nicksiders
GOLD MEMBER
3401 posts
Apr 27, 2009
11:15 AM
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As I enter my 4th year at this address my birds are learning who to give respect to and who they can ignore with just a little observance or caution. The Cooper hawk they respect dearly and give a lot of creedence to, along with the smattering of falcons; Red Shoulder hawks; and Sharpe Shinned hawks. Since I have been here a pair of Red Tail hawks always takes up residence near by and my birds have grown accustome to the pair sorring about. Over time they have learned to pay little heed to thier presents and they have often heard me tell them that if they are caught by the Red Tail they would have been culled anyway. I have often told my birds you have to be flat ass dumb to be nailed by the Red Tail and they have grown to believe it.
A couple of days ago was a case in point of thier disrespect for the Red Tails. The kit had just landed and was taking a few moments to catch thier breath; talk a few things over; have a smoke; and generally relax before interring the kitbox. The local Red Tail desided to try his luck on them and drew a bead on the center bird setting in a line across the the roof line. The center bird picked up on his attempt and waited until the big clumsy Red Tail lowered his landing gear to snatch him. The middle bird just simply dove forward and down underneath the approaching hostle. The six or seven birds on the left just leaned to the left simontaniously and the six or seven birds on the right did the same; leaning to the right in one simontanious move. No panic; no concern. The targeted bird followed the Red Tail back to the same spot it started from. The clumsy hawk kinda smacked the top of the kitbox at the precise location the target bird was at just a split second before. Nobody flew away and all of them went back to smoking and talking things over as if nothing had happened.
The only response I heard from the hawk was the word "shit" mumbled under his breath. He quickly gained altitude and began his sorring about, looking for other prey that was more suitable.
He got no respect.
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Just My Take On Things
Nick Siders
Last Edited by on Apr 27, 2009 6:43 PM
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fresnobirdman
566 posts
Apr 27, 2009
1:37 PM
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red tails are more dangerous than coopers,
when a redtail dives, you dont know whats in store for you,
i wish i have a clip of redtails and my birds,
red tails to me are a bigger version of peregrines.
-fou
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Snake Doctor
GOLD MEMBER
382 posts
Apr 27, 2009
4:34 PM
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I'm with you Nick, Red Tails never make an effort and my birds seem to know the difference between them and the Coopers and Sharpe Shins which almost never miss.
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"Semper Fi"
SD
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LittleJohn
93 posts
Apr 27, 2009
5:15 PM
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So far this year I have lost one to a sharp shinned and one to a coopers. Redtails often fly above my kit, but haven't offered any trouble as of yet.
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Bill C
334 posts
Apr 27, 2009
8:24 PM
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The redtails are pretty mellow here too. They do dive at the birds for fun but as of yet have never gotten to taste one yet. Knock Knock! They are my frineds because when they are around the coopers hide or leave.
I have had several guys who said that once they learn to catch roller they are ruthless. So all those attempts that have failed might just be perfecting the strategy.
Nice way to put it Nick, but tell those rollers they should be smoking in the sky not on the loft. BIllC
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pacos bill
96 posts
Apr 28, 2009
3:27 PM
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Nick Great Post, Most Redtails are slow and not to agressive, but I have lost a couple to the big clods
PACOS BILL
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fhtfire
1905 posts
Apr 28, 2009
5:28 PM
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My Red tails....that live close to my house....are my best friends...they never bother my birds and they chase off the Coopers....last year a Cooper tried to steal a young red tail out of the nest....when he got his ass whoopped by mom and dad red tail.....so I am so excited when they come back in Jan-Feb...then my Coopers days are over.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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yellowking
35 posts
Apr 28, 2009
8:55 PM
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In my case, I also have a verity of these things. I have kestrels, red tail, bald eagles, red shoulder hawks, coopers, sharp shinned, sparrow hawk, and northern harrier. So far no falcons yet.
The eagles, red tail, and kestrels don’t bother my birds at all. I have had red shoulder hawk try to chase my birds before but failed every time.
Once a northern harrier tried his chance, he did spook the birds and got a hold of one of my homer but he lost grip.
The cooper, and sparrow hawk have both had there share of taking my birds.
I think the worst of all is those damn sharp shinned hawk. They are small but those females are just about the same size of your rollers. I have a pair that had just moved into the neighborhood. Every time I fly, my birds will get chased. Lost 4 birds already to them. All I can do now is lock down and see if they move on. But it seems they are here to stay. My neighbors are bird lovers and they feed song birds year round. This provides the hawks a steady supply of food, so I don’t think they are going to be leaving. I even saw them mating and feeding each other the other day.
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Yellow
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