I was birding around the southern part of Sharon Woods MetroPark (Columbus) yesterday (10-15) when I heard a slurred squeaky distress call.  I thought it might be an injured bird or a Blue Jay, but found a hidden Cooper's Hawk making the call.  I watched as it changed location twice, each time picking a rather screened spot before giving the squeaking call.  It was an adult male, and it appeared to be trying to 'pish' up birds with the sound, much as Jays might do.  It certainly caught my attention, and the curiosity of a Red-bellied Woodpecker and Towhee in the vicinity.  It seems likely that this bird uses the sound to lure in prey.  Whether it stumbled on the trick by accident, or learned it by watching Jays or birders, I don't know.

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]