Hawks

My DH and I have a sunroom that overlooks our birdfeeders and pond allowing us the pleasure of watching the antics of many species of birds, squirrels and chimpmunks. We share our birdseed with all creatures, sometimes even deer and raccoons. But the hawks have recently begun using our feeders as bait. I have no real desire to harm the hawks, but is there something one can use to deter them? I was wondering if one of those big plastic owls would work. Last week a hawk flew in despite me and my dogs sitting outside and bounced on an unsuspecting morning dove. In the blink of an eye there was nothing left but a pile of feathers. For the past 2 days my feeders have remained untouched, even the squirrels are not visiting. Is there a solution?

It probably wouldn't hurt to try the owl.... but then again I'm not sure what else that will scare off too?? Let me see if I can find anything about keeping hawks away, and I will get back with you. It may be a little while though, need to run some errands real fast.

If the hawks have just shown up probably the best solution is to take your feeders down for a few weeks. While feeding birds is enjoyable, we have to remember that we are creating an artificial situation where birds congregate, making them more vulnerable to predators.

I think redd is right, I couldn't really find anything except the owl that has a speaker and calls out to scare away unwanted birds, but it'll probably scare away other wildlife as well. Maybe you could try to relocated your feeders and see if that helps? Not really sure what to do cb. Maybe pelletory will look at this thread and be able to help. Hope it gets better! And hopefully the Hawk will go away pretty soon, birds are moving around right now so he may not stay very long.

Teresa, removing the feeders for a bit works for a while, but when you put them back eventually the hawk will find the site again. We have a mated pair in the tree line behind the house and they occasionally use the yard as a feeding ground. It seems to go in cycles, though. It is a hard thing to watch, but sometimes nature is hard. :(

Barb

I've seen hawks flew overhead with their captive prey in their stalons during my walks. Just now this brave thing landed near by my feeder. I intentionally walk toward it. It just stood there and looked at me. I kept walking closer and made gestures to scare it off. It finally flew off, but I'm sure it will return soon or later.

Yeah, sometimes you do have to let nature take it's course even though we hate the nasty side of it. Maybe you could do what Lily did, and just walk towards it to intimidate it and maybe enough of times of doing that it will get annoyed and go somewhere else? I noticed that we have had a hawk around for about a month, and we have had about 6 cottontail rabbits that have been here for a couple of years.... and we haven't seen any of them the past week. I think the Kite's have ran him off though because I've seen them fighting when they're flying and the other day the hawk was screeching and making a very loud call, and I seen him fly straight down into some trees, and I have'nt seen or heard the hawk since. So hopefully he is just making a rounds so to speak and will leave shortly. He was actually looking at my dog beside me in this picture.

Anyone here recognizes what kind of Hawk mine is? If not I'll go to the Identification Forum with it pictures. Thanks Teresa, thanks Red for you input as well.


This message was edited Aug 20, 2009 4:18 PM

Lily, I could be wrong, but I think that your hawk is an adult red shouldered hawk. My little hawk was a juvie. Here is a picture at this website, see what you think? www.pbase.com/dadas115/image/78233921

So times the become a problem and you may want to remove your feeders. On the other hand they may only visit occasionally so as not to be much of a problem. Despite a high hawk population where I live and often coming by and perching, they only grab prey less than a dozen times a year in my yard.

It is a part of the ecological system of checks and balances.

I have to agree with Barb on this one.

The best thing you can do is to make sure there is cover (shrubs) close by so the birds can dive in for protection from the hawk.

I appreciate everyones' suggestions. Because we live near wooded areas, the hawks are never totally gone so I don't think removing the feeders would help. It's really a shame cause there is a great deal of pleasure in watching the birds, squirrels and chipmunks all feasting together. We are fortunate to have 3 types of squirrels, small red-tailed, gray, and black. They are very interesting to watch, even though they do eat a lot and occasionally trash the feeders. As I mentioned before, I just hate the feeling that the hawks view my feeders as bait. There used to be several crows that announced the hawks' presence and would chase them away, but they aren't here this year. The blue jays try, but although they make a heap of noise and most of the critters scatter, they don't appear to be a deterrent.

Thank you, Teresa for identifying the hawk. Thanks cbwinters for your thread, thanks to Red, and Pelle, and Barb as well as cb for sharing your knowledge/observation of those wonderful wildlife out there with me/others.

cb, Do you have Blue Jays and Grackles? Their usually very good at sending out alarm calls. There are also smaller birds that do this.

I've learned to imitate the alarm call that the Titmouse make. If I manage to see it first (not often), I sound the alarm and the birds hit the bush. I don't know if squirrels pay attention to that. We've had hawks take sparrows in winter just a few feet from as well. I walk my four pound Chihuahua on a leash inside the fenced yard for just this reason.

Folks, congregating birds near feeders for personal pleasure is not nature's course, it's interference with the balance of nature.

One thing that goes without saying is that feeders should be located near cover for the feeding birds, providing them a quick shelter. The thicker the bush, the better. I used to have a Sharp-shin that stalked a feeder at my old house, but it was right beside a huge bush. He would get so frustrated that he couldn't run the birds out that sometimes he would fly into the brush to flush them. But that allowed them a quick escape to some cedars while he was entangled in the thick branches.

We had a young Cooper's hawk do this as well. All of our feeders are right next to shrubs and this poor little guy couldn't figure out how to get at the cardinals. He would make sounds almost like crying (begging calls, I guess). He did try to go in after them a few times. I don't feel bad if they get a few because I keep in mind that they have to eat as well. I certainly don't miss a few doves here or there. I just hate it when they get the Towhees.

BTW, the sparrow wasn't at a feeder. This particular hawk hung around for about a month and had a brilliant plan of attack. He would slip into a pine tree with the setting sun behind him. The sparrows would forage in the grass directly east of him and they never saw him coming. He got several, but we were only close witnesses for the one. Like a jet racing past your head - definitely something I'll never forget.

I have some 33 day old bluebird fledglings that have just begun to come to the meal worm feeder that I keep on the deck behind the house. I was gone all day yesterday but returned before dark in time to put some worms out. A feeding frenzy ensued with juvenile bluebirds, song sparrows and others fluttering around.

Suddenly I realized the birds were gone. All except two of the bluebird fledglings. They sat as if frozen, staring up toward the trees. After a minute or two I looked up to see what they were looking at. It was a hawk in the top of a dead oak, about 100 feet away.

I wanted to go out and scare the hawk off, but knew if I opened the back door, the fledglings would fly and I would not be able to protect them. I went out the front door, and around the house and took the picture you see here. The hawk eventually saw me and flew. When I came back inside the fledglings were just as they had been. In fact, they stayed that way for several more minutes, until the bluebird adults showed up.

A Cooper's hawk has been stalking around here for most of this morning. I knew something was amuck when I was drinking my morning coffee and there were no birds to enjoy at the feeders (I've got three). I heard the bluejays chattering loudly at one time, then for several hours afterward, there was nothing - silence and birds out-of-sight. Then I saw a large flying shadow on the sunny ground outside my window and went out to investigate - there sat a Cooper's hawk up in the top of an oak tree over one of the feeders. I walked to the tree clapping my hands loudly, and, of course he just flew to a nearby tree. I didn't put any more effort in trying to scare him off after that. It's like several have already mentioned - the hawk has to eat, too, and we really are interfering with nature like reddirtretiree said. But, a lot of good tips have been posted on this thread. And, the birds finally returned a few hours ago, so I guess Mr./Mrs. Hawk finally found a meal and/or moved on to another neighborhood!

One time I was out on Boone Pickens' Mesa Vista Ranch walking transect lines to measure quail densities for an OSU quail research project and observed a Cooper's Hawk harassing a covey of quail that had taken shelter in a sand-plum thicket. He hovered right over it, beating the top growth with his wings, but the bobs held tight. He did this several times before diving down onto the ground. The bobs flushed and I moved on. I'm sure with them scattered out on open ground he managed to bag a bird.

Quail studies have shown that feeders are a neutral game management practice. While they may provide food during icy, cold weather, the fact that they congregate the birds for predators offsets the benefits of feeding.

Yes, Pelletory, we have lots of Blue Jays and in the early summer way too many Grackles. There are lots of bushes where the birds can hide, but I have twice seen a hawk fly directly into these bushes. In the past there were 3 or 4 American Crows that would dog any hawks that came in the area. I am pleased to see that I am not the only person that has attempted to shoo a hawk by imitating another bird. In my case it is the crow. Needless to say, this provides my husband with a good laugh. But the hawks seem to be getting harder to intimidate. I am well aware of the animal food cycle, but what's that they say? Not in my yard. Oh, accept the moles. The hawks are welcome to all the moles they want. Now if I could just get the cranes to stop eating my koi and goldfish out of the pond!