A hawk landed on our patio railing! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mimimomo · 09-25-2012, 08:07 PM

It was big too, maybe 20#'s, @ 1st I thought it was an eagle! Cwazzie bird, don't know if it was after the pigeons or my fur butts...they were sitting right by the patio door, only a thin screen between them. I was giving Princess a bath, so I wrapped her in a towel & ran toward the patio window to shoo it away. Wow the size of that thing was impressive & scary! I knew we had wildlife up in these hills, but never saw a hawk up until now...just the thought of it's huge talons & beak gives me the chills.

Please be careful everyone, they seem to be flying about again!

gracielove · 09-26-2012, 12:10 AM

They are a scary sight when you see them up close. I have seen them in the trees on the edge of the backyard. They are huge compared to a regular bird. The big black birds in the area would chase them away though. Our owls are much bigger. I had one fly over my head one morning. Something blotted out the sun for a couple of seconds I looked up and an owl was fly over head and landed on a tree limb. They don't make a sound even though they are so huge!
Wow. That hawk landing that close to your home is really nervy not to mention scary!

MY OSCAR · 09-26-2012, 03:27 AM

i hear ya, they are scary.
we live in the country on 5 1/2 acres and we have
a pair of hawkes living in the woods surrounding our property.
sometimes i when i am sitting on the deck with the dogs i can see them circling above and making that horrid screeching sound...

Yorkiemom1 · 09-26-2012, 03:28 AM

Dont kid yourself....he was there for your BABIES!!!! I used to have one that would come and sit on my fence and watch the patio, waiting for us to go outside.....I live on the lot in the middle of a cul-de-sac, so my back yard is HUGE....188 feet from corner to corner across the back, and 150 feet up both sides...but the distance from my patio, to the back fence is only about 50 feet....that is where the house is closest to the fence....and that big hawk sits on the fence, looking right in my windows across the back of my sun room, and just waiting for us to go out the back door onto the patio! As the neighborhood has grown and the trees have grown up (I cant believe we have been there 15 years!), the hawks have stopped coming around so much, thank goodness....but I do not let my guard down for even a second.

yorkietalkjilly · 09-26-2012, 03:57 AM

So scary. Be careful.

yorkieluvme2 · 09-26-2012, 03:59 AM

Oh my goodness how scary.

bobohyde · 09-26-2012, 04:00 AM

A few years ago I met a couple on vacation who had a couple yorkies. They said one of their yorkies was killed by an owl. They said in hind sight, there had been sightings/hootings of an owl nearby for a few days, but they didn't realize the risk. Then one night they let the dog out to potty and it was killed by the owl. They realize now it was stalking their dog. That was in Ohio. I think they spot their prey, then just hang out quietly somewhere and wait for the opportunity to get it. Hawks do that to.

Verbena · 09-26-2012, 04:06 AM

It's true. They perch or circle above to look for prey. And if they see something they will wait to pounce. They love big open spaces.

bobohyde · 09-26-2012, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobohyde

I think they spot their prey, then just hang out quietly somewhere and wait for the opportunity to get it. Hawks do that to.

Also, I just wanted to say that the "hanging out quietly & waiting" can be for several days or longer, so keep your eyes open.

MY OSCAR · 09-26-2012, 04:14 AM

yeah, they give me the creeps when they circle like that.
i never ever leave my little ones out alone...

gracielove · 09-26-2012, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobohyde

A few years ago I met a couple on vacation who had a couple yorkies. They said one of their yorkies was killed by an owl. They said in hind sight, there had been sightings/hootings of an owl nearby for a few days, but they didn't realize the risk. Then one night they let the dog out to potty and it was killed by the owl. They realize now it was stalking their dog. That was in Ohio. I think they spot their prey, then just hang out quietly somewhere and wait for the opportunity to get it. Hawks do that to.

The huge owl that flew over my head landed on a tree branch just a few yards in front of me. It was fall so no leaves on the tree. He turned and looked straight at me. I had just walked my dog and was going back outside to leave. It's like he was saying "I'll get you next time!" Frightening. They are silent when flying despite their size. You would never hear them coming.

mimimomo · 09-26-2012, 08:27 AM

Another resident here @ our condo confirmed that the hawks (plural, yikes!) were after the pigeons. The one we ran into a couple months back @ my aunt's place had a pigeon pinned down w/it's talons...but he was a juvenile or a smaller one (red shinned hawk, to be exact). The one I saw yesterday was BIG & just like what some of you are mentioning, it was QUIET. I only happened to see it bc our kitchen faces the patio (Princess was getting bathed in the kitchen sink), we have large sliding door type window & it silently flew in & just sat there on the railing, ohhh I'm getting goosebumps!

CouversMom · 09-26-2012, 08:29 AM

Oh, how scary! I'm glad you were there to shoo it away...

bobohyde · 09-26-2012, 08:40 AM

Obviousy, the hawks already hunt there because of the pigeons, so don't let your guard down. Yorkie would be a tasty treat over pigeon. I have a relative that lives in a country setting and she created a fenced in area covered by a tarp for her pup to go potty because she was afraid of the hawks. I'm guessing since you are in LA and live in a condo that you don't have that option. Is your patio on the first floor and does she go out there to go potty or is it higher up? Maybe you could stretch some clear fishing line across somehow or something like that as a deterent that would be out of your way, but would deter a hawk flying in again.

mimimomo · 09-26-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobohyde

Obviousy, the hawks already hunt there because of the pigeons, so don't let your guard down. Yorkie would be a tasty treat over pigeon. I have a relative that lives in a country setting and she created a fenced in area covered by a tarp for her pup to go potty because she was afraid of the hawks. I'm guessing since you are in LA and live in a condo that you don't have that option. Is your patio on the first floor and does she go out there to go potty or is it higher up? Maybe you could stretch some clear fishing line across somehow or something like that as a deterent that would be out of your way, but would deter a hawk flying in again.

Yes TY, not letting my guard down, if anything it's on high alert! We're on the 2nd & 3rd floors & both floors have patios. We're not allowed to have any sort of covering on the patio except for wood lattice for privacy. Mine never go out there anyway. We all go in the restrooms lolll & daily leashed walks outside. The road is really steep where we are, so we drive to a near by park. There's also designated doggie areas around the complex.

09-25-2012, 08:07 PM	#1
mimimomo Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,874	A hawk landed on our patio railing! It was big too, maybe 20#'s, @ 1st I thought it was an eagle! Cwazzie bird, don't know if it was after the pigeons or my fur butts...they were sitting right by the patio door, only a thin screen between them. I was giving Princess a bath, so I wrapped her in a towel & ran toward the patio window to shoo it away. Wow the size of that thing was impressive & scary! I knew we had wildlife up in these hills, but never saw a hawk up until now...just the thought of it's huge talons & beak gives me the chills. Please be careful everyone, they seem to be flying about again! __________________ Jenny Mimi Momo Princess Turbo Madan Pin Brush: www.toplinepet.com

09-26-2012, 03:57 AM	#5
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	So scary. Be careful. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

09-26-2012, 03:59 AM	#6
yorkieluvme2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Usa Posts: 222	Oh my goodness how scary. __________________ JosieGidget

09-26-2012, 08:27 AM	#12
mimimomo Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,874	Another resident here @ our condo confirmed that the hawks (plural, yikes!) were after the pigeons. The one we ran into a couple months back @ my aunt's place had a pigeon pinned down w/it's talons...but he was a juvenile or a smaller one (red shinned hawk, to be exact). The one I saw yesterday was BIG & just like what some of you are mentioning, it was QUIET. I only happened to see it bc our kitchen faces the patio (Princess was getting bathed in the kitchen sink), we have large sliding door type window & it silently flew in & just sat there on the railing, ohhh I'm getting goosebumps! __________________ Jenny Mimi Momo Princess Turbo Madan Pin Brush: www.toplinepet.com

09-26-2012, 08:29 AM	#13
CouversMom and Khloe Mae's too! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 14,732	Oh, how scary! I'm glad you were there to shoo it away... __________________ Michelle- mommy to Couver and Khloe Mae! http://yorkiehavenrescue.com/

09-26-2012, 12:10 AM	#2
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	They are a scary sight when you see them up close. I have seen them in the trees on the edge of the backyard. They are huge compared to a regular bird. The big black birds in the area would chase them away though. Our owls are much bigger. I had one fly over my head one morning. Something blotted out the sun for a couple of seconds I looked up and an owl was fly over head and landed on a tree limb. They don't make a sound even though they are so huge! Wow. That hawk landing that close to your home is really nervy not to mention scary!

09-26-2012, 03:27 AM	#3
MY OSCAR YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Posts: 4,514	i hear ya, they are scary. we live in the country on 5 1/2 acres and we have a pair of hawkes living in the woods surrounding our property. sometimes i when i am sitting on the deck with the dogs i can see them circling above and making that horrid screeching sound...

09-26-2012, 03:28 AM	#4
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	Dont kid yourself....he was there for your BABIES!!!! I used to have one that would come and sit on my fence and watch the patio, waiting for us to go outside.....I live on the lot in the middle of a cul-de-sac, so my back yard is HUGE....188 feet from corner to corner across the back, and 150 feet up both sides...but the distance from my patio, to the back fence is only about 50 feet....that is where the house is closest to the fence....and that big hawk sits on the fence, looking right in my windows across the back of my sun room, and just waiting for us to go out the back door onto the patio! As the neighborhood has grown and the trees have grown up (I cant believe we have been there 15 years!), the hawks have stopped coming around so much, thank goodness....but I do not let my guard down for even a second.

09-26-2012, 04:00 AM	#7
bobohyde Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c Posts: 427	A few years ago I met a couple on vacation who had a couple yorkies. They said one of their yorkies was killed by an owl. They said in hind sight, there had been sightings/hootings of an owl nearby for a few days, but they didn't realize the risk. Then one night they let the dog out to potty and it was killed by the owl. They realize now it was stalking their dog. That was in Ohio. I think they spot their prey, then just hang out quietly somewhere and wait for the opportunity to get it. Hawks do that to.

09-26-2012, 04:06 AM	#8
Verbena Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: with my flying monkeys Posts: 15,620 Blog Entries: 7	It's true. They perch or circle above to look for prey. And if they see something they will wait to pounce. They love big open spaces.

09-26-2012, 04:14 AM	#10
MY OSCAR YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA Posts: 4,514	yeah, they give me the creeps when they circle like that. i never ever leave my little ones out alone...

09-26-2012, 08:40 AM	#14
bobohyde Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c Posts: 427	Obviousy, the hawks already hunt there because of the pigeons, so don't let your guard down. Yorkie would be a tasty treat over pigeon. I have a relative that lives in a country setting and she created a fenced in area covered by a tarp for her pup to go potty because she was afraid of the hawks. I'm guessing since you are in LA and live in a condo that you don't have that option. Is your patio on the first floor and does she go out there to go potty or is it higher up? Maybe you could stretch some clear fishing line across somehow or something like that as a deterent that would be out of your way, but would deter a hawk flying in again. Last edited by bobohyde; 09-26-2012 at 08:41 AM.