Hawks

[Rommy]

Hi folks! Need some advice and input. Have had a hawk nearby lately. I saw her/him once and hubby saw him/her the other day. What is odd is the hawk is making a looooot of noise; so I cannot believe he/she is interested in the chickens at that time. Wouldn't think the hawk would announce itself if it is stalking or hunting them. Any input of ideas would be helpful. Have not faced this with my hens yet. No probs with predators to date and I do let them free range in my back yard which is quite spacious with places to hide if need be. They are fenced in this area.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Hey, also in North Carolina and also have noticed a lot more hawks and buzzards that usual.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I believe most of the raptors breeding seasons are starting up as they finish migrations. It's possible the bird is claiming their new territory or potentially announcing themselves to prospective mates.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I believe most of the raptors breeding seasons are starting up as they finish migrations. It's possible the bird is claiming their new territory or potentially announcing themselves to prospective mates.

I agree as I have heard chatty hawks the past week or so here at the VA/NC border in Southside VA. And the owls will start up soon. As for the hawks and buzzards prevalence, I can certainly agree based on my observations.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree with coltandorf... and consider it a mating call to attract ladies to prime hunting grounds. Also agree with OP that haws are typically ambush predators.

It's never a problem until it is. Took more than 7 years before my first predator losses... Early in the season before everything else is being born is hardest for my location, especially because I hatch it up. One broody Silkies hen lost 2 chicks in 2 consecutive days before I confiscated and put them under cover with other chicks. Then the hawk landed on top of their cover but got no more.

Just a few days ago, I was sitting about 5 yards from my bantam flock when I saw a bird dive between us, originally thinking it was a song bird diving my cat that was also nearby... there's NO mistaken a hawk tail when you've seen enough of them. Despite my eyes following to the tree it landed in... I could not see it no matter how hard I tried it was well camouflaged. I kept watching anyways until it flew away ab out 10 minutes later.

I think it was last season this beauty was watching my flock, arriving and leaving about the same time each day. It was stressful for me but my flock has such short attention span they were clueless. Pic taken through a spotting scope with my cell phone.

I do consider temporary lock down that might save their life until the raptor gets bored and moves on as a highly effective means of flock preservation and NOT at all mean or inhumane because my flock isn't free range but is alive. Some folks have such high predator load that free range is literally a death sentence... just to keep it in perspective.

Also FWIW.. I did string fishing line across the top of my Silkie pasture and lost no more birds during that episode. Coincidence or effective, I can't say for sure but worth mentioning.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Earlier this summer I would hear a bird that sounded like a hawk and I would run out, ready to flush my birds from their run back to their coop - only to see that it wasn't a raptor but some kind of song bird. A jay, maybe? I don't see well but it had a longish tail, and was small, not like a red-tail anyway. Does anyone know if jays or other harmless birds call like this to warn of a raptor? It would call and call untill I came out and then fly away.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Does anyone know if jays or other harmless birds call like this to warn of a raptor?

Several native species can and do imitate raptors to get a response from another bird species. But you'd be surprised at how tiny something like a male American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned, or even Cooper's hawk can be.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Several native species can and do imitate raptors to get a response from another bird species. But you'd be surprised at how tiny something like a male American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned, or even Cooper's hawk can be.

Thanks. Could these little raptors be a danger to my EEs?

 

[ColtHandorf]

In my opinion, American kestrels aren't dangerous to anything bigger than a small songbird. Generally they hunt large insects and mice. Although I did have a friend with a falconer's license that flew a female Kestrel and through training she'd go after larger prey. Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks can and do take smaller chickens, but generally speaking, most large fowl breeds are too much for them to take on. I had a Cooper's go after some young birds once and their father (a Salmon Faverolle) nearly flogged the little guy to death before I could get him out of the run.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In my opinion, American kestrels aren't dangerous to anything bigger than a small songbird. Generally they hunt large insects and mice. Although I did have a friend with a falconer's license that flew a female Kestrel and through training she'd go after larger prey. Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks can and do take smaller chickens, but generally speaking, most large fowl breeds are too much for them to take on. I had a Cooper's go after some young birds once and their father (a Salmon Faverolle) nearly flogged the little guy to death before I could get him out of the run.

That's a comfort. The RTH is the only thing I've seen that is really a concern.