Bird watching

[keesmom]

I can't remember

But wow you have a lot! And it definitely could be one of those. That's sad they eat birds at feeders but I haven't noticed any deaths thankfully.

I wish we had bald eagles, they're so cool

I've found both sharp-shinned and cooper's sitting on the deck looking at me. The cooper's often hide in the surrounding trees while the smaller sharp-shinned hide in the bushes. I've seen both dive through snow after juncos. I have also had sharp-shins and cooper's bounce off windows and sliding doors in pursuit of their prey. Cooper's are our #1 chicken predator. Raccoons #2. Coyotes #3. Foxes #4.

You may have bald eagles. I have seen them along the Merrimack in downtown Lawrence. I also saw one on the Arlington/Cambridge line back in Feb. Another in Concord in Feb too.

That's a great idea! I think there's already one in New England but I don't know if it's all of New England or just Mass. I don't know if I have enough expertise to start a business but maybe after I have goats long enough.

I am serious. We have been pushing the tree line away from the house. Poison ivy has been moving in. I am not sensitive to it, but what to do with it? Can't throw it away, burn it or compost it. I don't want to use pesticides, for us, the chickens or bees. Goats would be happy to eat the stuff. Got some weed trees and vines they would probably love to mow down.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I've found both sharp-shinned and cooper's sitting on the deck looking at me. The cooper's often hide in the surrounding trees while the smaller sharp-shinned hide in the bushes. I've seen both dive through snow after juncos. I have also had sharp-shins and cooper's bounce off windows and sliding doors in pursuit of their prey. Cooper's are our #1 chicken predator. Raccoons #2. Coyotes #3. Foxes #4.

You may have bald eagles. I have seen them along the Merrimack in downtown Lawrence. I also saw one on the Arlington/Cambridge line back in Feb. Another in Concord in Feb too.
I am serious. We have been pushing the tree line away from the house. Poison ivy has been moving in. I am not sensitive to it, but what to do with it? Can't throw it away, burn it or compost it. I don't want to use pesticides, for us, the chickens or bees. Goats would be happy to eat the stuff. Got some weed trees and vines they would probably love to mow down.

Wow they're bold! I've never seen them around here until then but I also don't go outside that much. So far we've only had problems with fox (I think it's the same one), raccoons, and a hawk. We have coyotes but they seem to go after the rabbits, turkeys, etc.

Wow I had no idea there were bald eagles in the city!

Oh wow, I can definitely see how that's a problem! We have this one patch of poison ivy along the driveway/in the woods, it's getting a little bigger but I never go over there anyway. If I do end up getting goats, I'll definitely keep you in mind then in the meantime, I think if you Google goat landscaping Massachusetts then a few companies should pop up. The goat landscaping thing is definitely a great idea. We usually spray round up on the weeds and PI but it doesn't really seem to work and they always come back! We mostly spray it way away from animals but have sprayed it closer sometimes. But the chickens mostly just stay in the backyard or woods anyway. But yeah, I'd like to get goats and/or stop using chemicals myself cause it's supposed to cause cancer too. And of course goats are just cute

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh and we have vines too taking over a few trees, I wonder if goats eat vines?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Saw a big shadow and look up and see this bird, appeared to have almost rounded/arched wings by like the shoulder? The side of the wing by their head and a real narrow tail. Not sure if it was just a big jay/crow/whatever but could it maybe be that hawk again? And maybe it is a sharp shinned or coopers after all? It was already across the yard by the time I looked up so I didn't get a good look.

Also saw a deer

 

[TwoCrows]

Hawks can be tough to ID as they can all look alike. If you know exactly which ones you have in your area, you can narrow it down easier. I used to have a great chart here on line that showed silhouettes of hawks from below, looking up at them and it was easy to use. I can't remember the website anymore, but you might check out this google search on hawk ID.... https://www.google.com/search?q=haw...6r3TAhUY8mMKHfimD7UQ_AUICCgB&biw=1242&bih=580

Hawks are incredibly brave. I have walked right past them in the trees as they are eyeing up my flock. Once they are focused in on prey, they barely know you exist. A couple of years ago, I walked right past a Red-tailed Hawk in a tree right next to my chicken run and I didn't even see the bird. I went into the coop and started walking into the run, and this hawk dove RIGHT into the side of the run and clung onto the hardware cloth, just hanging there! Needless to say it scared the bajeebies out of me and the chickens. LOL But the hawk obviously had his eyes set on one of my birds and thought he could land right on the bird, but thankfully my sturdy hardware cloth stood the test! The hawk hung there for a moment and then jumped off confused and set down on the bench right outside the run. LOL I watched the hawk for a bit and then he flew away. Thankfully no chickens were outside at the time or somebody could have been dinner!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks for that link! It was really helpful. Sharp shinned or coopers hawk is what I figure

And WOW that is one bold hawk!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

We've had lots of turkeys hanging around all week, mom says there were even a few laying around in the yard this morning! Lol and they keep coming into the garden because of the bird feeder.

Anyway, most recently we have a rival tom!

There's one that originally had like 3 hens but had 6 later on (so maybe they were just running from him lol) and now he appears to have less and there is now a second tom with I THINK 2 hens. The other guy seems to have 3 now. But I have to pay attention. Interesting though. They don't appear to be fighting, at least not yet, but appear at different times

 

[ShrekDawg]

Look at this big boy. Handsome fellow.

One of his hens

He also has a blue face which I've never seen? It's no wonder the ladies are impressed.

 

[TwoCrows]

Wow, pretty Tom! Our wild Tom is displaying for a few wild hens here too. I feed the wild Turkeys in the front yard, the hens are fairly tame and let me come close and throw them seeds. The Tom is a bit leary and keeps his distance from me. I hear him gobbling out there somewhere right now. LOL

 

[TwoCrows]

And yes, my Toms face turns a striking blue color when he displays! Super pretty!