Hawks

[WhiteWingsCa]

Julie asked about this in another thread...but I thought it deserved a thread all of it's own.

Regarding the problem of Hawks in your neighbourhood....A few things I have learned:

1. If you have lots of wild birds in your neighbourhood...especially blue jays and crows, there is a good chance there are no hawks living nearby. Blue Jays won't nest in the same neighbourhood as a hawk, and crows hate hawks...will chase and harrass them, so generally hawks look for a more peaceful place to raise their young. ALSO, if you hear the crows making a big fuss, look around before letting your birds out.....they might be in the process of chasing off a hawk.

2. If you have no crows, and your neighbours (or yourself) has lots of bird feeders out, it COULD attract the hawks...they learn that the wild birds come to the same spot every day (and wild birds, if you watch them, will come and feed at almost the same time every day)....and it's like hanging out a "Free Diner" sign....

3. Hawks are smart. They learn that say, 10 am is mealtime, if that is when you always let your birds out. So, don't let your birds out to fly at the same time everyday. You can put them out at 10 for a day or two, then switch to 2 pm for a couple, then 5 pm, etc.

4. Redtails very seldom bother your birds. They prefer rodents, and really aren't quick enough to catch a pigeon (but they CAN, if they try real hard). It is Coopers Hawks that are the WORST! I've heard Goshawks are pretty bad too. Peregrine Falcons are supposed to be a big problem for hawks in the UK....but from what I've heard up here, they have a pretty good source of wild prey, so don't often bother the pigeons.

5. Hawks migrate....so even if you don't have a hawk problem right now, be careful during spring/fall migration time. It might be safer to keep your birds inside during that period (we do). Migrating birds care nothing about staggered flying times...if they're in the neighbourhood, and hungry, pidgies watch out!

6. A hawk will grab a bird, then drop to the ground with it, usually nearby. If you can get to it, and chase the hawk off, you can sometimes save your bird (it isn't necessarily killed outright by the grab). Really! I know people who have done this, and we have a hen who managed to escape a hawk grab.....her back and side were pretty torn up, but she survived, and is happily nesting in our loft now....

7. Pigeons are smart too! (as if I have to tell anyone here that... ) Often, once a flock has been hit by a hawk, they learn how to avoid them...usually by flying really high, above the hawk, or by darting inside the minute they see one fly overhead.

8. In the U.S., it is illegal to shoot or trap a hawk.

9. Coopers Hawks are not timid...they will sit in a tree, waiting to attack, even if you are there. However, by standing near your loft/landing board while your birds are out, it might make them think twice. This spring, the birds were inside, and I looked out my window....and a Coopers was sitting on the landing board, looking inside the aviary. I could swear he was saying "come out, my pretties....".

10. If you have lots of trees around your loft, it is a great place for a Coopers to sit and hide...then they dive down out of the tree, and scoop up a bird before you know what's happened. If you can, situate your loft in the open.

* * * *

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment.... Does anyone else have any "hawk protection" ideas?

[turkey]

We mostly have blue jays and mourning doves. No crows. Unfortunately we have a lot of big trees surrounding our backyard. Now I remember, a few months ago I saw a hawk in a tree. Birds turned my attention to it. It stayed there for a long time resting.

Yesterday I saw one pigeon alone, 2 blocks from my house. I tried talking to it, but it's no Turkey. It appeared to be petite, possibly a female.

Julie

[TAWhatley]

Good post WhiteWings!

I have a hawk that visits my backyard every 8-10 days .. it is extremely patient most of the time and will sit for hours watching for an opportunity. Thank goodness, I have provided no opportunities for the hawk.

One day I heard the most awful ruckus in the yard and ran out to see this hawk actually attacking my dove cages. Fortunately the cage bars/wire are small and close enough together that the hawk could not grab a dove. This scared the you know what out of me so I can imagine what it did to those poor little defenseless doves. Fortunately, this was the one and only such attempt .. the rest of the time the hawk just watches.

I have no free flying birds and none (such as ducklings) that are not covered and protected from such predators. So, I guess my yard may be quite interesting in that there are lots and lots of potential meals here but also quite frustrating as those meals never materialize.

Terry Whatley

[WhiteWingsCa]

just moving this post up, for someone who was asking about Redtails

[pigeonraiser]

Believe me coopers hawks are the worst of all.

[Ptincerider65]

thanks for the info. I have alot of red tails and only a few bald eagles so we should be safe.

[thisistheremix]

Do hawks make a loud, screechy, raspy "EEE! EEE! EEE!" sound around sunset? There is a loud bird that I have not seen yet at my high-rise at sunset every night. I hope it is not a hawk.

[WhiteWingsCa]

amazingly enough, blue jays can and do mimic hawks, especially redtails. Often times I hear what I think is a hawk, and look up, only to see a blue jay sitting in a tree, making all that noise!

But, to answer your question, yes, sometimes redtails will "sound" as they are heading back to their nests for the night. And at other times too....I often hear them, and search the skies, only to see just a tiny dot wayyyyy up in the blue!

Your pigeons will see them too....oftentimes when you can't. If you see all your birds suddenly freeze, tilt their heads, and watch the sky, you can be sure there is some sort of bird gliding above (whether gull, hawk, or vulture). Once they perceive the "threat" is past, they will resume doing whatever they were doing just before they spotted it.

Redtails (and others) can often be seen soaring high in the air, floating on the thermals, watching for prey (rodents) in the fields.

Coopers are wicked...they hide in the trees near the loft, then, just as your pigeons are about to land (and most vulnerable), they swoop down with amazing speed and try and grab an unsuspecting bird.

[robo squab]

Hi Everyone!

Great post WhiteWings a hawk problem? I sure do and I have some info to share. The hawk which I have is appropiately named the "pigeon falcon" or Merlin but it really is a hawk and the strange thing about them is they are no bigger than a pigeon in size and often have hard time holding on i've had 2 pigeons escape from there grip with very small scratches, I can hear them everyday out here I also have a lot of crows, blue jays, mocking birds, sparrows, wrens you name it and the hawks keep coming I also have some ravens around here and when I have some caged birds out I have seen many other hawks come and visit like the white-tailed hawk which is much larger than the Merlin. I've lost unfortunately more than one bird to hawks and anytime they see one they immediately fly under anything low so the hawk can't follow or keep track and often stay there until night fall but it's really amazing how they blend in with the pigeons. My remarks? if your pigeons are loose get a cap gun and if you think there could be danger shoot a couple of shots with the cap gun it scares the hawk and usually doesn't disturb the pigeons. Also you can tape gently the 4 flights of the wing and that way the pigeons will be able to fly but not very much and take shelter somewhere. The trick of the hawk is to get them all flying all of a sudden and grab one in the middle of this confusion at least with me not one of my "grounded" pigeons have been caught by the hawk. I hope this may have helped.
Thanks
RoboSquab

[turkey]

Wow, that's something! Cap guns? Sounds good. But, I wonder if they can get used to it?

Julie

[robo squab]

Hi Julie!

I don't think that they would get used to the noise since it makes a very loud pop and I would think at least it would shock them, but I would advise not to shoot it when they are very far away then they might know what you are trying to do. After all hawks are pretty smart birds

Thanks
Robo Squab

[This message has been edited by robo squab (edited July 20, 2002).]

[girligirl]

Hi,
I just wanted to say something regarding cooper hawks. The other mornig I was sitting outside and a cooper came down hitting my young birds breaking cage. It upset my birds, but it cannot physically harm them that way. Also, I found that since the hawk has done this a few times it believes it cannot get my birds. It will circle above them, but does not dive at them anymore. Also, we had a big problem and lost a few of our racers to the hawk 3 yrs ago. Even since then we have implemented preventative measures to keep it from victimizing our birds. When they are out we watch the birds and if the hawk tries to dive we would throw a tennis ball at it. After a few times it began to leave ourbirds alone. I think hawks are pretty intellegent, and if you try to relate them aproaching your loft as a bad experience they tend to keep their distance.

Meg

[indie backroll]

There really isnt any sure fire way to keep hawks away, they get used to the pop of a cap gun just like your pigeons do, they will get used to balls being thrown at them, they are crafty creatures and they are very intelligent. (smarter than some people I know)

If you are flying your pigeons you may as well get used to the hawk problem because in reality they will endure anything that you can think of. Besides shooting them, and thats ilegal.

~Brian