This guy has been hanging around!

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  • CombatAK

    Hooligan #12
    Sep 1, 2015
    1,156
    Cresaptown
    I had a couple of pics of a large bird that was on my fence, in another thread. A few folks helped me decide that he is a Coopers Hawk. We he has been hanging around almost daily around my yard. Here are a few "full frontal" pics of the guy (or girl).

    This white pigeon has also been hanging around too. Both of these birds are new to the neighborhood.
     

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    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,731
    Socialist State of Maryland
    See if there is a band on the pigeon. You don't usually see them in rural areas unless someone races them. If he is a racer, he may be injured and stopped in to rest up. May have even been injured by the hawk.
     

    CombatAK

    Hooligan #12
    Sep 1, 2015
    1,156
    Cresaptown
    I looked for a band but I didn't see one. It also flies very well. I have had several sets of doves and pigeons in my yard all summer but this guy was by himself. I have feeders and birdhouses all over my yard. My mom, who is in a wheelchair most of the time, loves to sit and watch the birds, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. At one point there was a very large cat hanging around and I kept finding dead birds. The cat don't hang around here anymore, he must have moved on. The other birds don't seem afraid of the hawk but I don't see the furry critters out when he (or she) is around.
     

    bkuether

    Judge not this race .....
    Jan 18, 2012
    6,212
    Marriottsville, MD
    I looked for a band but I didn't see one. It also flies very well. I have had several sets of doves and pigeons in my yard all summer but this guy was by himself. I have feeders and birdhouses all over my yard. My mom, who is in a wheelchair most of the time, loves to sit and watch the birds, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. At one point there was a very large cat hanging around and I kept finding dead birds. The cat don't hang around here anymore, he must have moved on. The other birds don't seem afraid of the hawk but I don't see the furry critters out when he (or she) is around.

    Sometimes racing pigeons just decide to not do that anymore. I used to get them in my coop, hanging out with my birds.

    If the pigeon is flying ok, likely stopped to take a break, should move on eventually or get eaten by the hawk. ;)
     

    cyclops

    Active Member
    Dec 31, 2016
    134
    Western Md.
    There's a redtail hawk that's been hanging around my place for several years. He likes to sit on top of the utility poles and scan the fields.he takes care of mice snakes etc. So I leave him alone but I have seen crows gang up on him and run him off.life is tough if you're a hawk.
     

    CombatAK

    Hooligan #12
    Sep 1, 2015
    1,156
    Cresaptown
    I think that the pigeon has moved on. There are no white feathers around so I am guessing that the hawk didn't get him (her). I did notice the hawk up in the top of my cherry tree drying his wings yesterday. He (she) is becoming quite the fixture in my yard.
     

    willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,317
    I saw a pigeon once on the ground next to my birdfeeder years ago. Suddenly it EXPLODED in a cloud of feathers. A hawk had DIVE BOMBED it into smithereens... save for the grotesque body that it lifted off with, and settled down on a post on my back fence. Where it proceeded to tear the pigeons remains apart.

    It was pretty impressive. I was impressed.


    .
     

    ironpony

    Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    7,190
    Davidsonville
    I have one that hangs around the house, he only ever gets the red Cardinals and a couple Blue Jays. oh, dog sitting a friends Jack hua hua (Jack Russel chihuahua mix) I followed the dog out my back door and about 20' from the house I felt the bird just over my head after the dog (named Cooper) who was headed towards the fence (unknowing) and the hawk had to abort. Hawk circled and landed no more than 50' away three times, was not afraid of me at all!


    Set a cheap chicken carcass out and the hawk will eat it! tie it down and he'll stick around to feast.
     

    cyclops

    Active Member
    Dec 31, 2016
    134
    Western Md.
    Probably the most impressive thing I've seen that hawk do was while I was sitting on my porch. There's a large walnut about 50 ft from my porch and a squirrel was up in it on a limb about 10 ft from a hole in the tree. The hawk landed on a higher limb the squirrel instantly froze in his tracks. It was several minutes before either moved then the squirrel took off for the hole and the hawk did what I can only describe as a rolling controlled swoop off that limb down after Mr squirrel. It was an incredibly fast graceful maneuver. The squirrel made it to safety but it was a good thing his tail wasn't longer or he would have been lunch.
     

    CombatAK

    Hooligan #12
    Sep 1, 2015
    1,156
    Cresaptown
    I have to check around BEFORE I let my dogs go out. I have a Pug, a Chug, two Chihuahuas, and a Golden Retriever/Pug mix. I stand in the backyard with a rake.
     

    hdatontodo

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 29, 2012
    4,073
    So. Central Balto Co
    The hawks I see around here are

    Sharp Shinned Hawk (looks like a small coopers hawk)
    Coopers Hawk
    Red Tailed Hawk
    Red Shouldered Hawk (which has a reddish chest but a tail with coloring like the Sharp Shinned and Coopers)
     

    ironpony

    Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    7,190
    Davidsonville
    I have to check around BEFORE I let my dogs go out. I have a Pug, a Chug, two Chihuahuas, and a Golden Retriever/Pug mix. I stand in the backyard with a rake.


    Hahaha... sorry to laugh but Yes! I believe this happened in the spring locally to a small Jack Russel and horse community warmed each other quite veraciously. Facebook, tack stores, feed stores etc.



    Just remembered, behind my shop a nest of herons was ravished every couple days. these birds before many feathers are a foot tall. Found one with its head just gone and another just dead, the Jays and black birds attack and thwart the hawks, sometimes.


    Night Hawks should be abundant at dusk soon. I think they just eat bugs, fly around like bats.
     
    Last edited:

    remodeler1

    Active Member
    Jul 23, 2013
    837
    Frederick
    Hahaha... sorry to laugh but Yes! I believe this happened in the spring locally to a small Jack Russel and horse community warmed each other quite veraciously. Facebook, tack stores, feed stores etc.



    Just remembered, behind my shop a nest of herons was ravished every couple days. these birds before many feathers are a foot tall. Found one with its head just gone and another just dead, the Jays and black birds attack and thwart the hawks, sometimes.


    Night Hawks should be abundant at dusk soon. I think they just eat bugs, fly around like bats.

    About 2 weeks ago for a couple evenings in a row I saw groups of around a dozen Night Hawks . They were quite acrobatic.
     

    ironpony

    Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    7,190
    Davidsonville
    About 2 weeks ago for a couple evenings in a row I saw groups of around a dozen Night Hawks . They were quite acrobatic.



    Yup, I walked over to the range, was shooting and they did not care. I laid down on my back and they were getting pretty close. Eery because my guess is maybe 20” wingspan?
     

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