I recently lost a hawk I feel deep affection for. I was witness to her earliest trial five years back(nest blowing out of tree during fledging, trapped for several days under interlocked palm leaves). Her BFF happened to be my neighbor's peacock who also enjoyed my company and I can say without a doubt 'Marc Antony'(RIP) helped bring me into the fold of the resident hawk family(Harris's hawks, the only raptors I am aware of that exhibit social behavior). When I returned from an 8 month leave in 2013, immediately upon hearing my whistle she has known since she was in the egg, she flew down to roost on a power line above my head and sat with me in silence for an extended period. I've been gifted by frequent, non-aggressive fly overs and twice she/they dropped 'gifts' of a half eaten rat and a hare quarter at my feet. When I work in the yard or on my autos, they choose to idle the hot parts of the day in lower perches in my yard rather than in their preferred higher, more shaded spots. I witnessed her multiple failed attempts to rear her own broods last two years until the first successful fledge this last spring, a male & a HUGE female. Sadly, three of the seven have died from predation recently(including her) and the remaining family have moved on. I feel as if I've lost my best friends.
For any raptor lovers interested, sorry I am not a photog and usually don't think of the camera when in close company:
For any raptor lovers interested, sorry I am not a photog and usually don't think of the camera when in close company:
https://imgur.com/a/2EbIL#zVUqBYn