I did not know it when I relocated here, but this area is a migratory fly-way for many raptor breeds. There is an annual hawk count done, as the birds fly across Cape May, NJ towards Lewes, DE.
https://njaudubon.org/cape-may-hawkwatch-september-1-15-2023/
I see hawks soaring above daily, mostly resident Redtails, some Coopers, but Coopers don't really soar, they jet around fast. In August I see more varieties then in Sept. & Oct. I see several breeds & sizes of hawks daily, scoping out my flock for a meal. A few of my pigeons have been chased, some injured, but I was able to tend to them, stitch up skin sliced by talons or set up broken legs to heal. I've been fortunate, they all survived. Of course there are some occasions that a pigeon will go out to fly & not return home by dusk. Most times they'll be home the following day or 2, even if injured. But a couple never were seen again. I can only guess at what happened. One pigeon returned the following Spring, totally healthy. I suspect he spent the winter in someone else's pigeon loft. Another hen came back home 4 mos.later, with a new mate following, his leg band was from upstate NY.
Anyway, there are times a hawk may be very hungry & weak. They try to get to the pigeons but can't. Some I have simply scooped up with a towel. A hawk will try to fly away from you, but if cornered or hung up, they don't even fight, they sort of just freeze up, eyes wide, beak open, but they aren't playing dead, they're just very frightened. If they aren't able to hunt & they miss a few meals, they can become very weak. I can take them up to the bird rescue, they're set up for raptors there. I buy a stead for the hawk to eat during the ride & they do chow down while I drive them up there. I use a large carrier. A friend of mine is into falconry, so sometimes he will foster a hawk for awhile. Depending upon the breed, it can be very easy to bond with them & become a hunting team. Rabbits, rodents or wild ducks...that's what he told me they catch mostly.
I surely do not want to lose any of my flock, but I do understand they need to eat & unfortunately they are not omnivores or vegetarians. Sometimes we can take all of the best precautions, but a skilled hunter won't miss many meals, as life depends upon it. I just do my best to provide a safe habitat for everyone & I do like nature. I've photographed & sketched many hawks visiting.
I've heard enough sad stories from others, most of the deadly & gory tales involved raccoons. At least the hawks only hunt to eat. Raccoons are known to kill every single bird in the enclosure they break into...20 or 30 birds! They may eat one bird, but the rest are killed just to kill. I say gory because they told me the inside of the coop or loft looked like a blood explosion had occurred, blood Everywhere, and all birds were dead, heads were ripped off, too. Gory!
I can wave off a hawk attack, I've done it many times. They like early mornings & before dusk attacks. The raccoons prefer the cover of night while we are all asleep. Hawks can be deadly but those raccoons are deadly, sneaky, gory, thrill killers. I've had a few hawks fly into the pigeon loft hallway. I Never want a raccoon getting into Any enclosures here, loft, coop, shed or house. Miniature bears!
