Un-freaking-believable!!!!

[CoyoteMagic]

I think I remember a story about Pergrin Falcons in Knoxville a few years back. Charlotte has them and I remember hawks nesting on the few tall building we had in Phoenix back in the mid-80's.

Hawks are everywhere. We just aren't as observant these days with everything in our face all the time. I worked at a High School in North Charlotte. We had a pair of hawks nest on the roof of the gym. They would hunt mice on the football field.

I haven't lost any birds to hawks. They tend to stay around the edges of the woods and run under for cover. My biggest problems has been neighbors dogs and cats.

 

[atimme]

I'm in a similar situation with a downtown environment, we have Peregrine falcons introduced as a population check on the pigeons, luckily they haven't begun nesting in our neighborhood or found our little bantam birds. Cool story! I agree about the hardware cloth though!

 

[thecityman]

It's such a small world.....and you have such a great memory. While it doesn't much pertain to my OP, I just HAD to tell you that not only are you right about there being a good deal of media coverage about falcons in Knoxville, BUT several of the photos in the Knoxville News Sentinal (the Knoxville paper) were taken from MY OFFICE WINDOW!!!! No Kidding. What a coincidence that you'd remember that....I worked in the City County building on the top floor, and while the nest wasn't at my window (it was above the window of a coworker 2 cubicles down from me) they would often land on my ledge before going to the nest, and would often just sit on my ledge and relax (and pose for news photos). That is the honest truth! Now people are going to start wondering if this could really happen twice to the same guy! haha.....Whats even funnier is that I hadn't even thought about or remembered that before your post, so now that you mention it I should know that birds of prey AREN"T that rare in cities! haha. But those were falcons and weren't trying to eat my pets, so it just didn't click. But what are the odds of you remembering a story from 12 years ago (about), telling me about it, and me being part of that story (sort of...my office was). Pretty cool, as an aside. Just had to throw that in, though i prob should have done it as a PM since its not related to this thread really.

 

[erock]

Thanks for the story and the responses, need to beef up security on for the little ladies.

 

[halo]

Arent they gorgeous!!! Ive lost a couple of youngsters to hawks, and don't begrudge them one tiny bit. They can only get at them if I don't protect my chickens enough. Ive only lost a couple, mostly youngsters that somehow got out of the pens. Ive never had a hawk get into a pen, but I have chain link dog kennels with hardware cloth across the top and lining the bottom 4 foot. I will admit I really enjoy seeing them when they come in close for a look-see.

I did oddly enough have a hawk corner one of my guineas and try to get him...poor hawk got an ass-whoopin.......I dont think he'll try that one again.

 

[obchix]

Yep.. we have red tailed and Coopers hawks quite often. One of them ate a pullet straight through the brooder she was in. Kinda gross but made us reinforce the coop. We are in very urban SD and there is a hawk that has had her nest in a big tree for years...

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Oh the suspence I thought I was in a movie I was saying out loud to myself WHAT WAS IT? HURRY YOUR KILLING ME. Good narration Enjoyed your story hope the gobblers stay safe sounds like your ontop of predator protecting them Good luck to ya.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
That's pretty cool. Those hawks moved onto the Radisson sign for a while and they couldn't upgrade the sign in a timely manner due to the nestlings

Sorry you lost an hour's pay, but I did warn you it was long LOL. It was an excellent adventure. I saw her a couple of weeks ago as I gardened. I dearly love it when she flies overhead. My birds have plenty of cover though

 

[JROOSTER]

Hey I have an idea. Go take some pics so we can see your coop and your turks!!!

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Oh yes they will be back for one. Two they always hunt in pairs! I'm out in the middle of nowhere & have never seen them hunt single. We lost more chickens to hawks living in downtown Phoenix that we have ever lost out here. (knock on wood) We hung cd's in our trees, and put mirror pieces on the ground shiny side up to help. But the only sure way of them not getting your turkeys COVER THAT COOP!! You also have to worry about another predator worse than a turkey living in the city, and that is CATS!!! They will get your babies and quickly too!
GOOD LUCK!!

Have a question though. How are you going to keep the turkeys quiet when they start gobbling? Ours (we have 4) started gobbling around 4 months of age. Are you allowed to have em in the city? Just wondering cuz I'd be worried my neighbors would complain.