A couple of years ago, our property had a healthy chipmunk population. As a result, a pair of broad-winged hawks decided to nest near all the food. They produced at least one, probably two fledglings. Their nest was taken over the next year by the parents of the Cooper’s hawk seen here. The Cooper’s hawks produced at least four nestlings, at least two of which fledged. Unlike the broad-winged hawks, the Cooper’s hawks ate or chased off all the songbirds we love seeing in the spring and summer, and left the chipmunks to flourish. I really hope that if the nest sees use again this spring, it returns to being a home for broad-winged hawks.
