OMG, Please Help! Bald Eagle is Stalking our Ducks!!!

[lklascala]

We had a female mallard killed the other day. My husband saw a bald eagle down the street and thought he might be the culprit. This morning we woke to the eagle on top of our duck pen. We have never had eagles around...ever! Has anyone had this problem and what did you do? Any suggestions would be helpful!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I have not had Eagle problems only a few hawks but my mother used to work for the World Bird Sanctuary with the birds of prey. I am sure you are aware that Eagles are highly protected by law so you cannot harm it in any way. Unfortunately, ducks are a normal part of their menu. So, I would plan on keeping my ducks penned for a while and hope the Eagle gets hungry and moves on. I think they are migrating now so hopefully it won’t stay. Where are you located? Is there water near you which does not freeze in the winter?

 

[Betzz]

I agree with the response above— all you can do is to keep your ducks protected. If that isn’t possible, if they are always outdoors, is there somewhere with a roof or awning you can herd them under?

 

[lklascala]

We know the law and don't intend on harming it. The only water source we have near us that won't freeze is the Delaware River.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

We know the law and don't intend on harming it. The only water source we have near us that won't freeze is the Delaware River.

Then I would expect the eagle to leave pretty soon. They need open water for the winter. You can try scaring it off with loud noises, reflective ribbon flapping in the wind, old cds.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Not much scares those big birds. We have both golden and baldies that live here year round. The goldens live on our property, the baldies live very close by and both cruise through the chicken yard on a regular basis (along with five kinds of hawks and two kinds of owls, oh yeah, and black vultures - a metric butt ton of black vultures). Noisemakers, cds, bright ribbons, fake owls, don’t work. My best advice is to pen up the ducks and chickens and only let them free range when you can be very close. Vary the time too, our eagles figured out my schedule pretty quickly! I love to watch them, but that would very quickly change if one of them got one of my girls!

 

[Ted_Harrell]

I was going to suggest firecrackers but someone already said they don't scare easily. Good luck and let us know what you figure out....

 

[lklascala]

My parents that live in Florida have bird wires that go across their pool to keep the birds out. I wonder if something like that would deter my eagle visitor?

 

[Chicalina]

Someone posted some really good pics of string across their run. I'll try and find it for you.

 

[Chicalina]

I couldn't find it but found this instead which gives the gist. If it is a large area, you put up a pole in the middle and run the string/clothes line out from the pole and tie it to whatever you can around the perimeter.