Are broad-winged hawks a real threat? (Hint: Yes!)

[Big Doggie]

View attachment 2298950Here’s my silkie mix roo who fought it off, for comparison. Like I said he’s more of a medium-sized boy, but he did good to protect himself and his flock (especially being younger too- little over a year old).

Just did more research on red shouldered hawks and they probably would not go after hens. Chipmunks and toads as well as small birds. I stand corrected.

 

[cmom]

These are birds that were killed by a Red Tail hawk. I caught the hawk in action.

 

[77horses]

These are birds that were killed by a Red Tail hawk. I caught the hawk in action.
View attachment 2299183

I’m so sorry.

 

[77horses]

Silkies......., not standard sized nor equipped for free-range.

Silkie mix. So a little larger than a standard silkie. How are they not equipped for free range? Note that he doesn’t have a poof on his head to block his view (whereas standard silkies do which can block their view of incoming hawk attacks).

 

[Rldad1]

It could very well be a newly launched family. We have a Coopers family that just launched their babies and now we have hawks everywhere. The youngsters are trying their hunting skills and are pretty stupid. They will scatter after a while.

 

[centrarchid]

It could very well be a newly launched family. We have a Coopers family that just launched their babies and now we have hawks everywhere. The youngsters are trying their hunting skills and are pretty stupid. They will scatter after a while.

Coopers should have fledged back in May or possible April at your latitude and likely dispersed away from nest site. Adult females will into molt and males should be starting.

 

[Rldad1]

Coopers should have fledged back in May or possible April at your latitude and likely dispersed away from nest site. Adult females will into molt and males should be starting.

I thought so too, but, I know where the nest is and they just launched. This year has been weird as we have had birds nesting out of normal sequence. We have also had several pairs of different species have multiple clutches beyond the normal one or two. Our local Ospreys nested much later than normal.

 

[77horses]

I thought so too, but, I know where the nest is and they just launched. This year has been weird as we have had birds nesting out of normal sequence. We have also had several pairs of different species have multiple clutches beyond the normal one or two. Our local Ospreys nested much later than normal.

I’ve also noticed the pair of broad-wings/their hatchlings staying later into the fall/early winter months before migrating south. Typically they’re “suppose” to begin their big migration early on in the fall (as early as late September) around here and lately they haven’t gone until close to the first snowfall. Not sure if it’s just a young one lagging behind or something else. Nature has its own rules and doesn’t always follow our understanding of how it typically works, I suppose.