One hot afternoon, Baaz, the young Cooper’s Hawk, sat in the Maple Tree above the birdbath.
A Nuthatch stopped by for a quick drink of the cool water.
Then a whole family of Pine Siskins landed in the birdbath for a drink and a splash.
Gillu, the Red Squirrel, came to check what all the hullabaloo was about.
After the chirpy Siskins flew away, a Flicker took advantage of the quiet birdbath.
Then a Purple Finch sat on the edge of the birdbath, drinking and thinking.
A young Robin landed on the birdbath and said, “Excuse me Mr. Finch, if you are done, I would like to have my bath.”
The Robin’s wings moved to the beat of Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath.
Timur, the cottontail rabbit, stood on her hind legs to get a better look at the cheerful Robin.
Even a Racoon was washing his hands in a bowl to cool himself.
These shenanigans were enough to inspire Baaz to check out the birdbath for himself.
Baaz dipped one toe in the cool water of the birdbath.
With some difficulty, Baaz submerged his body in the shallow birdbath.
Refreshed by his bath, Baaz flew up a Fir tree to dry his wings.
As you can see from the colour of his eyes, Baaz is now a mature Hawk. He still comes regularly to the birdbath. Sometimes for a cool dip.
Sometimes just to hang out at his favourite birdbath.
Words: Meenal S.
Pictures: Sanjiv Shrivastava
To learn more about Cooper’s Hawks: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/coopers_hawk/id
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