Phew! A Close Call.

[Guest Vic]

Iv'e just had a lucky escape, with a hawk attack! I came out of the loft after noticing that my birds were uneasy. Quick as a flash!  the hawk was about six feet from me, amongst the birds, which tippled into the loft at breakneck speed. I clapped my hands loudly and it turned tail without making a strike. Four of my birds went up with it. I normally leave my birds out, but this attack has got me thinking. Guns are usually the problem in this area, not hawks. I know some of you guys have hawk problems, so I want some advice please. Do you think it will return after being frightened away? Vic

[Wiley]

was speaking to a member of this site on msn vic just now and he said that if a hawk finds your loft they certainly will keep on returning but not sure if its been scared away

[ALF]

NOW HOW YOU FEEL VIC I'M GETTING HIT BY THE HAWK ALMOST DAILY JUST NOW ASWELL AND HAVE TO BE QUICK WHILE I CLEAN OUT EVERY MORNING WHILST THE DOOS ARE STILL FLYING SO I CAN STAND OUT AND WATCH THEM ONCE THEY LAND

[stevebelbin]

Mesh box 1m square with a clear sheet of glass on top with a pigeon in, you know a settling cage (wink wink nudge nudge LOL)  ;D

[Guest]

: keep them in for at least 2 weeks would be my option Vic . i often wait until my neighbour has his birds out prior to new season b4 i let mine out , hes closer the birds of prey than me , and they eat at his loft b4 mine?? andy  

[westy]

it migth do i had a hawk come down and i punched it away as it flew into me had them out the next day and they were okay.

[Guest]

Members have said that the hawk always resturns next day same time. Would be keeping them in for one day at least, both to settle birds and deny second chance.

 

On deterrents: shiny reflectors, CDs, hanging along front of the loft are known to work, and most recently, european eagle owl calls CD played for one hour prior to letting birds out, are said to work.

[Guest slugmonkey]

If you are in an area where guns are a problem then I would think someone could very easily accidently shoot one of these hawks

[REDCHEQHEN]

Had hawk attack Friday, two attacks on Saturday, played Eagle owl CD Sunday, Monday and today and no problems with hawk. Played CD for 20 minutes before they went out and forty minutes while they were in the air, the CD doesn't seem to bother the pigeons, there again I could just be lucky, but we haven't kept the birds in. (Thank you Tammy_1 for CD )

[Guest Vic]

Thanks for the info guys. I will be watching them from now on. Cheers, Vic.

[gangster]

were your birds on the roof or the floor if so its a sparrowhawk wont catch em if they are flying  but will sneak attack wilst they are on the ground outside the loft it will try again vic keep your eyes open...

[Jumbo]

Lost one to a perigrene on Sunday , ;D ;D ;D It has attacked three times in a week but only one bird missing . Keeping them in till the eggs they are on hatch and y/b's big enough to hand feed before letting out again , then they will have to run the gauntlet again.

[Guest Vic]

Gangster, they weren't flying when it came, they were on the loft roof and in front of the loft. I don't like keeping the obs in, when feeding big ybs. I'll just have to be more careful. Vic.

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

i lost one the other day and i thought nothing of it till i saw mrs hawk come over two days ago when they were out

[pigeonpete]

NOW HOW YOU FEEL VIC I'M GETTING HIT BY THE HAWK ALMOST DAILY JUST NOW ASWELL AND HAVE TO BE QUICK WHILE I CLEAN OUT EVERY MORNING WHILST THE DOOS ARE STILL FLYING SO I CAN STAND OUT AND WATCH THEM ONCE THEY LAND

 

me to alf :-/

 

never let your guard down vic!! she will be back! more so in the next couple of months!!

 

mite seem daft but seems to work, i always put my luminous green t-shirt on when im down my lofts, hawk always sits in the tree watching and wont come close why i have this on the last few days, but if i put my black fleece on she will strike!!

 

food for thought

 

will let you know how my trile goes over next few weeks

[pigeonpete]

up until 3 weeks ago my birds havent been out for 2 months!!

 

the hawk never forgets

 

do these eagle owl cds really work tammy?

[sapper756]

up until 3 weeks ago my birds havent been out for 2 months!!

 

the hawk never forgets

 

do these eagle owl cds really work tammy?

 

YES ESPECIALLY "HOTEL CALIFORNIA" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D SORRY!

[Guest j v ward]

have a look at  page 7 i posted on 5 feb some good info

[pigeonpete]

 

YES ESPECIALLY "HOTEL CALIFORNIA" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D SORRY!

 

;D ;D ;D

 

you should be on stage brian!!

 

 

with your brush............

[Guest j v ward]

watch the birds if they have had a bath the hawks know when to strike

[THE FIFER]

dont let ur birds out too early (HAWKS ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD) dont let them out at the same time each day (HAWKS GET TO KNOW IF U DOOO) and as the day draws in hawks are looking for food again, hawks kill to eat not for just killing.

[pigeonscout]

I have had hawks attack my birds when they were walking about my feet. There is very little that will put them of an attack. Even a blast from a shot gun will not keep them away they keep coming back.

All you can do is make a small cages out of cheese or piano wire as theses wires will not obstruct your view of the birds and will keep your birds safe.

[Bilco]

Why not use the RSPB "Recommended" system, of "taste aversion" ?

What you do is to cull a pigeon, Pluck the shoulders and back of the neck, score the flesh with a scalpel blade, and dabble some Ant Powder (from Garden Centres) into the blood. Then lay the carcase outspread wings in the garden away from dogs/cats/children's reach (on loft top is OK). The taste of the ant powder is so foul that the hawk never returns for another, so no more problems.  Seems to really put them off, forever !  Cheers.

[Guest]

I moved to this house on 10 nov started to break birds mid dec had two attacks within the week (i said the Clackmannan boys are flying the hawk system thats why i could,nt beat them before) attacks continued untill Bt came mark 4 wires with tie wraps not had a strike since touch wood now the boy 3 gardens up has stoped leting his birds out six kills in about a week noticed that the tie wraps glint in the sun a bit like cd,s hope this is what is putting the sh-- off and they retain the shinney part may be worth a try!

[Guest Vic]

I am actually surrounded by feral pigeons, some, I entice down, when the occasion suits. Perhaps this predator,(the hawk) may have realised that his prey was in another dimension.I have a continuous presence of magpies which in my mind are better than all the dangling spanglings , that some mention. Has anybody heard of hawks taking the crow family? As mentioned previously, leave well alone. I am certain this hawk job was a one off. fingers crossed.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;DVic