MAC
02-25-2004, 06:16 PM
Hawk Feeds on Pigeons at Ohio Home Depot (http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-home-depot-hawk,0,6971519,print.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines)
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- One visitor to Home Depot has been hunting for more than home improvement items.
A Cooper's hawk has been flying above the stocked shelves at a suburban Cleveland store for more than a week while feeding on pigeons that live in the rafters.
The brown bird's three-foot wing span casts a moving shadow across the concrete floor, causing customers and workers to duck and cock their heads toward the 25-foot ceiling.
The hawk entered the store through an open door while chasing a pigeon last Saturday. It caught its prey above the electrical aisle, worker Craig Warth said. Witnesses saw the hawk rip the pigeon apart and feed until nothing was left but feathers and claws.
"It wasn't a pretty sight," said Terry McGuire, assistant manager. "Some of the customers were upset. Some said it was the neatest thing they had ever seen."
Workers said about 15 pigeons were living in the store, but since the hawk arrived, few are left. Cooper's hawks are a protected species, so the bird can't be harmed or killed.
Local wildlife experts say the hawk will likely leave when the pigeons are gone.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
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a bit of natural philosophy for you to mull
we are often told that it's a good sign to see a predator because that means he's killing certain prey.
many conservationist try to use this as a selling point.
such as: if you see the hawk he's eating those pesky pigeons that crap on your products in home depot
this statement is not wrong but I would like to point out that we, in today's modern world of pest control, think of all-or-nothing infestations
when you see this hawk it means there ARE pigeons for him to eat
it most certainly does NOT mean that your pigeon problems are over
it's doubt full he'll catch all the pigeons before he goes looking for more easy prey and if he does catches all the pigeons and then leaves, more pigeons will come...they have a way in and out and food and nesting or they wouldn't be there.
seeing a predator means everything necessary for him to live is present and that's why the nature channels spend so much time on apex predators
that and they sell t-shirts
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- One visitor to Home Depot has been hunting for more than home improvement items.
A Cooper's hawk has been flying above the stocked shelves at a suburban Cleveland store for more than a week while feeding on pigeons that live in the rafters.
The brown bird's three-foot wing span casts a moving shadow across the concrete floor, causing customers and workers to duck and cock their heads toward the 25-foot ceiling.
The hawk entered the store through an open door while chasing a pigeon last Saturday. It caught its prey above the electrical aisle, worker Craig Warth said. Witnesses saw the hawk rip the pigeon apart and feed until nothing was left but feathers and claws.
"It wasn't a pretty sight," said Terry McGuire, assistant manager. "Some of the customers were upset. Some said it was the neatest thing they had ever seen."
Workers said about 15 pigeons were living in the store, but since the hawk arrived, few are left. Cooper's hawks are a protected species, so the bird can't be harmed or killed.
Local wildlife experts say the hawk will likely leave when the pigeons are gone.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
------------------------
a bit of natural philosophy for you to mull
we are often told that it's a good sign to see a predator because that means he's killing certain prey.
many conservationist try to use this as a selling point.
such as: if you see the hawk he's eating those pesky pigeons that crap on your products in home depot
this statement is not wrong but I would like to point out that we, in today's modern world of pest control, think of all-or-nothing infestations
when you see this hawk it means there ARE pigeons for him to eat
it most certainly does NOT mean that your pigeon problems are over
it's doubt full he'll catch all the pigeons before he goes looking for more easy prey and if he does catches all the pigeons and then leaves, more pigeons will come...they have a way in and out and food and nesting or they wouldn't be there.
seeing a predator means everything necessary for him to live is present and that's why the nature channels spend so much time on apex predators
that and they sell t-shirts