Did I Save the Jay but Hurt the Hawk?

I've heard the call before - a distress call from a Blue Jay and the surrounding calls of his fellow jays trying to ward off the predator.  I know the cry of a jay being held by a hawk - perhaps a Cooper's Hawk - as it dispatches its prey.

Cooper's Hawk with Blue Jay prey - February 2009

It was coming from in the woods, so I headed into the trees, snapping downed branches as I walked, certainly not stealthy by any stretch of the imagination.  I walk down the slope, loudly crunching more branches, and from the woods across an opening, a hawk flies off - empty handed.  The cries from the jay stop, but I don't see the jay fly off.  I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact location of the strike, so I didn't pursue it any further.

But thoughts linger in my mind.  Did I just save a Blue Jay to live another day or leave it mortally wounded to die in the woods?  Did I hurt the hawk by scaring it off of its first meal in a week? 

Why did I go towards it in the first place?  As an observer of birds and nature, I just wanted to observe nature in action, but by doing so, I actually disturbed the course of nature.  Both birds were hurt by my actions.  The jay I'm sure is at least injured from the strike.  The hawk left empty-handed.  Only I gained.  Not from the audio observation, but by a hard-learned reinforcement to make sure my actions to observe nature don't interfere with nature.

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Kerri, David, Margaret - thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

[Margaret]

Thoughtful post. Give yourself credit for being sensitive to these concerns; not all are. And you've obviously taken away something from this incident, where many would not. My own rule for birding is to observe swiftly, silently, unobtrusively -- and then move on. But I admit that I simply don't know how I would have acted in this situation.

[David Sanchez]

Great post.

As nature lovers, to observe and not interfere is an important lesson.

Perhaps the jay was remaining quiet in fear, only to fly off when it felt safe. Perhaps the hawk had wounded the jay enough to return for the meal after it was sure you were no longer a threat. Perhaps something else that needs a meal will come along to gather the remains of the jay.

You are right to believe that nature is best left alone - even human nature. Don't be so hard on yourself for answering to your own inner nature.

[kerri]

WOW ~ a moving post. A tough spot to be in but I would have to say I would have probably done the same thing. I think it is in our human nature to answer a call in need... even if that is a call from a Blue Jay.

I can certainly see the dilemma.