First snow, 1-17-12. Eagles atop nearby fir tree. Click to enlarge.

Kitchen window view, 1-21-12. Black squirrel atop cedar stump. Viewed through glass. Click to enlarge.

Hi Lori: I wonder who blinked first: the squirrel or the hawk?

That little bushy tailed nutcracker is lucky he didn't become dinner/. We've had red tailed hawks that nested on the ravine behind our apartment for the last 4 years. We've also had a chicken wire around our balcony to keep kitties in & pigeons, Squirrels out. The hawks always flew by our balcony but not too close. Now that we were FORCED to take down the wire the hawks have been seen ZOOMING toward our balcony & veering off just before they get there. Do RTH's remember that there were cats on balcony. Kind of weird Question but I swear one looked like it was going to land on railing. No cat out at that time

love the eagle shots and sweet woodpecker and squirrel Ed! sorry I forgot to ask Nanc to come here. I'll do it now, sheesh what a memory. hehe good question about who blinked first

Hi Pat, my thoughts exactly! I would bet the RT does remember. I see mine here often perched on the same branches and poles. That seems to say that they have success there so return to them. If they can go away and come back to where they started, surely they can remember more?

Scary thought Lori. For the past 4 years I was able to leave balcony door open & be out all day & kitties could be on balcony during summer. Now I won't be able do that anymore. And I know that RTH's do get cats

here's something to think about Pat...get a roll of netting and afix it somehow to the one end and then when you're going out unroll it and afix to the other. Maybe with fishing line, garbage bag ties or thin wire. You'd be able to go along the wall into balcony door easily but RT couldn't fly through it, then kitties can be safely outside

You might want to formulate a plan though on what you'll do if an RT tangles in it with its talons

Hi Ed, I love that who blinked first the squirrel or hawk?
The story on the picture is a typical backyard one. I heard the RS Hawk and saw it in the neighbor's yard. It was on the ground and flew up into an oak in my yard. I grabbed my camera and was going for a shot of the RSH when I noticed the squirrel crawling out the limb toward the hawk. Wish I had switched to video. The squirrel slowly crept up to the hawk and seemed quite curious about that "big bird". The Hawk just sat and watched the whole thing.The squirrel just went to another limb so that it could get to the other side of the hawk. I almost closed my eyes so I wouldn't see the massacre.

Apparently the squirrel knew that the hawk catches its prey by flying in order to use its talons. It must have known the hawk couldn't move as fast as it could. OR, it was sure lucky!
The RS started calling and answering another RS I could hear, then flew away. The birds and squirrels respect the RS hawks but they really clear out when the Cooper's Hawk comes around.

I sure hope you come up with a good solution for the kitties with the RT hawks around, Pat. I had to warn a neighbor about their small kitten when the Cooper's started coming regularly.

Ed, the eagle pictures are wonderful! Beautiful woodpecker and squirrel shots. I always love your pictures.