Juvenile Cooper hawk

This has been my week of predators. Early in the week I was heading to get the mail on the coldest day of the winter so far. -30. There was a young hawk in the snow covered lawn next door. It had a meal. The poor bird that it had was still alive. But I knew it was done. I went back and got my camera and giving it lots of space took photos. It was an important meal this bird needed to finish. It was doing well until a school bus came motoring around the corner scaring it off. At least it did not leave its meal behind. Turns out it had taken a starling. And the bird was now dead. It is a horrable way to die in the talons of a bird of prey. But they are beautiful birds and they need to eat to survive. It is survival of the fittest in their world. And this was one beautiful young hawk. I have had a lot of days were a hawk or shrike has been present this winter. Although I have not always seen them the birds told me they were there.