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We have a resident hawk!; I think it's cool...
Topic Started: Jan 11 2009, 03:33 PM (552 Views)
MayaTy02
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I think we have a "resident" golden eagle in our neighborhood...or so we think. We've seen it several times, a huge brownish/black bird, doesn't look like a hawk or a vulture. It flew over us at our bus stop and perched in a nearby tree, very cool looking. We live right between a lake and about 1000 acres of state park woods, so I suppose it's possible! Add me to the list of thinking it's cool to have a raptor around :)

One of the coolest places I've seen was the Birds of Prey exhibit http://www.peregrinefund.org/default.asp
in Boise Idaho....love California condors!!!
Edited by MayaTy02, Jan 12 2009, 08:12 AM.
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jillincolorado
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Well done T!!

I have a friend here in my town who is a licensed Raptor Rehabber. Texas requires a separate license to rehab them in addition to other licenses. She specializes in owls and hawks so I've spent a little time here and there helping her out with her charges (which are unfortunately quite numerous).

I helped her capture a Swainson's Hawk once that had taken up residence in a tennis court. He trapped all the little song birds there and ate them. The mess of little bodies he left behind looked like a scene from "Silence of the Lambs". :teehee:

Let us know what you find out, Steph.
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Casey1
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We used to have a redtail family at our barn. I agree they were SO cool! Every now and again it would actually swoop through the barn aisle after the barn swallows. That would always make you jump because all of the sudden something rather big would fly over your head. Funny the horses rarely reacted.

In the spring they would nest, and then we got to watch the young get raised. They would sometimes use "us" for swooping practice as we rode. I honestly think they were harmless, just learning. They would be in the ring when I rode from time to time too. I remember watching a young hawk about ready to leave the nest go after a rabbit. He came down so fast it was incredible, but he missed his target. That rabbit was having one really good day. The only down side was the noise, the screeched alot.

We had a family of turkey buzzards (or at least that is what I think they are. HUGE ugly birds) move in, the hawks moved out. Bummer! The buzzards swooping at you is a bit more unnerving.
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Black Tack
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Ya, but you can always "school" buzzards Casey ;)

We used to have peacocks at the farm where JTM rode. Often they would hang out in the arena or outside of the huge full length window in the trees. The horses got used to them for the most part. We would joke that we should set a few loose at the horse shows to gain an advantage since we had "schooled" peacocks :innocent:
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Casey1
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Jan 12 2009, 09:13 AM
Ya, but you can always "school" buzzards Casey ;)

We used to have peacocks at the farm where JTM rode. Often they would hang out in the arena or outside of the huge full length window in the trees. The horses got used to them for the most part. We would joke that we should set a few loose at the horse shows to gain an advantage since we had "schooled" peacocks :innocent:
My horse even being a TB is really not spooky. One day I was riding him, and just after we cantered past the end of the arena, this buzzard landed on the fence. This thing has to be almost 3' tall, lord knows what the wing span is. Anyway as I started to come around again the bird was not moving. So I shaved the end of the arena off and just as we got lined up with it, the bird took off. My horse just sort of looked left (we were going right) I looked left, and we maybe did one slow side step then went about our business.

We have a TON of deer at the farm too. They come up to the horses while you are on them sometimes. I had the pleasure of riding and had two deer jump into the ring while I was riding. One on my left one on my right. We went down the length of the ring together. As we got near the end I slowed up, let the deer jump out and went about my business.

Yup the horses get used to them, if you don't make a big deal. However my horse that was T-boned by a deer did not like them. Fussy wasn't he! :teehee:
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gunnar
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Steph, how cool! I too am a raptor lover. At the barn we are lucky to have a nesting pair of Bald Eagles each year. They soar overhead during the winter months. Their nest is not visible but I do enjoy the sightings. Many, many hawks reside there too. I love it.

One of the reasons I love the Pacific Northwest as a vacation spot is the raptor sightings! :clap: Bald Eagles galor is all I can say! :cheer:
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stephjm
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Wow, cool stories everyone. Especially yours Tarragon, that was so neat! :clap: Keep them coming.

I have been watching outside as much as I can, but haven't seen our resident yet today. Doesn't mean he's not around somewhere. However, now every time I see a squirrel running around the back yard, I think that squirrel better watch out, there's a hungry hawk around! :point:

And shoot, now I forgot who posted the link to identifying birds :unsure: (see how fast I lose my concentration) but thank you! I will consult that next time I see our new friend. :)
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2bayboys
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One of my favorite poems, by Henry Taylor:

Last year I learned to speak to a red-tail hawk.
He wheeled above me as I crossed a field;
he screamed; I pulled a blade of grass, set it
against my lips, and started screaming back.

We held that conversation for half a mile.
Once in a while he calls me out of the house
and I comb a border for the right blade of grass.
I used to wish I might learn what it is

we mean to one another; now, I keep
the noise we've mastered for itself alone,
for glimpses of his descent toward dead elms,
and a heart that will not mind when I am gone.

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Buryinghill1
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http://www.hawkmountain.org/
A cool place to visit. There are other migratory sites just like it up and down the east and west coasts. At Hawk Mtn I saw my first Harriers. Absolutely amazing birds. Fast! In one day the counters (one pro, one volunteer) counted 300+ red tails, a dozen or so Harriers, and countless other species I can't recall. Some Golden Eagles (no Bald on that day) too. It was one of the best days of my life! Lying on a rock, looking up and out, binoculars at the ready. The counters were right behind me and their knowledge was endless.
Raptors are my favorite!
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