Raptor migration season - watch out!

[Sandy16]

Seems like a lot of us have had close calls or unfortunate accidents in the past few weeks due to hawks. We have netting and string over the run and we are not letting the girls free range anymore. Just curious for those of you who have had chickens longer than we have (which is only 6 months!), would a scarecrow help at all if we wanted to let them free range unchaperoned for a bit? We were thinking some sort of clothing that is free-flowing so that the wind would create movement as if it were a real person. I feel so bad for the girls because they are used to being out all day long and they definitely do not like being in their run. Any other suggestions for allowing them to have freedom without one of us having to be in the yard too? Is this wishful thinking? haha

 

[shesaredroan]

Zazouse, your photos are SO helpful!!!! (and scary, from a chicken's point of view)
I've talked to a number of people who firmly believe hawks are solitary and are never found in groups........they simply don't understand the migration behavior. Thank you!

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
WOW!!! Amazing photos - thanks for sharing!

Out here on the West Coast there's a place called Hawk Hill, just north of San Francisco Bay, where almost every southbound hawk spins up for the dash across the Golden Gate. A spectacular spot, where in late September you can watch hundreds of hawks go by in a few hours. Still, nothing like that sight of a huge flock of hawks all at once!

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
That's why I wanted to mention the migration... it helps explain what's going on for a lot of us.

A scarecrow might work for migrating hawks, especially the less-bold varieties. Some of the Cooper's Hawks are likely to ignore it completely though - they will come and strike a bird while you're standing right there. You're not food, and they don't perceive you as a threat either unless you get really close; and if you're neither food nor threat, they ignore you completely.

One thing about the migration though, all you need do is keep the hawks moving. If they make a kill, they will tend to stay around for a while; but if you can just make it difficult for them, they'll keep moving. I might try a scarecrow myself -maybe with a balloon head?

 

[zazouse]

When the migration occurred here the local red tailed hawks sored under the migrating birds in a flock of about 15 it was as if they were escorting them out of the area , other than that the red tails here only sore together when teaching the young to hunt and that is usually 2 to 3 young .

The migrating hawks would start soring in all directions then regroup and fly in formation leaving the area, thats was what was scary, i thought they were going to land at first, this went on for a week.

 

[operator16]

When we lived in Arizona there were these Hawks, I think called Harris Hawks?, and they were very clever. They'd work together in groups of three or four and scope out the neighborhood by flying from roof to roof all the while talking back and forth between themselves. I thought it was rather sophisticated. It reminded me of a pack of wolves. However, here in Colorado, all the hawks that I've seen are alone - as far as I can tell. Now, there are some owls down the road and the mom and dad stick together and raise their young each season and they hunt together all summer. It's pretty amazing to see. Fascinating!

My girls were not happy today either after I corralled them back into the run. I put out a head of red cabbage and a flock block and they seemed slightly confused but content.

Best wishes to the safety of all your chickens!



Quote:

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
Harris' Hawks are the only social North American raptor (maybe the only one worldwide). Fascinating birds indeed! Their social behavior makes them ideal for falconry, as well, and they have wonderful personalities.

 

[dahlia333]

That explains the hawk I saw sitting on the fence right above my coop this morning. Thank you! The crows in the area kept trying to run it off.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I saw my first group of Harris Hawks a couple months ago. There were FIVE in the group. At first I thought they were turkey vultures on the utility lines, but as I approached, they all took flight and I realized what they were. It was both thrilling and chilling to see them. They must be formidable predators working together like they do. I imagine they could really do some damage to a backyard flock.

 

[GammaPoppyLilyFlutter]

Ohmygosh! Thank you so much for posting this. There are a lot of birds of prey and they have been watching my pullets. I'll keep an even closer eye on the girls now to make sure no raptors get them.