Fight for life up high!
Brave starlings circled a screaming hawk escorting him away from their nest!
We have a pair of Red-winged Starlings nesting here in the mobile phone signal tower and the Harrier Hawk is on the hunt for babies. The hawk is easily 6 times the size of a starling, but this does not prevent them from attacking him. The much smaller starlings will do anything to protect their babies.
Let's have a look!
Their day started normal, as after breakfast they had a bath and here the woman is telling her husband how much she loves him?
Then it was back to their home at the signal tower!
But wait! An alarm scream as the guy flies up in the air!
A Hawk! Dementedly the starling couple started circling the hawk!
Up and down they circled to the tune of the hawk's angry calls!
The starlings forced the hawk away from their nest!
Then the fight came in my direction!
Desperately the hawk drew ever closer to where I was standing!
And finally he swooped over at high speed to disappear behind the trees!
What a show! I have seen the crows circling a hawk in numbers, but never a pair of starlings in action and it was amazing to see how brave they were. One grab of a hawk's claw can kill a starling instantly and yet these little guys nipped in and out at speed, not concerned about their personal welfare.
This is mother nature's lesson about the importance of protecting families!
In our current human existence, families are being decimated by means of divorce, HIV/AIDS, abuse and many other reasons. Yet, since the beginning families were regarded as sacred and in our day it is always the children that suffer. Heard the story about the new father or mother that didn't accept the new step child? And the step child grew up lonely and bewildered? All that I am saying here is that we should take this lesson by the starlings to heart.
Temptations are not worth the future life of a child!
Stop abusing women!
We hope you have enjoyed the pictures and thank you for visiting a post by @papilloncharity
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Is that Speckled Pigeon or is it a Rock Dove, they are up in the Berg and referred to as the latter, however doing research see the first name is mentioned, bit confused (much like most humans).
Hawk is being given a good going over, ousted out as one would say, great story and photography as always, thanks Stephen.
I also still call them Rock Doves Lady Joan and I don't know why they changed it to Speckled Pigeon. We have a family of 7 over here and I think it's because we are close to the mountains.
I put feed out for the Guinea fowl babies every day and once they have eaten, the rock doves pull in to finish the feed. Or course "Tommy" the fat field mouse joins them.
It is the Harrier Hawk again and I am sure that he took many of the guinea babies here.
Serves him well to get a hiding every now and again, as the crows are much tougher with him.
Blessings!
Aerial combat makes for great viewing from below! Have not seen a field mouse in years, they too are cute with gorgeous colour Stephen.
I caught this guy eating one of the squirrels pecan nuts and now I put a nut out for him every day Lady Joan. He also eats the chick feed that I put out for the guinea fowl babies. First time that I see a field mouse so brave to walk around between the birds!
What wonderful pictures! And the whole story is awesome. Brave starlings!
Thank you Lady Elena.
I was amazed at their attack on the hawk, as it's normally the crows that surround the hawks, but no crows were around today.
Blessings!
That's what parents would do I guess, part of the nature thing...
Sadly not all parents my friend! At our charity we work with many "throw away" poor children.
Blessings!
Human sometimes is worst than animals...
What a show that must have been to see thanks for documenting and sharing it with us
Glad you enjoyed the show my friend!
Blessings!
I did indeed
Have a great day
Awesome that the starlings were able to chase off the hawk. It's amazing what parents will do for their young. In the end, it worked out in their favor.
Thank you and it was great to see the couple work together in tandem to hassle the hawk. Trouble is that the hawk now know that there is a nest there and he will be back.
The starlings will have to be on a constant lookout!
This is the way of nature to prevent over population.
Blessings!
Love the moral lessons of your real life story dear @papilloncharity. Brave starlings!
Bless you always!
Thank you Lady Joy, sorry for the late reply!
Blessings!
Youu have to fly all the time ;) I love eagles !!!
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Glad you love them my friend!
Blessings!
Hello @papilloncharity
Beautiful birds. awesome photograph my friend..
Thank you my friend!
Blessings!