open-mouthed birds

[asakiyume]

I saw a sparrow hopping around in the noonday sun. It had its mouth open--panting.

And then there's a young red-tailed hawk who lives nearby who cries like a seagull all the time. He cries in flight, he cries when he's sitting on a post or tree. Not that famous red-tailed hawk scream. No, this is less terrifying and more querelous, or maybe brooding, or slightly grumbly. Sometimes seagulls do pass this way. Maybe this hawk had a seagull as a babysitter. Anyway, I've seen this hawk in flight, with his mouth open, crying a seagull cry.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

We have a hawk around here that cries often. It happens every year around the same time frame, so we think it's a female talking to her babies and/or mate.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I had thought at first it was the babies who I was hearing, and even now, I'm thinking maybe this one is a young, newly mature hawk, still in youthful habit and still with a "young" voice.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Next up: a raven who's just fed a prophet.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Haha, if I can get photos of that, I will :-)

[yamamanama.livejournal.com]

Maybe hawks are learning to mimic other birds.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't *that* be something. A terrifying development for hawks' prey.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the hawk dreams of the sea... Or maybe it's learnt that if it squawks like a seagull, it's victims are more likely to ignore that fast approaching shadow...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

That latter sounds like a distinct possibility. But yeah, maybe it's a hawk with the soul of a seagull, and it misses briny breezes.

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

:D I like the variety of responses! My thoughts went to the article recently about birds learning others' languages.

(The sparrow - is that how it perspires?)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yes, re: article!

Regarding the sparrow, I don't honestly know. He *looked* like he was panting, but whether that was actually the case or not, I don't know. Maybe the heat was just leaving him slack jawed :-)

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

I looked it up! :) and it is suggested here (http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/a/howbirdskeepcool.htm) that:

"Just like dogs, wild birds will open their bills and pant to help dissipate heat on a hot day."

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Now we know :-)

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

:D I like the variety of responses!

Same here!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I have some pretty creative friends, that's for sure.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed watching and listening to the birds in France. I could build a bird with all the feathers I collected. :D

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I could build a bird with all the feathers I collected.

--this sounds like a good story seed to me :-)