodies of the lobster traps in response. And started SHOUTING THEIR HEADS OFF.
I don't think the hawk was able to fit into any of the lobster trap openings, because it flew off a few minutes later with nothing in its talons or its beak, and once it was gone there were a few seconds of silence before the sparrows emerged and resumed normal twittering and feeder-raiding.
