The day ended early, and as badly as can be imagined, for one of the yard’s House Sparrows.

Two Cooper’s Hawks, a sub-adult and a juvenile, have been visiting the yard. This morning the juvenile flew in at a little past 7:00. It spent a few minutes perched on the north fence and then dropped into the tangle of dry asters, goldenrod, and switch grass, where it crashed through the cover, scattering the small birds. After failing to catch anything it left the yard.

Around 30 minutes later, I saw two or three small birds flee the tangle, flying low. One didn’t flee quickly enough, though, and the Coopie emerged on foot seconds later with its catch. The partial view I had suggested a House Sparrow, and I was relieved that the prey wasn’t the Carolina Wren, or one of the White-throated or Song Sparrows, or a junco.

When the hawk flew onto the north fence, I had a clear view of a female House Sparrow, apparently still alive. I found I enjoyed my patch of urban habitat less in that moment as I imagined the sparrow’s last few seconds of life.