Pretty much every person in my family is a nature lover. We were raised to appreciate the outdoors and respect it’s balance. My parents especially are very avid nature photographers/videographers and jump at any chance to catch wildlife in action. Now, it’s no surprise to most animal enthusiasts when they see a hawk inside the city limits. With cities growing at ever increasing rates, nature has been forced to adapt to living within the concrete jungle instead of the lush forests. My mom and dad like to think of their yard as a retreat for the animals of the city. With many bird feeders and landscaping, their corner lot must seem like a safe haven to the numerous types of birds, mammals and reptiles that find it’s shelter. Recently, when going to their living room window to watch the pigeons and doves coming to the daily feast, they found something they weren’t expecting. A Cooper’s Hawk had swooped in and captured one of the pigeons that frequents the feeders. Here this magnificent raptor stood with it’s fresh kill right in the middle of the city and staring into the window of my parents home. They quickly gathered their cameras and began shooting away. I had to preserve the experience here so that I can share it with all the nature fans I know. Thanks to my mom and dad for capturing such a natural, raw glimpse at the ‘pecking order’ of life.

WARNING – This clip my seem brutal but nature is not always rainbows and sunshine.