Worried about this hawk!

[SophieKatesMom]

Whatever kind of bird that is I would be scared!!!

We have a Hawk problem also, a Chicken Farmer told me that he uses "fake owls" to scare away the Hawks from his "girls" so I bought this big ugly fake Owl at Walmart last year. Honestly I did not notice a difference but I have grown attached to the fake Owl so he will be out again this Spring and Summer.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

LOL!!!! Glad I can entertain you! We just found the longest Centipead (sp??) on Pnut's pee pad!! LOL what the heck!!?!?

I need a video of that too LOL.

[CesarTheGreat]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

Well it looks like Mr. Hawk is back! I believe without a doubt this is the same one that was munching on a squirrel in front of my house a couple weekends ago.

The 1st and 2nd picture are Monday morning. Peanut was in his dog run and I was standing there telling him to go potty…. He was lagging as usual- and something just told me to look to the left- when I did I see this big ole hawk sitting on my fence! He was looking or I should say staring at Peanut the whole time he was around! Something startled him and he then flew above us, and landed up on the fern tree.. he then continue to stare at my Peanut!

This morning we had another visit. This would be picture’s 4 and 5. This time I was standing there telling Pnut to poo, and of course he was lagging as usual. I heard a wing flutter, I looked and I saw our friend again! This time he had something- he paid us no attention. He did fly up to the tip of the tree and he seemed like he was eating something, he kept bending down like towards his talons then coming back up- I swear I heard like a bird squeak, maybe like a baby bird he had? Not sure.

Just to be clear, Peanut’s dog run is like a big dog’s run. We have French doors and we use the smaller door as Peanut’s doggy door to the inside of his cage outside, he can go inside and outside as he pleases. DH also put a chain link top on it…

What scares me is, we were just out there the other day ( backyard) and I was throwing Peanut’s ball for him! I guess our days of being outside are over, at least without a leash on!! I do not trust this hawk at all!! He also sneaks around the front yard hiding in the trees!!

I think since I have seen him twice in my backyard and once in my front, I will send a memo out and tape it on the mailboxes so people are aware of this Hawk.. I know lots of people leave their small dogs outside and cats outside. This hawk is big, I want to say it like 6 pounds… I have never seen one this big around my house.

That hawk will kill your dog if he has the chance. I know you're not allowed to kill hawks as it's against the law.... but, yeah, I would kill that hawk. Either that or you will need to put a leash on your dog and accompany him each time he goes out.

A .22 should do quite well.

[Maximo]

There are black headed vultures. They hunt and kill their prey, while the red-headed turkey vulture usually eats things that are already dead. Both of them have a 5' wingspan. However, the black ones are not common out west.

Probably is a red-tail hawk.

Our neighbor's 9 pound Yorkie was attacked by a red-shoulder hawk and severely injured. He is lucky to be alive.

Be careful!

[MandiesMom]

I will admit that I haven't read all of the replies. I just had to interject -

That is definitely a hawk. A turkey vulture looks like this:


We have red tail hawks in Alabama. Where are you, Deanna (state)? We have many of both hawks and vultures here. MANY. That's not a vulture.

Deanna's pic:


Redtail hawk:


Red Shoulder hawk:


There are also Swaisons Hawks and Coopers Hawks and Harris Hawks (I will post their pics in my next post

[MandiesMom]

Swaisnons Hawk:


Coopers Hawk:


Harris Hawk:


My opinion - it's a red tail.

Either way - It's not a vulture. And, D - I think as long as your dogrun has sides and a top - Pnut is just fine. But I would always be with him outside of the run.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Lap Princess

That's a red-tailed hawk. No question. Specifically a darker morph. Probably a female, as they are larger than males. The missing flight feathers are due to moulting. They generally re up to 2 1/2 feet tall with a 5 foot wingspan. They rarely weigh above 3 lbs. Yes, they look big but are very light.

Peanut will be fine in the covered run.

Ahh thanks, great info. I take it you have studied these birds or just watch a lot of Discovery channel?

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I called a forest ranger and she told me not to put bird seed in my bird feeder anymore. I had a bird feeder on a pole outside my bedroom window. He took the pole and flattened it to the ground in order to grab the feeder and get the seed out. I didn't know what was doing it at first. The ground is still frozen here so I would pry the pole back into an upright position and set my bird feeder up again. This went on for a few weeks until my pole was almost broken all the way through. Finally I got mad because I thought it may be vandals. I got my flashlight out and looked out the window and there is a giant bear staring back at me! Gracie goes nuts and I have to make her be quite because I don't want the bear coming through the window at me!
Everyone I have talked to says he will go away when things start growing in the woods for him to eat. I have lived here for several years and we have a lot of wildlife but have never had a bear before. I do live in a wooded area outside of town but bears are not part of our normal neighborhood group of woodland friends.
I still don't think your dealing with a hawk. Their heads are not shaped like that.

OMG! How scary!! I think I would have to change my panties if I was that close to a bear!!! I had no idea bear's eat bird seed!! Hmm who would have thought that!!??

[Lap Princess]

YW. Yes, I've studied them for many years and am an avid birder. I also volunteer every year to monitor the hawk migration here in eastern CO. I have friends who are falconers, so I'm pretty familiar with all things raptor. My favorite birds, BTW.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by navillusc

Me too! That is a horrible commercial! I cannot imagine who thinks that is funny or appropriate for TV!!!

I would guess that the hawk will hang around as long as s/he thinks there is a food source. Ugh! Not a happy thought. It sure would not thrill me to have a hawk hanging around eyeing my pups. I already cringe every time I hear an owl...and not just dawn and dusk...all day and at night, too, and since there are several different calls, I know not only is there is the GHO I saw first, there are now others I haven't even seen yet.

I hope none of your neighbors are missing their babies...s/he does look large enough for serious snacking on small dogs, kitties, etc. I so hope s/he gets bored of your neighborhood and moves on.

I'm kind of scared when the bunnies do come out- since the hawk is around my house! I have the bunnies right next to my yard- we have this big park type grass area right next to us.. that's where the bunnies live So if the hawk sees them I have a feeling he/ she will be around my house much longer!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by SophieKatesMom

Whatever kind of bird that is I would be scared!!!

We have a Hawk problem also, a Chicken Farmer told me that he uses "fake owls" to scare away the Hawks from his "girls" so I bought this big ugly fake Owl at Walmart last year. Honestly I did not notice a difference but I have grown attached to the fake Owl so he will be out again this Spring and Summer.

LOL~ Ahhh is your little fake pet owl?? Ha Ha that is cute!!

[lovespandp]

Here is the picture un-edited.. I tried to edit the picture to make it a little lighter.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by CesarTheGreat

That hawk will kill your dog if he has the chance. I know you're not allowed to kill hawks as it's against the law.... but, yeah, I would kill that hawk. Either that or you will need to put a leash on your dog and accompany him each time he goes out.

A .22 should do quite well.

Oh I know without a doubt he will and could kill Peanut.. I don't want to kill him. I don't think that is right- I already watch Peanut really well so I'm not too scared of this hawk around. I will not be taking Peanut outside without a leash!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Maximo

There are black headed vultures. They hunt and kill their prey, while the red-headed turkey vulture usually eats things that are already dead. Both of them have a 5' wingspan. However, the black ones are not common out west.

Probably is a red-tail hawk.

Our neighbor's 9 pound Yorkie was attacked by a red-shoulder hawk and severely injured. He is lucky to be alive.

Be careful!

Who knew there was so many types of hawks out there!! Oh wow that is scary!! Glad your neighbor's Yorkie is ok... that's a pretty big Yorkie that they went after..

[celstu1]

UGH! Im always worried about hawks and owls. One Hawk dive bombed towards my dogs during the day last year in the pool area. DH & I grabbed the dogs and ran them inside... but it definitely targeted them because it dove down towards us. I hate that the poor dogs cannot just have a nice day outside with the family because something is always lurking trying to take them away from me!