Two hawks in less than 7 days!!!!

[roosterlover897]

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[roosterlover897]

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[roosterlover897]

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[roosterlover897]

my computer froze and i sent it 3 times sorry

 

[roosterlover897]

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[keesmom]

I am not trying to offend anyone and if i did i am sorry, if you have clear evidence that the hawk has threatened or killed members of you flock than you have the right ( on your own property ) to relocate a hawk. I personally don't have much of a liking tords hawks and I might have been a little harsh on that comment and the best thing to do is trap it ( safely and so it doesn't get injured ) and relocate it elsewhere

again if i have posted anything that is not correct i am sorry and I hope i did not affend anyone

You might want to read this. It is illegal to trap hawks.

http://www.gpnc.org/raptors1.htm

“Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or in part, of any such bird or any part, nest or egg.”

As you can see from this legal language, migratory birds are highly regulated. Some migratory birds, like waterfowl can be legally hunted and possessed. However, there is no such provision for raptors. Eagles, ospreys, hawks, falcons, kites, owls, vultures and all other native North American birds of prey are strictly protected, to include a prohibition against the taking or possession of their parts such as feathers or talons. The only exceptions generally allowed for individuals to these prohibitions require permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Educational and scientific institutions are exempted from most permit requirements.

Penalties for violations of the MBTA can reach $15,000 and six months imprisonment for common violations. The sale or barter of migratory birds is a felony with penalties up to $500,000 and two years imprisonment. Some raptors are also protected under the Endangered Species Act, and both the Bald and Golden Eagles are also protected under the Eagle Act.

 

[keesmom]

Killing them would be an absolute last resort. An increased human and dog presence in the yard will work for our situation. I don't like killing anything for being what it is and doing what it does. Don't get me wrong, if push comes to shove, the hawk will go before my birds do. But I truly believe God put every animal on this planet to serve a purpose and so how can I punish something that is only trying to survive. So far, we've had two attacks with no fatalities so an increased presence in the yard should be enough to discourage future attacks and help them realize that there is easier hunting in the woods and open meadows than here.

Before you do anything to any hawk you should read the above.

The only thing I can say is that as long as you free range you take the chance of losing birds to predators. An electric fence can help with ground critters but won't help much with hawks. I no longer free range most of my birds due to high predator pressure.

 

[gawildlife]

No offense taken. Just thought I would caution folks about taking matters into their own hands.

Rights don't enter into following the law. There is blanket protection for almost all species of bird in the US. The only exceptions being non native species.

There is however a method under the law to protect what is yours and I thought I would point that out.

 

[Roan]

Before you do anything to any hawk you should read the above.

The only thing I can say is that as long as you free range you take the chance of losing birds to predators. An electric fence can help with ground critters but won't help much with hawks. I no longer free range most of my birds due to high predator pressure.

Yeah, I read it and I checked the "Raising Chickens for Dummies" book and it says the same thing. It's sad really because when I told my dad about it he thought it I had gotten wrong information or something. He cited exactly what most people do. If an animal is threatening your property, you have the right to kill it.

But, now that we have the truth, I'll just keep lobbing stones at it when it flies up into the trees and watches me after its attack. (I don't try to hit it, just trying to drive it off.) We've also got our scarecrow up but before we could do that yesterday, it was back again. I stepped out the door and there it was at the edge of our lilacs, less than 20 feet from the font door. It flew up into a tree so I went over toward it and it brazenly just sat there watching me as if saying, "you can't kill me, I'm protected."

I went to where it had flown up from and sure enough, there were the remains of one of our birds. It had finally gotten its kill. <sigh> Finally, after enough stone-throwing, which fell far short of the hawk, it flew to a different tree and watched some more. I went to that tree and it flew into a tree on the neighbor's property so I followed it and it finally got the hint and flew off. I have no doubt that it will be back though. And when it is, we'll go through this again.

As far as NOT free ranging, we've free ranged all of our chickens and we've had them off and on throughout my life and never had such an attack as this hawk. I'm 44 years old and this is the first time I've ever seen a hawk up close except in captivity. Now, it's becoming a way too common sight.

 

[keesmom]

Wow, it is impressive that you have had free range birds that long without a loss. I've lost birds to Cooper's hawks, goshawks and redtail hawks. Along with those I lost some to coyotes, foxes, fishers, raccoons and occasional dog.