The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

Caught the predators in the act: Young Red Tailed Hawks!
Note the plural!
They must have had a nest somewhere around here and now that their parents have kicked them out they are starving. I heart a commotion outside and found that one of them had just killed Sandals Duck
At least two of its siblings were lurking in the trees above the duck yard. Sunny and her ducknagers were hiding on the patio together with Harry. Tweedledee and Laura had their ducknagers under one of the raised beds. The non-runner ducks were under the duck-house and the runners hid under the tulip-tree.
Those hawks are a menace! Even with me outside, they dive bombed the duck-yard, focusing on the ducknagers. That went on the whole afternoon until about 30 minutes ago.
I have installed flashy tape, mirrors and ropes across the duck-yard as obstacles and deterrents, not sure why they have suddenly decided to leave.

At least the mystery is solved! Perhaps set up some netting over the yard?

 

[Supercow]

Caught the predators in the act: Young Red Tailed Hawks!
Note the plural!
They must have had a nest somewhere around here and now that their parents have kicked them out they are starving. I heart a commotion outside and found that one of them had just killed Sandals Duck
At least two of its siblings were lurking in the trees above the duck yard. Sunny and her ducknagers were hiding on the patio together with Harry. Tweedledee and Laura had their ducknagers under one of the raised beds. The non-runner ducks were under the duck-house and the runners hid under the tulip-tree.
Those hawks are a menace! Even with me outside, they dive bombed the duck-yard, focusing on the ducknagers. That went on the whole afternoon until about 30 minutes ago.
I have installed flashy tape, mirrors and ropes across the duck-yard as obstacles and deterrents, not sure why they have suddenly decided to leave.

Bad situation but at least it's not the 2-legged predators...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

At least the mystery is solved! Perhaps set up some netting over the yard?

And risk that one of the hawks becomes entangled in that netting?
That would be a federal - i don't know what! Red tailed Hawks are protected by that infamous Migratory Bird Act… Even keeping a naturally shed feather is a illegal.
And weirdly, if a Mountain Lion or a Black Bear kills poultry or livestock you are entitled as a farmer to be compensated by Uncle Sam. Bird of Prey comes out of your own pocket.

 

[Canadian Wind]

And risk that one of the hawks becomes entangled in that netting?
That would be a federal - i don't know what! Red tailed Hawks are protected by that infamous Migratory Bird Act… Even keeping a naturally shed feather is a illegal.
And weirdly, if a Mountain Lion or a Black Bear kills poultry or livestock you are entitled as a farmer to be compensated by Uncle Sam. Bird of Prey comes out of your own pocket.

Hmmmm... Hang things from the netting so a bird of prey can see it?

I had to untangle a silly blue jay out of the netting around the duck pen this morning. I'll be using more rigid deer fencing in the future. Perhaps that would work? At least over a few parts of the yard, making it difficult for a bird to manoeuvre around?

Wonder if my own government would pay me for the losses to that darn fox!!!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Bad situation but at least it's not the 2-legged predators...

Actually they are two legged predators…
But instead of arms with hands they have wings with feathers.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

We played another game of »Hungry Hungry Ducklings« today, this time the ducknager edition:

The little ones are now three weeks old and have turned into cheeky ducknagers. Their legs have grown out of proportion and they look like "all-terrain ducklings".
Except for the tiny one who still likes to be picked up, sit in the pea-bowl and cuddle with the old man after stuffing itself.

 

[Supercow]

Actually they are two legged predators…
But instead of arms with hands they have wings with feathers.

That's true, silly me

 

[Miss Lydia]

Caught the predators in the act: Young Red Tailed Hawks!
Note the plural!
They must have had a nest somewhere around here and now that their parents have kicked them out they are starving. I heart a commotion outside and found that one of them had just killed Sandals Duck
At least two of its siblings were lurking in the trees above the duck yard. Sunny and her ducknagers were hiding on the patio together with Harry. Tweedledee and Laura had their ducknagers under one of the raised beds. The non-runner ducks were under the duck-house and the runners hid under the tulip-tree.
Those hawks are a menace! Even with me outside, they dive bombed the duck-yard, focusing on the ducknagers. That went on the whole afternoon until about 30 minutes ago.
I have installed flashy tape, mirrors and ropes across the duck-yard as obstacles and deterrents, not sure why they have suddenly decided to leave.

Hawks are awful predators I had a small hawk get one of my cochin bantams in spring. They are beautiful birds but they go for easy prey. We used to be covered up with rabbits and it seems they are gone. We have Eagles but thank goodness they stay along the river which is about a football field away from us. I do have predator tape hanging all over which is why we named our acreage Tackie Acreas.

I'm sorry they got one of yours again

 

[Luv Ducks]

Caught the predators in the act: Young Red Tailed Hawks!
Note the plural!
They must have had a nest somewhere around here and now that their parents have kicked them out they are starving. I heart a commotion outside and found that one of them had just killed Sandals Duck
At least two of its siblings were lurking in the trees above the duck yard. Sunny and her ducknagers were hiding on the patio together with Harry. Tweedledee and Laura had their ducknagers under one of the raised beds. The non-runner ducks were under the duck-house and the runners hid under the tulip-tree.
Those hawks are a menace! Even with me outside, they dive bombed the duck-yard, focusing on the ducknagers. That went on the whole afternoon until about 30 minutes ago.
I have installed flashy tape, mirrors and ropes across the duck-yard as obstacles and deterrents, not sure why they have suddenly decided to leave.

We have hawks also and if it were not for my netting I would lose a lot of my flock. I had rabbit that free ranged in a large pen without netting before I got ducks and I would see them eyeball them. My Rabbits took up their wild instincts though and dug tunnels all through my yard and knew to hide from them. I was lucky that I never lost any of them. I hope you ducks stay safe Frank and glad that you know now what it was.

 

[Luv Ducks]

And risk that one of the hawks becomes entangled in that netting?
That would be a federal - i don't know what! Red tailed Hawks are protected by that infamous Migratory Bird Act… Even keeping a naturally shed feather is a illegal.
And weirdly, if a Mountain Lion or a Black Bear kills poultry or livestock you are entitled as a farmer to be compensated by Uncle Sam. Bird of Prey comes out of your own pocket.

Frank mine must sense the netting and know not to try it. They have been up in very tall trees and seen the ducks but don't bother to even try to get them.