Cooper's and Rabbits

Sunday, September 21, 2025

The days are getting shorter such that our first walk with Henna around 6 AM is now dark enough for a headlamp. Coldest morning yet, too, at 39F. Gloves and hat temperature. By the time we walked around the block, daylight was upon us. 

Near Shy Man's house (we have nicknames for neighbors that we don't know) I heard a "kak-kak-kak" -- a Cooper's hawk calling from one of the trees. As we turned the corner onto our road, the Cooper's flew overhead, calling "kak-kak-kak." The Cornell Lab says this call is an alarm call, made to defend the nest or during courtship, but I assume neither is happening now. It could also be an irritated female. That sounds plausible. 

Srini noticed some loose feathers and down in the corner of our yard. The feathers had a hint of red. I'm thinking a female cardinal consumed by the local Cooper's hawk. Maybe after I heard and saw it this morning it snagged the cardinal as they are also up early.  

We were away for four days last week and I was thinking I hadn't noticed the young rabbits in our yard, nor their mother (distinguished by her tattered left ear). As light faded for the day, a bit before 7 PM, the mother rabbit and one if her offspring appeared in our yard near the crabapple. Not long after another adult joined them (this one has a notched left ear), although all three kept their distance from each other. The two adults seemed to be courting each other, staying close, some occasional jumps and turns. These cottontails breed often; she might be ready to move on from her current youngsters and start again.