Frustrated at Menagerie Manor

[ptown wings]

For the past 30+ years my home, known in the neighborhood as "Menagerie Manor" has been refuge to all sort of creatures. Cared for meticulously for medical needs or just a place to recuperate from life and its hazards until they can return to the wild. Some because of injuries become permanent residence but most are temporary. Birds are my greatest enjoyment and I devote a vast number of hours to their well-being. As of late I have been having some evil thoughts toward a species that has been causing me a lot of frustration - Cooper's Hawks!!!!!
I was recently "house - bound" due to having eye surgeries on both eyes and a week apart. I had convinced my wife that she should go to work and that I did not need a sitter. This left me at home to sit and listen to my books on tape as this was all the activity I was capable of as vision in my left eye was like looking though bubble glass and my left eye was bandaged shut. About four hours into being home alone Miss Betty our Corgi dog imparted in a gentle way that she needed to chaperon her little brother Otto outdoors to answer natures call. So I in pajamas, housecoat and slippers carefully maneuvered the rooms and out to the back door. I let the dogs out and immediately heard a lot of racket coming from my loft. I squinted my eye trying to see anything out of the ordinary but was unable to see that far. So I switched slippers for garden clogs and began a slow trip to the loft at the back of our garden. On my arrival I discovered the trap was full of pigeons frantically tying to escape. My first thought was of one of those pesky cats belonging to the "crazy cat lady" next door, had managed to get into the loft. So I carefully opened the entrance door and was greeted with a flurry of dark wings. A female Cooper's Hawk had obviously entered through the trap opening and once inside could not figure out an exit. Fortunately in its confusion it had not made prey of even one of my beloved pigeons. My heart was pounding and the bird sensed this only to make it more nervous, so I took a few minutes to calm myself, which had a similar effect on the bird. I then reached out and took hold of both legs and the tail which immobilized the dangerous part of my captive. I then turned and kicked the door open and holding the bird in front of me I stepped out of the loft, big mistake! Sara Jane and Peggy Sue our Buff Orpington hen's nearly had heart failure and went screaming through the garden, and if not for fences would probably still be running. The poor girls have not laid eggs in a month and still look suspiciously at my approach. I put the hawk into one of our quarantine cages until I could contact someone to come and remove the offender for release at a safer distance. My releaser unfortunately did not heed my request of taking to another county and released her about ten miles from Menagerie Manor. The hawk is back needless to say and I recently lost woof my younger birds. Yesterday I was in the back garden watching my Homers return to the loft and my oldest bird 'Gallico' was making a landing at the entrance with the hawk in close pursuit, I had a garden stake in my hand and let out a yell and threw the stick at the bird. Gallico dived into the trap and the hawk flew on. I contacted the Audubon Association to ask about ridding myself of this pest but was greeted with threats of Federal Imprisonment and some dribble about spending my remaining years making license plates I always did wonder who made those! I opted with ordering one of Jedd's "hawk globes" a detraction devise sold to ward off birds of prey. They are fifty + dollars but if this works its money well spent. Right?

[TerriB]

Oh, wow! So sorry you had such an exciting time of it! Very glad that none of your birds were injured although I'm sure they were plenty stressed.

[Trees Gray]

I'm so sorry to hear about all the additional stress brought on by Mrs. Cooper while you were recooperating.

I'm glad your birds are fine, quite an adventure!

[mr squeaks]

Such a scare! You sure had a few close calls!

Please let us know how your hawk deterrant works out!

(yeah, I've been told that where license plates are born!

Oh, yes...sure hope all goes well with your eye surgeries and you are seeming MUCH BETTER! The BETTER to see that ole hawk!

[feralpigeon]

Oh wow! is right!! What an adventure to have while being vision impaired. And,
I might add, brave of you to go 'hand to foot' w/the hawk while not having
full vision. Is there any other releaser in your area that you could use in the
future instead of the one that 'helped' w/this recent Cooper's Hawk?

I think there's another way of catching the hawks by using a pigeon as bait
in a protected cage and the hawk traps in to get the pigeon from above. But
you'd have to resolve the situation of who and where to release the hawk
to consider that as a remedy.

Thanks for your very interesting and entertaining description of your experience.

fp

[Charis]

It sounds like we live in the same house, menagerie of creatures and all. [We are in the sqme city.]
I have had a similar problem with P.falcons and RT hawks. Until recently, the last 4 years or so, the birds of prey would arrive in May, stay around a few weeks and not reappear until November. Then they'd be gone until May. It was manageable because I knew about when to expect them. Then all changed.




in 2000, I had a female P falcon get through the trap into my coop, [when I was still able to let the birds out] and she went on a killing spree. I couldn't believe that she was able to get through such a small space. Once in, she couldn't get out. She didn't eat anything but killed 8 of my beloved pigeons. I managed to get her into a kennel and took her to Sauvie's Island and let her go. She was back the next morning. In our area, the Audubon Society has had a positive impact on the return of these birds to our area. I see them every where. As beautiful as they are, the sight of a BOP fills me with dread.

You are very lucky there were no casualities and your pigeons are very lucky you were home that day . I'd say they're lucky you had eye surgery!

[Reti]

Those are indeed some lucky pijies.

Charis, sorry to hear you'rs weren't so lucky.

Reti

[naturegirl]

Wow sounds like you have reallyt been busy with that Hawk. I am very happy that your pigeons are fine. I would if you can try not to let them fly for a bit in hopes the hawk will take off thinking "no food there". I hope all is fine with your eyes and soon you will be back to ridding your property of that hawk. Yes if caught harming any federally protected bird you can go to prison.
Where I live the vet told us and many others to watch the sky for Red tails as they have been seen lifting small dogs and even cats off the ground and taking them away, but this was last year, and I don't have to worry about cats or small dogs as mine weighs 88 lbs She is currently on a diet too. Good Luck

Cindy

[Victor]

Your story got my heart pounding! Fantastic job. Now, talk about one being at the right place at the right time! Great job, and thanks for the "visuals".

[Feather]

I just had an encounter with a Cooper earlier this morning. Two of my birds are still out. Boy they sure are fast. My birds know when they are around though. I have never had one find his way into the loft, but I did find one in the patio one morning. Just sitting around with a few of my pigeons. Wondering which one he was going to eat, Im sure. I can't believe that you actually picked that hawk up without gloves. You might not have been able to see when he took a big chunck out of your hand, but you sure would have felt it.

Good Luck with your hawk problem,
Quick recovery for your eyes,

Feather

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by Feather

....... I have never had one find his way into the loft, but I did find one in the patio one morning. Just sitting around with a few of my pigeons. Wondering which one he was going to eat, Im sure. ........

Feather

Yikes, the nerve of that hawk!

fp

[ptown wings]

First off, thanks for all the well wishes for my eye surgeries. I have recovered from the first two and am waiting for dates of the next four. The hawk is still attempting to feed from my loft, but I have managed to lock things down pretty well. My Homers think that their confinement is unjust bit they will thank me for it one day. My "Hawk Globe came from Jedd's the other day and I promptly sent a complaint of misinformation. As the add states in the catalog it is made of "polished aluminum". However what I rcieved was a garden sort Gazing Ball. HELLO! I live in Oregon, gazing balls do not last in our wet climate. And I can purchase the exact thing here but at a far less cost + no shipping. I'm sure they ment well. Feather, I hope your missing birds made it home???? I find it easier to handle smaller birds of prey without the gloves, they seem to be less agitated when handled this way. I have rescued many in the passed and never suffered injuries as long as I had no gloves and remained very calm. Animals really do know when a person means no harm. I will attempt to insert a photo of a youngster I rescued from inside our Light Rail facility.

[Reti]

That is a beautiful bird. Too bad they are not vegeterians, I would feed them all the greenies they would want

Reti

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by Reti

That is a beautiful bird. Too bad they are not vegeterians, I would feed them all the greenies they would want

Reti

My link to the picture says "pending approval".........I want to see it too!!!

[Feather]

My link says pending approval as well.

ptown wings,

My birds are home and untouched. That rascal (hawk) is really fast. I guess the pigeons are faster.

Looking forward to seeing your picture. I'm kind of afraid of them. They never smile at me! I guess depending on the situation...you do what you have to do. But, I still think that picking one up would be the last thing on my list. You must be a Hawk Whisperer! That's it they never smile cuz I'm always yelling at them.

Feather