Olathe Bird Sightings

Over the years I have gained more and more of an interest in bird-watching on a very amateurish basis.
I document the birds that visit my back yard but haven't been able to get any decent digital photos with my little camera, however, I'm still working on that problem and will continue to attempt to capture some of them on camera.

I try to give the birds ample tree and bush cover so they feel safe and can visit the feeders and the water.  By using a heated dog bowl during the winter, they can still get their water daily.  Our yard has some flowers, especially the purple cone flower that the finches just love.  While we have been trying to get the yard at a point that won't need much manicuring, we also hope to leave the needed safe haven coverage the birds seek. 

Even with the efforts to provide some safety for the birds, we have a frequent visitor that is a danger for the birds but is fascinating for us to observe:  the Coopers Hawk.

We have a juvenile that, for the past 3 months, has been spending time in our 40 ft. scotch pine.  One Sunday around noon this magnificent bird landed on the deck rail about 12 ft. from our kitchen door and about 2 ft. from the large water container at the corner of the railing.  The hawk sat there for about 10 minutes and then went for a drink.  He was there for a total of about 15 minutes and it was awesome to be so close, as Don and I were sitting at the table just inside the door.  Every time we moved his head snapped around to try to get a look at the movement he must have perceived with his 'hawkeyed' vision.

Then, just 4 days ago, the hawk (we assume it's the same one) did a swooping dive at a black bird that was sitting on our railing.  Both birds flew a fast 360 around our patio/deck area and then flew off.  The hawk was in the pine tree last week having his dinner and, I'm sorry to say, feathers were flying everywhere.  I hope we aren't enticing the birds to come to our yard for food and water only to become the hawks supper.
I know that's how nature works, I just don't want to be the responsible party. 

On a much more inspiring note, about 6 days ago, while outside the Toyota dealer's workshop, I spotted a flyover of trumpeter swans.  I have never seen the majestic birds in flight before this and it was so exciting.
There were 10-12 of them and their flight is a graceful choreography.  Just beautiful.  I wish I knew where they were headed and if they had a layover in Olathe at one of the lakes or if they moved on south to one of the lakes in southeastern Kansas.

The trumpeter swan flies in a V shape and their movements seem effortless.

We will continue to search out our native birds and those that are passing through to a different part of the country.  But, I must say the trumpeter swan is a reminder of how gentle and beautiful are some of the creatures of nature.