Sourland
8 posts
Mar 13, 2005
4:27 PM
|
There is an unusual hawk attacking my birds. It is colored similarily to a Coopers or Sharpshin, but it has a shorter tail and shorter wings. The body is about the same size as a Coopers but is more compact and "torpedo" shaped. It flies with spurts of rapid wing beats followed by gliding. It is not a sneaky attacker like the *%*% Coopers. Instead it attacks from above like falcon generally targeting outbirds (sure has my birds kitting tighter.) So far it has been unsuccessful as the birds that have survived are pretty hawk aware as long as they can see the hawk. It is really awesome to watch when it attacks- as long as it remains unsuccessful! Any guesses as to what I am dealing with? Thanks, George
|
rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
233 posts
Mar 14, 2005
8:43 PM
|
George, Click Here for an interesting article. Perhaps the bird you are seeing is a youngster??
Here is another link that shows a few hawk and falcon pictures as well as eagle pictures that you might find interesting. FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
Last Edited by rollerpigeon on Mar 14, 2005 8:58 PM
|
BULLFROG
64 posts
Mar 20, 2005
10:02 PM
|
the bird you are decribing sound like the hunting style of the harrier hawk. have you seen it settle and hang before diving?? the coloration is hard to pinpoint on a harrier due to the northerns and the canadians interbreeding. the young will have a stronger barring pattern than a mature adult. these are gennerally hard willed birds and will settle on a feed source so if you lock up for a bit it should move on. they are not near a s teratorial as the sharp shinned or reds so it should fly to better feed after a week or so of lock down chris
|
Sourland
9 posts
Mar 24, 2005
8:54 AM
|
Tony, I've had everything shut down for the past couple of weeks. I've been throwing up 3 or 4 culls at a time the past week with no attacks, but I know that doesn't have the same attractant force as a kit of birds that are working. I've got 19 young birds in a settling cage for the past week or so, and nothing is messing with them. Hopefully everything has moved on. The hawk mentioned was a "one time unsuccessful attacker", but his approach was pretty awesome. Chris, don't think it was a goshawk. Somewhat smaller and the distinctive trait was therapid wing beats followed by a glide. Also the wings and tail were shorter than most of the bird eating hawks. See ya-Geo.
Last Edited by Sourland on Mar 24, 2005 8:59 AM
|
Sourland
10 posts
Mar 24, 2005
8:58 AM
|
Chris, meant to type Harrier-are they the same as goshawks? Anyway, I'm haveing minor surgery next week and will be unable to drive for a week. Since I'll be "house-yard bound" I intend to tempt fate and fly the heck out of them. Later-Geo.
Last Edited by Sourland on Mar 24, 2005 8:59 AM
|
