February 17-18th, 2020 - Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Space
February 17-18
Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Space
Journal
Sunrise 7:18 am
Sun at 36 degrees altitude (180 degrees south)
Sunset 6:05 pm
approx. = 10 hours 47minutes of daylight
High today = 37 degrees
Days are getting longer with sun moving across the southern sky higher and higher.
The spring equinox is Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 9:49 pm MDT – about 30 days away.
In Wasatch Hollow, I was able to observe in the last two days: Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Black-billed Magpies.
The Black-billed Magpies (BBMs) were in full force yesterday with about 10 ganging up on a Sharp-shinned Hawk (SSHA). The BBMs basically followed and harassed the SSHA relentlessly in Wasatch Hollow – near the back loop area – from tree to tree – they would go after the SSHA – and this went on for about 20 minutes.
The SSHA went after one Magpie – and I have several images of that encounter; but note that they SSHA was not trying to “take down” the Magpie (the BBM was 2x larger than the SSHA), but was trying to defend itself…and soon other BBMs would join in – and it was all too much for the SSHA to handle.
I wondered how much energy the SSHA had expended in this ordeal…and I observed how much attention a Hawk – will quickly draw in the Magpies.
here is one field note to consider: if you are walking in that area and you HEAR and SEE many Magpies dive bombing in and out a tree – and squawking – there is good possibility of an Accipiter nearby…Look up and see what the Magpies are doing…in this case – they sat within 5 feet away from the SSHA – basically alarming all other animals (birds that may be prey) in the area.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)Observer
scottdwrightDescription
eating berries -
39 degrees - full sun in Wasatch Hollow Nature Preserve and Open Lands
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)Observer
scottdwrightDescription
in the nature preserve this afternoon a bit of drama with Black-billed Magpies: I have come to learn that if I see more than 4 or 5 in a tree - squawking - and dive bombing in and out, they are usually harassing something - and usually it is a hawk that they are ganging up on; in this case I watched them go after - what I suggest is a Sharp-shinned Hawk (see in other observation); but you can see the Hawk (smaller than the Magpie) in the last image. The Hawk went after one Magpie - not to take down as prey, but in self-defense. As you will see in last image - the Accipiter - is now going after the Magpie; it was an ongoing thing for about 20 minutes....
Photos / Sounds
What
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)Observer
scottdwrightDescription
these images show (what I suggest) is a Sharp-shinned Hawk {SSHA} going after a Black-billed Magpie; but the story is that the Magpie was sitting next to the SSHA - and other Magpies came in to harass the SSHA - relentlessly. In the first image - the SSHA is going after the Magpie - but in effect the Magpies were chasing the SSHA all throughout the Hollow - and I watched that for about 20 minutes. You can see one image the Magpie sitting right next to the SSHA. Trying to take these images was like taking photos of a jet zooming through the woods...
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