Really Creepy!
 

Today as I left out to take Brandi for her midday walk, I notice a hawk flying above us. As I was watching this hawk, if flew over my roof.

Well I saw something right out of a Stephen King novel. I saw about 3 vultures and about 3 or 4 hawks sitting on my roof and the neighbors roof. I live in a townhome...in one of the interior units so they were spread out across the 4 units. I looked at the other townhome roofs and they were only sitting on mines and neighbors roof. To make it even creepier, its an overcast kind of day and really quiet outside. I live in a very quiet neighborhood (almost no traffic) especially during the work day so that added even more to the creepiness. The whole thing was sort of surreal. It reminded of that movie The Omen.

Needless to say, I walked Brandi on a very short leash and today of all days was one of those days when Brandi wants to dawdle taking her time.As I was walking back to my house, I saw one of the vultures take off. Fortunately it flew away and not towards Brandi. I only had her outside long enough to go potty in a field across the street from my house which is where I noticed all the birds sitting on my roof.

I have never seen a bird this big before up close, it was a little scary (because of Brandi) but awesome. The wing span on this vulture was amazing. I hope this isn't a bad sign like someone is going to die. I lost both of my parents last year and not sure if I can handle more deaths...mine included.

Do you think they know Brandi lives here?. I bought a new couch and she is always sitting on the back of the couch that faces the window. The windows face the woods. Also, I let my cat out of the deck earlier today not knowing I had satan's birds on my roof....I am so glad they didn't get her.

Vultures don't attack live prey, they are scavenger birds and eat mostly dead prey. So, I would think the vulture was not interested in your dog or cat but likely there was a dead animal nearby. Now, the hawk is another thing - they WILL attack small dogs, cats.etc.

Well that's a good to know. There's probably a dead animal some where around here then. I am practically surrounded by woods but I have to admit, I can't recall ever seeing them around my house or maybe I just never paid attention before. Heck deer even come out from the woods from time to time into my backyard.

I past them all the time going to work. I cut through a state park and see them feasting on road kill all the time. Like I said really weird and am hoping this is not a bad sign. On darn.....maybe I am just being a little superstitious :(.

We have a lot of Turkey Buzzards in the area right about now. When my grandson was about 4 or so, he really freaked out when he saw them picking at a carcass. I explained to him that they were Nature's garbage men, and that if they didn't go around cleaning things up, it would get pretty nasty real quick, just like if the human garbage men didn't pick up OUR trash. He still thinks they're gross, but he understands.

Buzzards and vultures don't go after living things; think of them as the "clean up crew". You're safe from *them*. It's the hawks, eagles and owls you really have to worry about. Majestic birds, just doin' what raptors do.

But not with MY babies, please!

From a distance, especially when they're riding the currents, it's hard to tell which one is what, so I guess it's a good thing to be watchful of them all. But on an "up close and personal" basis, you should know which ones are the villains.

Exactly, vultures are the scavengers and probably hang with the hawks to get the sloppy seconds . . .

In my neighborhood, I swear the crows and the hawks work in conjunction with one another. When I go outside, after awhile, you'll hear some crows and then right behind them cawking you hear a hawk in the distance . . so I swear, the crows DO alert the hawks when I'm outside with my little ones . . . :eek:

I'm terrified of birds and I can't imagine living in a place where I had to worry about giant birds attacking my pets! :eek: That definitely sounds creepy.

Hawks and crows do not get along. Crows will actually gang up to dive-bomb and chase away hawks. So, when you hear the crows they are probably chasing off a hawk. Crows will alert each other to a hawks presence.

I am terrified of big birds and definitely Hawks around Roxy!!!! SCARY!!

Not to throw you off but... You have a talent for writing and this could be made into a good short story.

why thank ya.....wished my college english professor thought the same way :p

Vultures don't attack healthy live animals, but they will attack those that are very injured. Hawks are a different story. They WILL hang around an area where there is a good food supply and they WILL scope out your little one.
We had a house that backed up to woods--lots of of hawks that sat in the trees and eyed the dogs every time we took them out. One day, when they were on the back porch, right next to my father, one came down after them. They headed through the doggy door and onto the screened in porch and the hawk FOLLOWED THEM. Don't think that just by being near your little one they will be deterred. They are wild animals and have no reason to fear humans. They are just hungry!
Please be sure to keep her on a leash, as I know you will.

I never take Brandi out without her leash, even when taking her for just a quick potty out back. I don't have a fenced in yard so for that reason and the hawks, Brandi is never off leash.

I had an experience almost like that this week. Was doing laundry and hung it out. I had Bella on a tie on the clothes line so she could be out there with me and I left her out for a bit, checking on her constantly. I decided to take her for a walk and seen a large shadow fly over really low. Looked up and it was a turkey buzzard. I reeled Bella in and kept her close to me. I looked back at my house and over the my yard above the clothes line was three or four. So I told my husband she is not to be put on the line without supervision. We live in the country and no fence. So she's always on a line of some sort.

I love photography (not very good at it but I love it anyways) and when the weather gets warm, I like to go out on the boat while my dh fishes. I take pictures, and he fishes, and we're both happy as clams. Well, Moka likes to hang out on the boat too. She will get up on the very front end and put her front feet up on the edge and let the wind blow in her face. I have gotten some nice shots of the buzzards as they come in real close to get a good look at her. Don't worry, I use a pretty good zoom so she's never in any danger, not to mention they are buzzards, but they still fly in for a glance. They sure are ugly!!