Safety Question: Is he safe from hawks and crows while on shoulder outdoors?

[WannaBeAParrot]

There are all kinds of critters flying and funning around where we are vacationing in rural upstate New York mountains -- lots of black crows and, I imagine, hawks, owls, etc.

If Pritti is on my shoulder, should I consider him he safe from a predatory bird swooping down to get him off me. Do they go after solo "helpless" looking birds and hopefully avoide getting involved with an adult human with a cherry-head size conure on shoulder?

I don't have this issue to be worried about where I live.

Thanks everyone.

 

[MonicaMc]

Short answer is no. I have heard of birds of prey swooping down and picking up larger birds than a conure from a persons shoulder - or going after a large parrot on a stand or on/in a cage outside as the human stands/sits nearby.

There are always risks. Wooden toys should be relatively safe as parrots chew them down, but one bird might end up swallowing the wood and getting a sliver stuck in his or her throat. That doesn't mean that wood toys are a danger to all parrots, but there's always that possibility.

We can't wrap them up in a bubble and expect them to be healthy and happy. We just have to do the best we can with what we have.

 

[DannyA93]

Ya i wouldn't take pritti outside at all if you have all those threats! i saw on youtube they were doing a bird show at the zoo and a falcon took a diver at the cockatoo that was on the zookeepers ARM! luckily she saw it coming in time and cradled the bird instantly and the falcon hit her instead D= i imagine those huge talons hurt like hell!! Very scary! i would just keep him inside while your vacationing) or just be VERY very alert when outside with him. (hawks and such dive at a super fast speed, i think some can reach up to 100mph)

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Thanks. Wow. I've had his vacation outside with him in it right in front of me. And, I've taken him shouldered on the other side of the sliding glass door but stood right up next to it under the overhang. He just looks like around like kid in Disney World for the first time. I'd love to take him out for a walk, but NO WAY after hearing this. Those big birds are pretty fearless and nervy it sounds like. I just assumed they'd stay away from a critter as large as an adult human on the move. Well, Pritti will keep enjoying the outdoors from the safety of the screened room.

 

[BillsBirds]

I have always trained some of my birds to accompany me on my walks outside. Hawks, etc. are a constant danger. I have never lost any birds to this. But, more than once I've noticed the hawks interested in my birds. One time a hawk began to stoop (dive down to pounce) and I put my beloved Bella (lovebird) inside my shirt, and waved my cane in the air. That made the hawk veer away. You can bring your birds out with you, but, keep a vigilant eye out. I also have a screened in patio. And my birds go out there on their perches. I have noticed hawks circling above, but, the screening seems to dissuade them. Although, I know of one African Grey that was on a perch, close to screening, and a hawk went through the screen, and grabbed the bird! The Greys guardian was there, and reacted quickly enough to grab and save the Grey. But, the hawk was not giving up without a fight. And my friend received several scratches from the hawk. The Grey went right to the vet, and was okay. But, that was a VERY close call. Remember, as their guardians, WE are responsible for our birds' safety. The raptors are only doing what is natural to them. And can swoop down very fast, and before you realize it, catastrophe! You may not even see them up in the sky. But they can see you. And your bird.

 

[OtterKin]

I just went and found that video. SCARY!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDpYwDKQ_A]Bird of Prey Attacks Cockatoo - YouTube[/ame]

 

[DannyA93]

I just went and found that video. SCARY!
Bird of Prey Attacks Cockatoo - YouTube

It was this video!!!

 

[MonicaMc]

In regards to that video, that was not a wild bird of prey attacking the trainer... that was one of the show birds that had somehow escaped from his temporary cage prior to *his* (her?) entrance into the show. In short, that is not an accurate depiction of what wild birds of prey are like... but yes, a hungry bird is still a hungry bird. It's not typical for them to do it, but if hungry enough, they will.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13XmlniLKd4]Charlie Flying Outside - YouTube[/ame]

 

[DannyA93]

Yes exactly but he's still a bird of prey and not domesticated so he will act wild either way Its still scary that a bird that is well taken care of will do that imagine a starving hawk in the wild!!

 

[MonicaMc]

I think my point was missed... Yes, he's a bird of prey, but he's *accustomed* to humans. That is, he's not afraid of humans and doesn't have that caution that *WILD* birds have. He's *trained* to fly to people, not away from them.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Although, I know of one African Grey that was on a perch, close to screening, and a hawk went through the screen, and grabbed the bird!

Sounds like a horror movie scene where no one or no bird is safe.

 

[DebsFlock]

I think it is relatively unlikely that a wild hawk would take a bird of a person's shoulder, but not impossible. I've heard anecdotes of it happening, but they always happened to a friend of someone someone knew... and I've never seen it documented. I would not count the bird in the video, since it was well habituated to humans.

 

[Mare Miller]

Hawks fly our area quite often and although I've seen them zone in on Amigo, they stear clear. I think because he may be a threat to them! There was one time when a hawk stationed himself on an antenna, on our garage roof, checking Amigo out, Amigo yelling at him the whole time, this was one BOLD hawk! As soon as I stepped outside, The hawk flew off. Moral of this story being, I scared him away. I've taken many, many walks with Amigo on my shoulder, have seen hawks and have never beeen approached by them.

 

[Wulfgeist]

This is something I have wondered about also. A couple times when I have had Jasper out I have seen a hawk flying overhead but pretty far up. After watching the Cornell hawk cam this spring it makes me a little nervous. Pigeon seemed to be a regular meal there, I suppose because they were so abundant. I try to keep an eye out but of course with his prey eyes I notice if he sees something overhead. I suppose it would happen too quick to do alot about it. I do tease him though and call him an oversized pigeon.

 

[DannyA93]

No your point was taken correctly just different points of view. haha

 

[kc_y0]

That video is scary.

 

[antoinette]

I would certainly refrain from taking my birds out if I were you
It is not worth the risk, tragedies like this happen so quickly.
We have had many members of the forum, losing birds due to hawks, Falcons etc, snatching their birds.

Please read Lost my little friend

Here a member mrgoogls tells the most tragic story, and warns members, against taking their birds outside.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

ugh. i used to have this huge hawk who 'lived' in my back yard at my last house. i had to even keep my eye on my puppy (he was 1.4 lbs when i got him-- a chihuahua). hawks scare me. but like MonicaMc said, you can do your best to protect them, and something 'weird' can happen. (Georgie died in her own cage from a 'freak accident' after all i did to even overprotect her from harm.) I often took Georgie on her T stand on the front porch (covered) or if i took her out into the yard, i have a smaller cage for that. She can get sunshine and play outside, but be safer. I sometimes feel guilty for being overprotective because most likely these things won't happen to me but they certainly CAN happen to anyone.