Texas

[jajeanpierre]

I am sure they are falcons. My neighbor was talking to someone who tracks birds for some official reason and learned about them. I've seen them flying over but they are hard to photograph. It's a breeding pair and their 3 offspring. They are not Kestrels. I know them very well. One of my favorite birds. I may have a photo, but I am not sure. I need to get ready for church now, so I will look later.

I'll have a look into bantams more too.

I still don't think you are dealing with falcons. There are six falcons in North America: American Kestrel, Merlin, Aplomado falcon, Prairie falcon, Peregrine falcon, and Gyr falcon.

The American Kestrel does breed in Texas, but just the far west and the pan handle. The biggest they'll get will be a female weighing 6 ounces. In birds of prey, the female is always a much bigger bird by about a third. They are not a threat.

The Merlin does not breed in Texas but they will migrate in. Again, a small bird of about 8.5 ounces for a big female.

The Aplomado falcon does nest in Texas, taking over other birds stick nests. They are a small falcon, females ranging from 11 to 16 ounces. They hunt sparrows, small doves and insects. They are quite rare and are in isolated pockets in the far south of Texas, Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. I thought you were in the North, so you shouldn't see them.

The Prairie falcon doesn't nest in Texas but winters here, mostly in the far west of the state. They nest in cliffs.

Peregrines don't nest here either. Some will winter in Texas, the most northern wintering ground being the Dallas area. Again, they nest in cliffs and will use buildings in cities.

Gyr falcons are Arctic birds and won't be in Texas. They are very, very rare. I've seen many in Saudi Arabia and they were just magnificent birds. Huge falcons. The white morph is a breathtaking bird.

The only other bird I can think of that is in a falcoform is the Crested Caracara, sometimes called the Mexican Eagle. They are a big bird that associates with vultures. Again, they are mainly a southern bird. They will take small animals and insects but I think their main source of food is carrion.

I suspect it is another species that is nesting in the park. Regardless, there will always be hawks around. Not all hawks are a risk and there are a lot of things you can do to make it more difficult for them. A Coopers hawk is the bird I most worry about.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My brother in law lost his dog, Max, in a roll over accident about 2 weeks ago. We found Max about 3 days later on the side of the road, deceased. Not sure from injuries from accident or from being hit by a car.

I'm so sorry.

 

[TammyTX]

I still don't think you are dealing with falcons. There are six falcons in North America: American Kestrel, Merlin, Aplomado falcon, Prairie falcon, Peregrine falcon, and Gyr falcon.

The American Kestrel does breed in Texas, but just the far west and the pan handle. The biggest they'll get will be a female weighing 6 ounces. In birds of prey, the female is always a much bigger bird by about a third. They are not a threat.

The Merlin does not breed in Texas but they will migrate in. Again, a small bird of about 8.5 ounces for a big female.

The Aplomado falcon does nest in Texas, taking over other birds stick nests. They are a small falcon, females ranging from 11 to 16 ounces. They hunt sparrows, small doves and insects. They are quite rare and are in isolated pockets in the far south of Texas, Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. I thought you were in the North, so you shouldn't see them.

The Prairie falcon doesn't nest in Texas but winters here, mostly in the far west of the state. They nest in cliffs.

Peregrines don't nest here either. Some will winter in Texas, the most northern wintering ground being the Dallas area. Again, they nest in cliffs and will use buildings in cities.

Gyr falcons are Arctic birds and won't be in Texas. They are very, very rare. I've seen many in Saudi Arabia and they were just magnificent birds. Huge falcons. The white morph is a breathtaking bird.

The only other bird I can think of that is in a falcoform is the Crested Caracara, sometimes called the Mexican Eagle. They are a big bird that associates with vultures. Again, they are mainly a southern bird. They will take small animals and insects but I think their main source of food is carrion.

I suspect it is another species that is nesting in the park. Regardless, there will always be hawks around. Not all hawks are a risk and there are a lot of things you can do to make it more difficult for them. A Coopers hawk is the bird I most worry about.

Let me preface with, I do not know much about birds. When I see one that I am interested in I research to find out what it is or I ask my dad who will ask his neighbor who is some kind of a bird person. I feel like I have given this disclaimer before when speaking of birds.....

We have CaraCara's everywhere around here. There are even Bald Eagles that nest on the Colorado. I saw an Osprey on the Colorado once, too and a Golden Eagle in downtown Austin sitting on a lateral flag pole, high in the air...we were on the third floor of a building across the street. I have also had a Kestrel on my fence..at least that is what someone else identified it as when I thought it may grab one of my chicks. I have also seen what looks like to me some sort of falcon, but not often. Another bird (non-raptor) that "isn't supposed to be here" is the Great Kiskadee. We have them in far east Travis County. I recorded it and had someone from Audubon confirm that is what I saw. Supposedly, they are only in far south Texas.

I think we have already talked about the green parrots...NOT parakeets...that someone let loose many years ago that now inhabit eastern Travis County and we have had them in our trees here in Bastrop County. They are not native to the area, but they are naturalizing.

I know that some of these birds are probably on a migration when I see them...not the Kiskadee, they nest here...but sometimes I think birds just go where the food is, and be ****** the migration charts!

EDITED: They bleeped my use of d.a.m.n.e.d

 

[jajeanpierre]

Let me preface with, I do not know much about birds. When I see one that I am interested in I research to find out what it is or I ask my dad who will ask his neighbor who is some kind of a bird person. I feel like I have given this disclaimer before when speaking of birds.....

We have CaraCara's everywhere around here. There are even Bald Eagles that nest on the Colorado. I saw an Osprey on the Colorado once, too and a Golden Eagle in downtown Austin sitting on a lateral flag pole, high in the air...we were on the third floor of a building across the street. I have also had a Kestrel on my fence..at least that is what someone else identified it as when I thought it may grab one of my chicks. I have also seen what looks like to me some sort of falcon, but not often. Another bird (non-raptor) that "isn't supposed to be here" is the Great Kiskadee. We have them in far east Travis County. I recorded it and had someone from Audubon confirm that is what I saw. Supposedly, they are only in far south Texas.

I think we have already talked about the green parrots...NOT parakeets...that someone let loose many years ago that now inhabit eastern Travis County and we have had them in our trees here in Bastrop County. They are not native to the area, but they are naturalizing.

I know that some of these birds are probably on a migration when I see them...not the Kiskadee, they nest here...but sometimes I think birds just go where the food is, and be ****** the migration charts!

EDITED: They bleeped my use of d.a.m.n.e.d

Austin is well within the Crested Caracara's range. I see them all the time, too.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Crested_Caracara/lifehistory#at_food

Ms Jellybean was talking about falcons nesting in a park in northern Texas and staying as a family unit.. The two falcons that could pose a problem--Peregrines and Prairie falcons, aren't likely to be nesting in a park in northern Texas. The Prairie falcon will winter in Texas as will the Peregrine Continental sub species. The Tundra sub species of Peregrine will winter along the Gulf coast. I don't know their route to get there, but they only take five days to get from the Gulf to their Arctic breeding grounds, so they won't be in northern Texas for long.

I used two references for their ranges: Cornell University's The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and FALCONS OF NORTH AMERICA (Kate Davis, 2008).

 

[TexasLisa]

GOOD MORNING FELLOW TEXANS!!

Have a GREAT day!

Lisa

 

[hungnguyen]

Gut Mo^ Ninh, another Monday.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I still don't think you are dealing with falcons. There are six falcons in North America: American Kestrel, Merlin, Aplomado falcon, Prairie falcon, Peregrine falcon, and Gyr falcon.

The American Kestrel does breed in Texas, but just the far west and the pan handle. The biggest they'll get will be a female weighing 6 ounces. In birds of prey, the female is always a much bigger bird by about a third. They are not a threat.

The Merlin does not breed in Texas but they will migrate in. Again, a small bird of about 8.5 ounces for a big female.

The Aplomado falcon does nest in Texas, taking over other birds stick nests. They are a small falcon, females ranging from 11 to 16 ounces. They hunt sparrows, small doves and insects. They are quite rare and are in isolated pockets in the far south of Texas, Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. I thought you were in the North, so you shouldn't see them.

The Prairie falcon doesn't nest in Texas but winters here, mostly in the far west of the state. They nest in cliffs.

Peregrines don't nest here either. Some will winter in Texas, the most northern wintering ground being the Dallas area. Again, they nest in cliffs and will use buildings in cities.

Gyr falcons are Arctic birds and won't be in Texas. They are very, very rare. I've seen many in Saudi Arabia and they were just magnificent birds. Huge falcons. The white morph is a breathtaking bird.

The only other bird I can think of that is in a falcoform is the Crested Caracara, sometimes called the Mexican Eagle. They are a big bird that associates with vultures. Again, they are mainly a southern bird. They will take small animals and insects but I think their main source of food is carrion.

I suspect it is another species that is nesting in the park. Regardless, there will always be hawks around. Not all hawks are a risk and there are a lot of things you can do to make it more difficult for them. A Coopers hawk is the bird I most worry about.

I see Kestrels all the time. They are very unique looking and I know them well. They are all over the place where I live. I saw three of them yesterday when out cycling.

The falcons hung out in the park and perched in a tree every night before going back to their nest. I don't know where their nest is. We do have taller buildings in the city though. I asked my neighbor for more info on them He will get back to me later tonight. The tree they perched in was across the street from his house.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I see Kestrels all the time. They are very unique looking and I know them well. They are all over the place where I live. I saw three of them yesterday when out cycling.

The falcons hung out in the park and perched in a tree every night before going back to their nest. I don't know where their nest is. We do have taller buildings in the city though. I asked my neighbor for more info on them He will get back to me later tonight. The tree they perched in was across the street from his house.

Kestrels winter over most of Texas. The only place they'll breed in Texas is in the Texas panhandle and just a bit south and west of the panhandle where they are permanent residents. Even the term "permanent resident" is being reconsidered, since it seems that hawks will all migrate south or will change their elevation. They don't all migrate from the Arctic to South America. Some just migrate a few hundred miles, so the "permanent resident" hawks migrate south to be replaced by same-species birds whose breeding grounds are just slightly north. It seems as if the hawks have not moved, but in fact they've all migrated south. Yesterday I saw the first Kestral I've seen in my 18 months in Texas. I fly my parrots outside--believe me, I really look for birds of prey and try to identify any I see.

In the last month, I've had my first Coopers hawk sightings in my area. I haven't seen or heard the pair of Red Shouldered hawks that nest very close to my house. I wish I had--they would have driven the Coopers off. I think the Red Shouldered hawks have migrated south and the Coopers have moved in to fill the void.

That's the thing with predators--if there is a void, something moves in to fill it.

It would be pretty exciting if the Prairie falcon has moved their breeding territory east and were breeding in Texas. They will hunt 15 miles from their nest. I hope it would be because of increased numbers and not because of climate change.

You originally wrote you were worried about a family of five falcons. I wrote to give you some natural history of the species. Falcon young will disperse at just over two months of age and they won't return, so you won't need to worry about them for more than a month if you do have a pair of Prairie falcons returning.

You can make your yard hawk unfriendly by doing things like running fine deer netting or fishing line across open areas between trees. A Coopers might go under it, but unless s/he is desperate, they will want to avoid the risk getting caught where they can't easily escape. Nothing is perfect and guaranteed in life.

I wish we had crows in my area. I would feed them to encourage them to claim my property as their territory. Crows will drive off any hawks and are not a threat to adult chickens. They will snatch chicks, but are unlikely to hurt an adult. Not ravens, but the smaller crow. A friend of mine in the forests outside Seattle uses "her" flock of crows (which she feeds and will come when she calls) and a couple of Great Pyrenees to guard her chickens. The crows take care of the aerial predators and the Pyrs deal with the land based predators.

Of all my losses, every one but four were from my own dog or from poor animal husbandry. The dog really counts as poor animal husbandry practices since I or my son were negligent in keeping the dog away from the chickens. While I was away for a month, my adult son didn't dry off some young Silkies that were soaked in the rain and they chilled and died overnight (poor husbandry). He also didn't lock them up securely one day and the dog killed a bunch of them (poor husbandry). One died of a blocked crop that I didn't find in time (maybe that was poor husbandry, too?). One died of completely unknown reasons. Two died during/immediately following shipping.

I still think the biggest threat to your chickens will be your puppy. Do you know how to test for prey drive?

 

[TexasLisa]

You can make your yard hawk unfriendly by doing things like running fine deer netting or fishing line across open areas between trees. A Coopers might go under it, but unless s/he is desperate, they will want to avoid the risk getting caught where they can't easily escape. Nothing is perfect and guaranteed in life.

You had written about using fishing line. I use fishing line over the flock's outer pen. It looks like a giant cobweb. It has been up for almost 2 years now and it has definitely stopped aerial predators from getting the flock. It works for me!!

Lisa

 

[hensfortherapy]

Good morning.
I see hawks at my house, but rarely. I have photos, but I can't get photos to post any more to BYC. They show an interest in the hens, but the hens are pretty sharp and they don't have to run far for cover.