Hifly11
58 posts
Jul 18, 2009
9:39 AM
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Yesterday a cooper got one of my best breeders. This mourning Mr. Cooper came back and got the best young roller I have ever had (first Ruby I raised)He flew high and rolled alot.My other rollers (mostly loosers) would just sit on the coop and watch him perform. I was so excited to see him fly so good. I thought I would breed from him one day.
Iam just a back yard flyer with only ten birds so loosing two like this so close together really hurts.It just makes me sick to my stomach.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1220 posts
Jul 18, 2009
10:02 AM
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Hifly, It's to late but never fly a bird you can not afford to lose. I was hardheaded and insisted on flying the best bird I had ever raised, also a Ruby. Luckily for me a very experienced roller man talked me out of flying the bird. Shortly after that, I got hit by a Cooper's hawk and lost three very quickly, but I still have that bird.
Go into lock down for a while. I know it hurts not to fly but you can not just feed them to that Cooper. I feel for your lose. :(
Thom
Last Edited by on Jul 18, 2009 10:03 AM
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steve49
93 posts
Jul 18, 2009
11:32 AM
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sorry about your loss. even if i had 500, losing any bird that you had hopes for sux.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Hifly11
59 posts
Jul 18, 2009
11:54 AM
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Your rite Thom, and I know better. Lucky for me I still have the parrents and they are on eggs now so I will have more.
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1222 posts
Jul 18, 2009
12:00 PM
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Good for you Hifly, after a loss it's scary the next time out but they have to fly. Try to change up on when you fly and even how many you fly. Smaller groups are noticed less and if an over fly is caused by a B.O.P. attack you won't lose them all.
The best of luck!
Thom
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RodSD
292 posts
Jul 19, 2009
12:45 AM
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For the last 3 releases of my rollers, all of them got attacked and every attack I have missing rollers. They came back, but now I have one missing bird that just came out today for the very first time. I only have 6 rollers so I know the pain you are going thru. I was in a lock down for 2 days hoping that this hawk will leave, but it didn't.
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Squabby*32
55 posts
Jul 19, 2009
1:07 AM
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Today, a few of us in the Northern Cali area got together for a little while to watch one kit fly. A few of us feel lucky to not have the BOP's attack us everytime we fly as they do in a lot of other areas. Have you tried to lock them up for any other length of time after an attack? That might work unless others in your area will be flying during that time because the BOP's will probably stick around since he will still have pigeons in the air to eat. If there are other flyers, maybe you guys can get together and work out a lock up plan that might help drive the BOP away. I feel for your loss of birds. Good luck in your future releases.
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DJJeffman Spinners
ATAPWGIYAHTLY
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2009 1:08 AM
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1229 posts
Jul 19, 2009
4:09 AM
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Rod, Two days was not enough time. After a B.O.P. finds you it will cruse by just to check for birds. I watch for at least a week and sometimes longer until I stop seeing it or them. Watch in the morning or evening, afternoon is the safest for me but I still get hit even then.
Thom
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RodSD
293 posts
Jul 19, 2009
11:56 PM
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Thom, DJJeffman,
Thanks for the advice. I've done the week thing, the month thing and it is almost the same. I am in the middle of 2 nesting sites (one is on the west side and the other is on the east). The tree on my neighbor which happened to be my north is their roosting spot. This tree overlooks my loft. They roost on that tree every sunset. They never leave because this is their territory. These birds get my homers as well especially the white ones.
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brudahpete
472 posts
Jul 20, 2009
8:06 AM
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Thank heavens that there are only 2 rollerguys within 70 + miles of me! Not so many BOP problems here, just occasionally.
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http://www.freewebs.com/brudahpete/
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lew3015
26 posts
Jul 20, 2009
2:04 PM
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I Know just what you mean, today one of my little jac babies out flew a coopers hawk, I thought for sure he was a goner, but he out flew the hawk, just when the birds are flying coming into the roll here comes Mr Cooper and than lock down, takes the fun out.
Lew
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
97 posts
Jul 20, 2009
4:01 PM
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I lost 2 in two days after saying that I havent seen A BOP all year then yesterday a red tail carried the 3rd bird away but in came back with a limp and no tail feathers so I am in lock down and saw mr sharp shin cruze by looking but i covered all my fly pens and it's so hard to do but they are locked in Dennis
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DeepSpinLofts
1512 posts
Jul 20, 2009
5:06 PM
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Rolling pigeons gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience they have flying together as a kit (a unit). The more time they spend flying as a unit, the more aware they become of the BOP lurking out there.
There is little we can do once these magnificent birds are released into the air. Most of us who fly pigeons have lost some to predators. We must remember that the BOP have the edge whenever he/she observes any signs of weakness; which often can be a nervous stragler flying off all by themself away from the unit.
In conclusion let me add that you must do the things which you feel can make your family of rollers better aerial performers. Locking them down from time to time may actually be a necessity for their survival.
Marcus
Deep Spin Lofts
Last Edited by on Jul 20, 2009 5:20 PM
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Hifly11
60 posts
Jul 21, 2009
10:14 AM
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We must share our knowlege about the BOPs.First, I have been hit in the evening hours. Second, It is usually a squeker or a inexperienced bird.Third,If Iam out in the yard near the coop they seem to stay away (I think they are watching from the trees). If I go into the house for a while and the the hawk is around that is when he hits my birds.Fourth, a cooper or sharpie is cunning and will sit and wait for the best time to hit. They are sneaky hunters.Fith,I seem to loose more adult hens than adult cocks.I don't know why, could be they go after the smaller bird.
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