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Topic: What Can I Do About a Hawk Eating Its Lunch in My Yard?  (Read 826 times)

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Hojoman

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January 18, 2019

Question: How can we discourage hawks from eating their prey in our backyard? Two days ago we watched a hawk eat a dove, making a huge mess everywhere. It came back today with a different bird, leaving a bloody mess and two feet behind. Is there a way to properly haze them or otherwise shoo them away? (Tierney)

Answer: It sounds like the raptor is just doing what raptors naturally do. If it’s not causing harm or damage to your property (other than just making a mess), one could argue that this is a rare opportunity to watch nature at work, up close, in your own backyard – in this case, predator/prey dynamics.

If you really find the front-row view bothersome, you may be able to discourage the raptor from coming into your yard to eat its prey by putting up a plastic owl figure or placing reflective ribbons along your fence line, similar to deterrent techniques used in agricultural operations. If you’re currently using a bird feeder, take it down, as bird feeders will attract the smaller birds that are a common source of prey for some hawks.

Understand it’s a trade-off: if you do these things, you’ll also discourage other birds from coming into your yard.


crash

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Take a picture cuz it’s f’ing awesome?
"SCIENCE SUCKS" - bmb


NowhereMan

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Wait until it brings a fish, then chase it away...
Born in Arizona
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Dale L

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Take a picture cuz it’s f’ing awesome?

Years ago, woke made coffee and sat and watched a hawk eat a dove on our back lawn, pretty cool but only happened once.


crash

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Take a picture cuz it’s f’ing awesome?

Years ago, woke made coffee and sat and watched a hawk eat a dove on our back lawn, pretty cool but only happened once.


I had a pigeon problem at my office last year. I took extreme measures that I won’t discuss on an open forum to rid myself of the winged rats. One evening last spring I walked outside at dusk and a hawk had a pigeon in its talons having its way. It was awesome. The hawk, with prey, flew off to parts unknown. Ever since that hawk showed up I haven’t had a pigeon problem at all.

I’m a fan of team hawk.
"SCIENCE SUCKS" - bmb


Lir

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Yeah .. I'm going with the Hawk ... Had one two years back I our yard..yes ....it was frikken awesome  :smt044


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Had a Kestrel in my backyard and a Barn Owl in my front yard.
Both very cool birds. I also get Hooded Orioles nesting in my palm trees every year as well.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2019, 08:44:21 AM by Cabeza de Martillo »
Pronounced in Spanish  ka·be·za de mar·t·yo
Translates to Hammerhead in English for my Gringo amigos.
....and yes that's me with a 6ft. green moray in the avatar.

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Teach him how to spearfish and he'll feed you for a lifetime" - Cabeza de Martillo

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Malibu_Two

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Who wrote this question? What kind of person wouldn't want a hawk around? Beautiful birds and natural rodent control.
May the fish be mighty and the seas be meek...


DrDave

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Among the great raptor viewing experiences I have been fortunate to see firsthand was one involving a falcon. He hung around a tree above a large bush about thirty yards from my front window of my home. He would always chase birds who hunkered down in the bush. One day I glanced out our large plate glass window, and called out to a family who was visiting, “check out our falcon chasing this scrub jay”. Just as I said that the jay flew right to the window with the falcon in hot pursuit. It was like watching one of those great documentaries on birds of prey. We all watched as the jay jetted toward us and the talons of the falcon spread as he got closer to the window. I called out, “wow”, which got the attention of the young daughter. The young girl looked up at the last minute as the jay ran out of room and hit the glass with an alarmingly loud thud inches from our faces. The falcon pulled up at the last second missing the window and the jay. The jay’s lifeless body dropped off the window onto the porch deck. I was so excited to see such a beautiful natural hunt that I was unaware for the moment that our friends daughter was mortified by the event. She is now much older and is still a wonderful animal lover despite getting natures lesson firsthand.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2019, 08:55:08 AM by DrDave »
“This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson


rockfish

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You can enjoy the sight of nature at its finest.
Less Mental than before, Still savage AF tho <3

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wormguy

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Yeah .. I'm going with the Hawk ... Had one two years back I our yard..yes ....it was frikken awesome  :smt044

Maybe it will come back and take care of your Turtle problem
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