Pigeon Talk

[backyard pigeons]

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A hawk tried to grab one of my pigeons today while it was sitting in a tree. I was outside and heard my geese freaking out so went over and there was 2 red tailed hawks after it. I saw feathers floating everywhere and was looking around for the bird. It was sitting 15 feet up in a cedar so i climbed up and grabbed her and put her in. I'm sure she would be dead if i wasnt out there, I can't even imagine how a pigeon would escape 2 hawks with 2 tail feathers left.

Yikes. Glad she made it. What breed was it? A red tail hawk is a joke to racing homers.

Do you still have your Portuguese tumblers? Do you have any pictures of them?

 

[Qwerty3159]

Ouch. I had one get his tail ripped out by a hawk sometime between disappearing from my loft and showing up 80 miles away. It grew back very quickly though.

 

[Kessel23]

Yikes. Glad she made it. What breed was it? A red tail hawk is a joke to racing homers.

Do you still have your Portuguese tumblers? Do you have any pictures of them?

It's a racing homer from a good blood line but it was sitting alone in a tree a couple hundred feet from the coop after doing a few laps around the place, probably didn't even see the hawk coming.

 

[Kessel23]

Yikes. Glad she made it. What breed was it? A red tail hawk is a joke to racing homers.

Do you still have your Portuguese tumblers? Do you have any pictures of them?

I have Birmingham rollers.

 

[biophiliac]

View attachment 2580688
A hawk tried to grab one of my pigeons today while it was sitting in a tree. I was outside and heard my geese freaking out so went over and there was 2 red tailed hawks after it. I saw feathers floating everywhere and was looking around for the bird. It was sitting 15 feet up in a cedar so i climbed up and grabbed her and put her in. I'm sure she would be dead if i wasnt out there, I can't even imagine how a pigeon would escape 2 hawks with 2 tail feathers left.

My hen Harriet lost every single tail feather when a hawk tried to grab her while she was on the ground. She was too fast for him though and got airborn and away with no further damage. I swear those tail feathers have some kind of emergency quick release mechanism! LOL She was totally unfazed and out flying before the feathers even grew back.

 

[backyard pigeons]

I swear those tail feathers have some kind of emergency quick release mechanism!

I remember reading an article from a university that showed scientific evidence for this. I guess kinda like a lizard, but it doesn't give the predator a snack.

 

[Kessel23]

This pair of pigeons was sitting on two of their own eggs the last time I checked. I didn't shut the door fully a few days ago and some of my chickens and muscovy ducks got into the loft, I guess one of the chicken hens laid an egg in their nest and crushed both of their actual eggs in the process. Weird because their nest is the highest one and there are a few other spots below with nesting pairs too.

I realized this yesterday when I checked to see if their eggs hatched. At first I only saw the male sitting but today I caught the hen on it too so they are both convinced it's theirs. I'll probably let them keep sitting, see if they can hatch an egg this big.

 

[biophiliac]

It's a racing homer from a good blood line but it was sitting alone in a tree a couple hundred feet from the coop after doing a few laps around the place, probably didn't even see the hawk coming.

IMO a sneak attack is the only way a red tail can catch a racing homer. I admit I don't fly mine in the winter when other prey is very scarce. That's when the Hawks are most motivated to try to catch a pigeon.

View attachment 2582632
This pair of pigeons was sitting on two of their own eggs the last time I checked. I didn't shut the door fully a few days ago and some of my chickens and muscovy ducks got into the loft, I guess one of the chicken hens laid an egg in their nest and crushed both of their actual eggs in the process. Weird because their nest is the highest one and there are a few other spots below with nesting pairs too. View attachment 2582641
I realized this yesterday when I checked to see if their eggs hatched. At first I only saw the male sitting but today I caught the hen on it too so they are both convinced it's theirs. I'll probably let them keep sitting, see if they can hatch an egg this big.

Wow! I feel bad for the pigeon eggs though.

 

[Kessel23]

IMO a sneak attack is the only way a red tail can catch a racing homer. I admit I don't fly mine in the winter when other prey is very scarce. That's when the Hawks are most motivated to try to catch a pigeon.

Wow! I feel bad for the pigeon eggs though.

Yeah there is no way a red tailed hawk would be chasing one down or grabbing one from the air. This one definitely didn't see it coming till it was right about to grab it. I dont think it would be able to escape after the attack because where it was in the forest, after it got grabbed in a much higher and open spot, was very thick and full of little trees, brush, and vines. I think if I wasnt out there a pigeon with less than half a tail and two red tailed hawks after it in a thick forest like that wasnt going to be able to make it back to the loft. The hawks were pretty unphased by me going out there and didnt leave till I was under their tree and clapping. This was this first time I've had a hawk grab one of my pigeons but I've seen smaller ones chasing them before, I'm not sure what type.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I finally have pigeons! I ended up with two pairs of white kings and one pair of silver kings, a single white Carneau, and a single homer that wouldn’t settle in the guy’s loft I got them from so he just gave him to me.

they’re getting used to their new accommodations and telling what they don’t like, so I’m making some adjustments to the loft... best laid plans of mice and men... and all that