Had an unusual sight this year. Was walking my two labs along the shore of our frog pond when a red tailed hawk swooped down literally over my shoulder and grabbed a hen wood duck on the opposite side of the pond (no more than 40-feet away). The hen managed to get away and swim to the far side of the pond but the hawk sat right on the edge staring at us. I waved my arms and even tossed a few stones near the raptor but it sat still.
Wanting to preserve future days of bird hunting, I told the dogs to sit (nothing like a face full of talons) and walked around the pond and up to the hawk, who just lifted its wings as if to brace for a fight. I managed to get it to perch on a stick but he hopped down the stick to my hand and rather than having a very large bird attach itself to my flesh I let go of the stick.
I decided that a picture would be nice so I went up to the house to get a camera and a glove but he was gone when I returned with my baseball mit (all I could find). At the time I thought the woody was molting because she couldn't fly but she never recovered and has managed to survive all year and is still out there. The hawk has stalked that duck all year with no luck, and I sometimes see him sitting on the shore while the duck swims 10-15 feet away taunting him.
I'm an avid duck hunter but can't bring myself to shoot that duck after watching her survive all year in the environment that we created. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with her before the water gets hard. Watching the critters makes the pond experience worthwhile for me.
Still can't figure out why the red tail sat on the shore. From what I could tell, he didn't get wet and wasn't injured. Kind of makes me want to try falconry but really don't need any more hobbies.
