peregrine falcon

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if he was going to get a crow. I found this one. Pilot's view of a falcon. Action starts at 2:45 or so. The falcon takes a duck a few feet off the water.

You do realize don't you that those birds have the eyesight of a spy satellite and the speed of an arrow?

http://whitetailoverload.com/eagles-hunt-deer-watch-eagle-catch-running-deer/

 

[thomasboyle]

As I was watching, I could barely make out the people, and the falcon was focusing on a duck! Raptors are very impressive birds, they just need to stay away from my ducks and chickens!

 

[Massey]

here is a few pictures from today and yesterday,

 

[centrarchid]

That is hawk (Buteo sp.). Looks like juvenile red-tailed hawk.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

That is hawk (Buteo sp.). Looks like juvenile red-tailed hawk.

That's also what I am thinking.

On the wing falcons have pointed and more narrow wings. A hawk's wings are blunt, wide and rounded.

 

[Massey]

so I'm guessing the hawk is a bit more troublesome then the falcon would have been, sorry about the quality of picture they are taken from about 200m or so away from him with a lot of zone.

 

[centrarchid]

Generally speaking yes. Confining chickens tighter will likely be your most effective defense. Your location not indicated. If you are where hawks overwinter in high densities then your challenges greater than most.

 

[Massey]

Generally speaking yes. Confining chickens tighter will likely be your most effective defense. Your location not indicated. If you are where hawks overwinter in high densities then your challenges greater than most.

Im living in ireland,

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo which is very similar to our Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis. You should have a handle on weather they stay in you area over winter. If southern Ireland with lots of prairie / marsh / heath / pasture then I would expect a good number of overwintering birds.