We have hawks too. I learned not to feed the birds because that attracks them, but my two next door neighbors still feed the birds therefore I go out with them to the backyard when taking them to pee.
A few years ago there was an owl, a hugemongous one it was in the middle of the night. I heard something big wings flopping I guess. I looked up and this huge owl was descending to get Jerome!!!
I took off one of my sandals and threw it at the bird! I hit it and flew away, I got scared because I didn't see chikis, so I grabbed Jerome and go around the corner of the house looking for Chiki and there he was unaware of what had just happened. Needles to say, I now take them on a leash when I take them out to pee in the middle of the night.