Perjo met Mr. Hawk today

[DRB]

And it was not planned or a pleasant meeting.

I witnessed a hawk dive bomb a tree in my backyard today, I walked back there to see it up close, heard it rustling around but didn't really see it. Other small birds took off right away. About a minute later the hawk emerged from the tree and was empty handed, IMO thankfully. It perched up on a telephone pole for a few minutes, observing the area with a keen eye.

Perjo and I were outside for the eclipse and she was in her small travel cage, locked up tight as always.

I stayed further in the back observing the hawk (don't see them up close but once a year around here) and it took off and went right for Perjo's cage. I gave a quick shout as I moved like greased lightening and the hawk pulled up about 2 feet shy of the cage and perched atop my house. I think it realized the cage was something it would not manipulate. Perjo saw it and freaked, of course. I sprayed it with a hose using the jet nozzle getting it with a pretty good volume of water, and it jus sat there completely un-phased. It got bored and flew off to a taller tree down a few houses.

It was a little scary, I've always kept my eye out for such a scenario as hawks are not uncommon near the metroparks, but pretty much figured she's not going to be taken away be such a bird of prey if she's in her locked cage. I'm just glad the hawk didn't plant it self on the cage, Perjo and I could have both been hurt.

 

[wrench13]

They are the one thing that scares me when I have Salty out in his harness. Mr. Hawk better be able to pick us both up, because I am not letting go of the leash.

 

[DRB]

Oh that hawk would have taken a beating if it came to it, the scratches I would have received would have been worth it. Just glad I don't ever take the chance and think I can let Perjo out of the cage outside for even 2 seconds.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Please bear in mind that our parrots are still vulnerable to frights and injuries from this type of encounter. I'd rather not risk it tbh. Please be very vigilant.

Even outside in a cage there is still the risk of injury if your back is turned for a short time.

 

[Katu]

That's really aggressive! We have hawks here all the time, but none like that. They are chased off by all the little birds that gang up on them. They absolutely do not hang around in the presence of humans, and would never sit still for a spraying. That's too scary to have around outside.

 

[Scott]

Fascinating encounter, glad it turned out well for you and Perjo!

Mr. Hawk's behavior seems rather aggressive from what I've heard. Two feet from the cage and presumably you is amazingly close.

Mr. Hawk probably thanked you for giving a cool shower!

 

[itzjbean]

Please bear in mind that our parrots are still vulnerable to frights and injuries from this type of encounter. I'd rather not risk it tbh. Please be very vigilant.

Even outside in a cage there is still the risk of injury if your back is turned for a short time.

Agree with this, next time please reconsider taking your bird out with you!

 

[DRB]

I was not that close to the cage when the hawk swooped in. I was about 25' away, but I covered that 25' quicker than light.

I'm not going to avoid taking Perjo outside b/c of general uncertainties of life, she is in a cage, she cannot get taken by such a bird of prey or get away. I worry more about someone walking up my driveway to take her more than anything. I will just keep a more watchful eye on the skies and the surroundings at home when I do take her out. I'm usually no further than 6-10' away from here.

My guess is the hawk knew she was a bird that could be had, but wasn't sure what that goofy looking contraption we call a cage was. Once the hawk got close I think it realized the task at hand was too cumbersome especially with a loud screaming human running toward it. I'm more surprised it didn't feel bothered by the hose, I was putting a decent amount of water on it from 15' away. Actually expected it to come down to attack me.

 

[texsize]

I am glad Perjo is ok. I think that would have been enough to give my Bella a heart attack

 

[DRB]

Oh Perjo freaked. Let out a loud squaking cry and was unsure of what was going on until I got next to her.

 

[SailBoat]

Bad news in our area, this is now the third year that the High Speed-turning training area in the Southeast corner of our home has seen large families of Red Tail Hawks working with their young. This year we saw five families working with their young. Smallest family was three young and all very healthy fledglings.

 

[Flboy]

I'm so glad this Just an oh wow adventure!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I've seen a couple hawks around here..a couple summers ago one dive-bombed into a large bush right in front of my house trying to make off with a little sparrow. My then girl friend saw and heard it crash into my living room window,she opened the front door in time to scare it away and save that little birdie...big b***s that red tail had!






Jim

 

[SailBoat]

I've seen a couple hawks around here..a couple summers ago one dive-bombed into a large bush right in front of my house trying to make off with a little sparrow. My then girl friend saw and heard it crash into my living room window,she opened the front door in time to scare it away and save that little birdie...big b***s that red tail had! Jim

An Adult Red Tail Hawk attacking a little sparrow would be near unheard of, more likely a yearling. But even a yearling is a sizeable Bird. The smaller birds that normally fly our area left four weeks ago and will likely not return until September. The daily visits by the different Hawk families quickly cause the smart birds to find another area until the area becomes safer.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I've seen a couple hawks around here..a couple summers ago one dive-bombed into a large bush right in front of my house trying to make off with a little sparrow. My then girl friend saw and heard it crash into my living room window,she opened the front door in time to scare it away and save that little birdie...big b***s that red tail had! Jim

An Adult Red Tail Hawk attacking a little sparrow would be near unheard of, more likely a yearling. But even a yearling is a sizeable Bird. The smaller birds that normally fly our area left four weeks ago and will likely not return until September. The daily visits by the different Hawk families quickly cause the smart birds to find another area until the area becomes safer.

A few days prior,the hawk was perched on a telephone pole across the street...I saw it take off and glide into my neighbors shrubs,directly across the street from me...and it was trying to make off with the old ladies POODLE The dog was able to scamper into the doggie door back in the house before it got attacked...after the sparrow incident, across the street from me is a large open cemetary with a couple large,sparsly spaced tree's,and a week or so after,I saw TWO perched at the top of the tree..so I concur with you Steven, prolly two youngsters honing their attack methods :19:


Jim

 

[DRB]

I'm no expert on hawks but this one was not that big yesterday, much bigger than Perjo and it's still a hawk but not so big it could carry away anything more than a chipmunk or a small bird or a kitten.

My biggest concern if Perjo ever got away would be the hawks in this area do the the metroparks and the proximity to the metroparks that I live. Perjo could easily find her way to the metroparks within a a couple hours if she was scared and looking for refuge. There she wouldn't last a day with the wildlife down there.

 

[DRB]

Here is the hawk on the pole

 

[texsize]

They are beautiful and majestic. I just wish they would stick to rabbits, digger squirrels, and other land based animals. Don't like to see other birds getting attacked and eaten.

 

[SailBoat]

They are beautiful and majestic. I just wish they would stick to rabbits, digger squirrels, and other land based animals. Don't like to see other birds getting attacked and eaten.

Adult Red Tailed Hawks are not mid to small bird hunters. They go after 'land based animals' with rabbits being a favorite, but they would not pass-up a squirrel either.

Yearlings common go after smaller birds, once they get a bit larger they transition to pigeons and then onto smaller 'land based animals.' As their second Summer begins, they quickly begin targeting young rabbits as their populations expand rapidly.

Small dogs are commonly the target of very healthy second year Hawks, but more likely an Adult will be successful! A healthy Adult would consider a cat a promising target and likely be successful at the kill, breaking the neck at the moment of attack.

Point being, our DYH Amazon does not have outside, in the open, on his dance card!

 

[DRB]

They are beautiful and majestic. I just wish they would stick to rabbits, digger squirrels, and other land based animals. Don't like to see other birds getting attacked and eaten.

I love such birds, gorgeous species, but if it's the hawk or my Perjo I wouldn't hesitate and whatever happened to the hawk happens to the hawk. My dreamhouse in my neck of the woods is on the edge of the Metroparks. It has a huge second level deck that would be incredible place for a permanent outdoor cage. BUT I would probably make it a double enclosure just b/c of the fact it sits on the edge of a mini wilderness with such hazards.