As we both dash out of bed to look at the backyard window, I noticed a huge Hawk sitting in my Maple Tree right above my Koi pond.  That sucker was looking for a meal!

It’s not unusual for us to see a Hawk, but it is unusual for the Hawk to land on my Maple Tree and stare at the Koi in my Koi pond.  This particular Hawk was a Red Shouldered Hawk (at least that’s what I think it is).

Red Shouldered Hawk Hunting Koi

After sitting in the Maple Tree for about 10 minutes, this bird had the audacity to fly down even closer to the Pond and land on a moss covered rock.

Red Shouldered Hawk Sitting On Moss Rock Hunting Koi

Fortunately, we have netting covering the Pond to keep the leaves from falling in there, and perhaps that’s about the only reason it didn’t grab one of my Koi and have a nice meal.

To make things even more interesting, as I was sitting out in the backyard this evening, I notice another Hawk sitting in a tree.  If I’m not mistaken, this one was a Red Tailed Hawk (sorry the picture is not that great and the branches are distracting).

I’ve been corrected by Peter P, who has informed me this is a Red Shouldered Hawk, and not a Red-Tailed Hawk.

That Hawk was in the trees behind my backyard, which is where I’m used to seeing them.

Red Shouldered Hawk Stalking Prey

Has anyone with a Koi or Goldfish Pond ever experienced Hawks hunting your fish?

I’ve got a pretty good supply of milkweed that should get me through the first wave of their (Monarchs) migration through Houston.  I look every day to see if I might have an early visitor, although realistically I expect it may be a few more weeks.

The same is true of two of my bird friends, the Purple Martin and the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds,  I can sit for hours just listening to them and watching them interact.

On both Birds and Butterflies Leecy and I are going to make a real effort this year to catalog what we see.

Just a few more plants and I should be good to go,  I may need another passion vine, and I’m not sure my current one survived,  My Pipevine did survive, but just barely. It’s poking out the smallest of leaves at the bottom of the base, but at least it’s alive.

So note to self for this weekend.

1. Clean up the Martin House and put it back on the housing pole
2. Buy a few more nectar plants (firecracker plant)
3. Consider buying another Passionvine.
4. Mulch the part of the yard I no longer want to mow, and make that area yet another Butterfly habitat.
5. Clean filters in Pond so the Koi can start interacting with their mates again.