How to deal with hawks in the yard?

[Crooked Chicken]

I fully understand the need to not predate various breeds of birds, and that some would hunt simply for fun. But if you are keeping livestock you should be able to defend it.

I do not go out looking for our local chicken hawks, but if they come knocking on my door I take care of business.

I admire them from afar, and regret killing them, but I am not going to watch them choosing which chick to eat while perching on adjacent trees without reaching for my PCP rifle.
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There is no protection order here,

Although this is not listed as a bird of Grenada, that looks like it could be a Ridgways Hawk which is "critically endangered".
http://www.birdscaribbean.org/category/news/conservation/

The Migratory Bird Act is enforced in Grenada too
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/facts/glecon.pdf

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have cocks of three different breeds, and can't also have a game bred cock, because he would take out my other boys! If I only wanted one cock bird, it might be a Malay, or some very large fighting bred bird. As it is, can't do it. Most (all) of my raptor losses have been either bantams, or youngsters of any breed. 'Young and dumb' describes many of them. Mary

I'm betting that most of your raptors are of the Coopers hawk, and Sharp Shinned hawk variety. Both of these hawks subsist mainly on song birds, bantam, and juvenile chickens. That is why they are classified as "Chicken" hawks along with the larger Red Tail hawk.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, I agree about that. The only time we actually saw a hawk/ chicken interaction here, it was a Cooper's. The other types seem more interested in the rabbits and rodents out there. Occasionally I've seen Sharp Shinned, and Red Tails are common here. They are all beautiful to watch! Mary

 

[Grenadianexpat]

Although this is not listed as a bird of Grenada, that looks like it could be a Ridgways Hawk which is "critically endangered".
http://www.birdscaribbean.org/category/news/conservation/

The Migratory Bird Act is enforced in Grenada too
https://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/facts/glecon.pdf

This is not Grenada Miss. This is Grenada West Indies. To my knowledge they are not hunted here. They are not considered edible, so are quite safe.... except if they perch on one of my coconut trees overlooking the free range flock.

I just did a search, and it seems pretty safe that it is a Peregrine Falcon, and is not endangered.

http://datazone.birdlife.org/country/grenada

 

[Grenadianexpat]

umm but you get hurricanes

Well yes, two in the last 50 odd years.

And?

 

[Grenadianexpat]

BB or Airsoft guns get the job done

Don't know that I would ever use a toy for humane dispatch. My rifle is as accurate as me, and as a target shooter of 30 years experience I do not make a shot that isn't going to be a one shot and the lights go out instantly shot. I cannot abide cruelty, and any shot I make is well within the power capabilities and range of the rifle. Fortunately it is a very rare event. Mostly they soar over the hills in the distance screeching to let me know they are around..OK... not really, they are talking to their partner... I know.

 

[centrarchid]

This is not Grenada Miss. This is Grenada West Indies. To my knowledge they are not hunted here. They are not considered edible, so are quite safe.... except if they perch on one of my coconut trees overlooking the free range flock.

I just did a search, and it seems pretty safe that it is a Peregrine Falcon, and is not endangered.

http://datazone.birdlife.org/country/grenada

Hawk pictured appears to be an immature accipiter of some sort. Not a Peregrine Falcon.

 

[imnukensc]

Agreed. Looks like a broad winged hawk. In any case, it shouldn't be shot just because someone "thinks" it might take a chicken.

 

[laughingdog]

Good so many on here are wanting to protect their birds, but not fast to shoot etc BOPs just for hanging around and actually not getting their birds.

 

[Grenadianexpat]

Hawk pictured appears to be an immature accipiter of some sort. Not a Peregrine Falcon.

Peregrine falcon is one of the few permanent residents. I have been frankly amazed having just researched this how many birds are supposed to either live or visit our shores, but these are a permanent feature.

The bird is dead, just like the parrot in the Monty Python parrot skit. ITS DEAD.

So it isn't going to look majestic.

Here are two photo's. Mine, and, a Peregrine Falcon from some reference photo's.... There are subsets, the plumage is not always identical, but these two are very similar no? I have seen other reference photo's that look less similar. Then there's age and sex. I'm sorry but I don't think this has become a cause celebre. It does bear a resemblance to a Merlin.

All I know is the locals call it a Chicken Hawk.

Here is a list of low concern species, and the endangered are not hawks/raptors.

http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/results?cty=86&rlLC=Y&rec=N&vag=N&hdnAction=ADV_SEARCH