Little Birds Attacking Big Birds

In the until recently forgotten and dusty archives of my computer, I found an interesting sequence of photographs documenting a Mockingbird and a Kingbird attacking a Red-tailed Hawk.

A Mockingbird begins an attack that lasts several minutes. 

Along comes an Eastern Kingbird to relieve the Mockingbird.

Note the Purple Martin arriving to assess the attacks on the hawk.

The Eastern Kingbird seems relentless. Obviously the stratagem of the little birds consists of constant attack, and take turns to accomplish their mission. Exhausted, the Mockingbird strikes out to a nearby tree to rest, leaving the Kingbird to the task. The Purple Martin made a fly-by then returned to headquarters with pertinent information and input for study on future attacking.

I took these images last spring. At the same tree, a Red-tailed Hawk now roosts. I watch her every weekend lying in her nest wondering if she is the same one I photographed last year, or if she is a new generation of hawks. Here she is landing again in a photograph I donated to Wild Bird Rescue's fundraiser in honor of my flight instructor. I titled the photograph "Looking Good While Landing."