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We have a resident hawk!; I think it's cool...
Topic Started: Jan 11 2009, 03:33 PM (553 Views)
stephjm
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I just came home from my DD's basketball game with our DS (hubby and DD went to boy's game which he coaches also). Anyway, as we were going in, my neighbor said, hey, have you noticed the hawk around lately? Huh? :huh: What hawk? :huh: Turns out there was a small hawk sitting in a tree right near our house. Neighbor says the hawk has been around for weeks now and often sits on their back fence. They have a bird feeder so probably the hawk is looking for a snack. :teehee:

I have no idea what kind of hawk it is, it could be a falcon too for all I know. I didn't get a good look at his color, he was too far away and the sun is setting. But he's probably a foot tall in the body. Very regal looking, as all these birds are.

I think this is cool. <3 I'll have to keep an eye out for him and see if I can figure out what exactly he is.

And by the way, this is actually news for us since we live in the middle of town! (Grand Rapids, MI)
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2hsmommy
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That's pretty cool!
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jillincolorado
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I'll bet it's a red tailed or red shouldered hawk by the body size you gave, Steph. They like to sit on power lines next to roads for easy meals or on fences to pick off smaller birds.

I love the hawks (and owls, and falcons...)
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Trialbyfire
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Hawks are cool! I recall one time when I was working downtown in a smallish city a hawk killed a pigeon and flew up to the adjacent roof to eat it - which was only feet away from my window. So cool! Very rare that you're high up enough to get a real close look!

We have a lot of hawks in our area; red-tailed are very common, but we also have harriers and cooper's hawks (my favorite). Wish we had more owls, though. Only once have I ever seen one and it was so aweome!

Have fun watching him!
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Buryinghill1
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If it's a small hawk and it's watching a feeder, I'll bet it's a Sharp Shinned Hawk. They're experts at picking off songbirds.
I <3 Raptors.

I have 2 species of owls that live in the woods behind my house, and a family of red tails. Now and then I get a Sharp Shinned zipping through the yard, but they rarely catch a bird off the feeder.
Edited by Buryinghill1, Jan 11 2009, 05:01 PM.
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coriander
Is the meadow on fire?
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That's very cool. Though some of the finches at the feeder might disagree.
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Witchy
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That is cool! Although I hope you don't have a really small dog or outdoor cat, hawks like those too.

I love raptors too. Especially owls.

The only time I saw an Owl up close, was in Los Angeles. It was huge. I was riding on the trails near the LA Equestrian Center and one was sitting on the fence when I came around the turn. I though, "Oh crap! This is going to be interesting when he flies off that fence." And it was!!! My horse had a sit and spin that rivaled the best reining horses in the world and he put it to good use. Fortunately I managed to stay on by the skin of my teeth.
Edited by Witchy, Jan 11 2009, 06:08 PM.
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stephjm
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I am going to keep my eyes peeled for him and really try to figure out what he is. Whatever he is, I know I've seen them around in the country many times (and sitting on wires by the highway, etc). I love the raptors too, as long as I don't get in the way of their beaks or talons. :lol:

And I do have a dog, but he's 27 pounds, so probably too big for this guy to bother with. My neighbor and I were discussing that too, but I don't think Duffy has anything to worry about from this guy. My mom's dog, who is 13 pounds, on the other hand... maybe we better watch him! ;)

I'm going to keep my camera handy and see if I can get a shot of him.
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Buryinghill1
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I found this for you in case don't have a bird watching book:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accipitrinae

Lots of cool raptor pictures
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onthebit
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We have lotfsof hawks around the farm, some of them are gigantic! We also have a resident owl on the farm. I know which tree is his fave, and I also saw him perched on the fence once. I didn't realize how big he was until I saw him on the fence. I love to listen to him. We also had a much smaller owl that would hang out in our hay loft a few years ago. I think the hawks are neat but I really love the owls.
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tarragon
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At my old barn, there was a pair of red-tailed hawks that hunted the back pastures. One morning on my way to the barn I found the female in the road, hit by a car. She was still alive, so I gathered her up and took her to my vet, not thinking she would make it but I couldn't stand to just let her die slowly on the side of the road. My vet patched her up and he sent her on to a raptor rehab center. Every day though, her mate would fly all around the barn crying for her, it was so sad.

When the female hawk was ready to be released, the rehab center brought her back to our farm to be released. As soon as they let her go, she started calling and calling, and then we heard the male calling back. The two of them put on quite the aerial display- it really looked like they were dancing. They looked so happy to be back together, it was such a beautiful thing to see. <3

I love hawks.
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coriander
Is the meadow on fire?
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I adore hawks too. That is such a sweet story, tarragon.
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hijumpin1
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Tarragon, that's the coolest thing I've heard in a long time. Wow! I love hawks...I was lucky enough to see an eagle once.
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DairyQueen2049
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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tarragon
Jan 11 2009, 08:17 PM
At my old barn, there was a pair of red-tailed hawks that hunted the back pastures. One morning on my way to the barn I found the female in the road, hit by a car. She was still alive, so I gathered her up and took her to my vet, not thinking she would make it but I couldn't stand to just let her die slowly on the side of the road. My vet patched her up and he sent her on to a raptor rehab center. Every day though, her mate would fly all around the barn crying for her, it was so sad.

When the female hawk was ready to be released, the rehab center brought her back to our farm to be released. As soon as they let her go, she started calling and calling, and then we heard the male calling back. The two of them put on quite the aerial display- it really looked like they were dancing. They looked so happy to be back together, it was such a beautiful thing to see. <3

I love hawks.
that made my day!!! <3 <3 <3
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Black Tack
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What a great story Tarragon. :clap: :rose:
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