Dealing with the COOPER HAWK !

[SmithFamilyLoft]

My purpose in opening this new thread is to invite your comments who how you might be dealing with this magnificent predator.

I had a young bird escape from the loft the other day, and within minutes, my resident Cooper claimed his first victim for 2005. I am hearing of a lot of fanciers who are now keeping their birds secure in the loft till as late as June.

This is a radical departure from years past, when the Cooper was not as common. I also have heard that some fanciers are conducting business as usual, and that the YB's soon adapt to the Cooper, and even will have "Look Outs" which will warn the rest of the flock.

In talking with local fanciers, the "Cooper" is now the number #1 subject of discussion. If you have a sure fire way of discouraging the Cooper, in a humane way, without any harm to this protected bird, then please share your methods. I want to add this warning, that this site does not condone, any discussion which will harm any bird or animal, so please keep this in mind.

[Rockie]

Great question...one I have also been searching for an answer on!

I don't have a loft, I do feed feral pij's and lots of loft "escapees" at both home and where I work. Not only do I get Cooper's, Sharpshinned, American Kestrals, but I get the Red Tailed Hawk too! I would have to say that there are at least 3 sightings a day at home and work.

Some have told me to feed in the bushes, under trees...but the smaller hawks go right in. I have saved many birds from hawk attacks and many more I have not.

I struggle with the "should I feed or shouldn't I" for years now. When I hear of the loft keepers say that they keep them in until the hawks migrate (which where I am they are here probably 8 months out of the year) I don't know what I feel.

I understand why, but I can't see depriving the pij's of their right and need to fly.
What is the most humane thing to do?

I and many others I'm sure are with you and wanting some answer to this hawk situation. (and yes, I believe the hawks are wonderfully beautiful and would NEVER harm one...but boy do I chase them waving a flag and call them names.)

[zoo keeper]

Personally I am well stocked up on tennis balls from Walmart. Next I have a super sprayer on my hose. I figure the hawks can learn to play tennis with me or they can have a blasted bath.

[re lee]

The coopers seem to be every where this time of year. Some people have made traps for them drop traps. where thee is a hole big enough in the top for the cooper to get in but it can not get out as it has to fly up to the opening. These are 3 ft high traps. Coopers will take a bird off the loft tree wire house ect easyer then in flight. But a young not wingstong bird they can take in the sky with easy timing. the coopers notice when birds are out. you can chenge that timing. And stay with the birds. But you know coopers will come down with you being right there. mid mourning and mid afternoon is agood break for loft training. As coopers will show up early morning and mid noon and late afternoon. Then agin when the birds get more wing strong te can be seen for miles. coopers should move out in about 6 to 7 weeks if the weather improves. Around here the kite hawks come back in may. And they run coopers away And leave pigeons alone.

[Barn Pigeon]

I can't turn out my rollers or homers this time of the year for all the hawks. I have a pair that will hang around until about May here. N.C.

[Webby]

Even though were not allowed to in the city my nieghbor has chickens. I saw Cooper sitting on the coupe trying to figure out how to order take out.

My best advice is. Dont turn out more pigeons than you can afford to loose in one day.

[Rockie]

Originally Posted by SmithFamilyLoft

I also have heard that some fanciers are conducting business as usual, and that the YB's soon adapt to the Cooper, and even will have "Look Outs" which will warn the rest of the flock.

I also try to encourage crows to visit my yard, using day old cat and dog food, etc. as they always chase away the hawks. I think for the amount of hawks that come to my yard, having crows around is a help vs. any damage crows can cause to other bird's eggs.

I guess if I had an actual loft, at least I would be able to watch over the pij's when they are outside. Of course this isn't a sure thing. Right now all I can do is as I do...and have my eyes glued to my windows facing my yard and making mad dashes outside (barefoot in the snow if I have to) to chase them away. I find that the bigger the hawk, the quicker they are to leave when they see me. The smaller ones can sit there and flick their tails at me for some time, with me yelling and waving at them the whole time. I did borrow my nephews super-soaker for just those times (yet to be used).

[Happy]

Warren, Be glad you fly Racing Pigeons, as I do & the main problem Hawks are Coopers for ya. We don't lose too many Homers to the Coop's. The guys that are getting clobbered are the Roller Flyers.... The Peregrine Falcons that have been Hacked (Placed in Artifical Nest by well meaning Re-habbers) Inland in California & some other states "that wasn't there natural areas" are causing so much havoc that Many Roller flyers lose more of there birds per season to Hawks/Falcons than I breed in a year. The other Mr. big trouble for Pigeons or birds of most any kind is the Gos Hawk, but not so many flyers live where they "naturally" live & breed (above 7,000-9,000+ ft. altitude & mostly very Northern). Course they do migrate down to lower altitudes in Winter, but as I say very far North & no where near as common as the Coop's.. A lot of us now feel the Coop's are just a small rock in the road compared to the Peregrine Falcon! This is why the Peregrine Falcon & the Gos Hawk have been the "Choice" of all Falconers since time began...... Chasing Coop's, squirting them with water, flags on poles, yelling, etc., till birds get flying strong helps alot.. The best thing I know is to NOT FREELOFT & NEVER GIVE BATHS IN THE OPEN. I give mine there baths on the Fresno landing board wire enclosed, or in Flypens. Wet Pigeons, even adults have a "much harder" time escaping attacks, & freelofting persons have TRIPLE the trouble. Don't plant trees close to loft & get rid of as many as possible that are close. Coop's are ambushers & close trees etc. help them. they have a fast take off, but not a top end flyer. I was a Falconer for "many" yrs. & have flown/hunted with them all, (not anymore) along with my Racing & many yrs. of competing with Rollers... These last few yrs. Hawks have been extra plentiful as well.....The most killers I have seen with the "Racing Homers" is Power Wires, guide wires, etc.. They kill more Racing Pigeons than anything I know. Hap

[Motherlodelofts]

Looks like I have a cooper that just moved in , He hit a team up high today but didn't connect as they rarley do up high, wasn't so lucky with my late hatch team though as I'm missing one (of coarse it's the one that I really didn't want to loose). I thought that I kept a good eye on them but obviously I didn't. Personally I see them as nothing but an over populated nuisence and nothing more.

[FT33]

I also have a big hawk problem but it seems like its not just during a certain time of year but they hang around all year. I have built a hawk trap to try and catch them but what do you do with the hawk if you catch it? I am not sure what kind they are but here is a picture I took of one eating one of my pigeons. Does anybody know what kind it is?

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi FT33,

Sorry to hear that you've lost one of your pigeons to a hawk. Please be aware however that it's illegal in most states and Canada to trap hawks without a permit, they are protected wildlife. Hopefully this thread will generate some alternative methods to deter hawks around the pigeons. How big was this hawk? It looks to me like either the infamous Coopers' that everyone is talking about, or the coopers smaller but equally deadly cousin - the sharp shinned hawk. This bird is either a female or an immature bird though going by it's colouration.

[Lin Hansen]

Hi Everyone,

FT33 posting that picture of the hawk is a remarkable coincidence to me for the following reason:

In over a year of feeding "my" feral flock regularly, ~today~ for the very first time, a hawk was after my birds and it looked just like the picture!

While returning from "taxi" duty (when you have a teenager, it seems you are always driving them ~somewhere~), as I turned into my block, the hawk flew right in front of my truck...looked like a gray missile, fast and sleek,...headed for my yard. I start laying on the horn and yelling (with the windows up, mind you) as I pulled into my driveway, fearing the worst. But, thankfully, no easy pickins for Mr. Hawk.

The flock took off, high in the sky with the hawk in pursuit...it was something to see. The flock was flying in fast circles, then split off into two flying circles with the hawk in the middle...seeming to not know who to go after. Then they all left my sight. About ten minutes later, the flock came back with no hawk following after. Most of the colored birds chose to hang out on the electric and phone pole wires on the street (I hear they do this in hawk season so as to have a better all around view of any danger.) Interestingly, the all white pigeons in the group chose to rest on my snow covered roof, where the white pigeons on the snow were almost invisible. Is this smart or what? Though I like to think that I can recognize most of "my" flock, I really don't know them all, but thankfully, I do not think there were any casualties...this time.

Just wanted to share this remarkable (to me!) story with all of you....here is my hopes and best wishes for the safety of everyone's birds from this beautiful, but dangerous predator.

Linda

[re lee]

Might call alocal game warden find out what you can do to prevent loss. even though protected a person retains the right to protect there property. So I thinking trapping would be approved.

[Motherlodelofts]

Robert it is their job to help you handle such situations, sometimes you have to be really really persistant though and that might mean going over thier heads, I know some that have gotten help from Falconers. On a good note, I found the bird that I thought I lost last night. But today had one taken down in my front yard by a smaller male, I started screaming like a little girl and got the bird back with just a slight injury.

Scott

[Happy]

Originally Posted by FT33

I also have a big hawk problem but it seems like its not just during a certain time of year but they hang around all year. I have built a hawk trap to try and catch them but what do you do with the hawk if you catch it? I am not sure what kind they are but here is a picture I took of one eating one of my pigeons. Does anybody know what kind it is?

This Pic. is of a 1st yr. Female Cooper Hawk 2004 born. Hawks don't moult there 1st yr. of hatch like most birds so keep there imature feathers, but this Hawk will moult this yr. 2005 & every yr. after. Then get a Gray-ish back with Rust to Orange chest. The more moults they go through each yr. the darker & more enhanced the Gray back & Rust/Orange chest they get. The feet also get darker yellow each yr........ Hap