Keeping hawks away?????

Huntinfamily · #1 03/10/12, 12:24 AM

Every year in the spring we have hawks nest in a tree near our house. When they have young they will attack us, our dogs, try to get in the rabit pens and try to grab our chickens. Last year my son ended up getting four stitches in his head fro where one swooped down and scraped a claw across the top of his head. I have called everyone from animal control to State DNR. The only advice they gave me was to stay away from the area at this time of year because they see us as a threat and are "swooping" at us to try to scare us away or if we must go out there where a hardhat or carry an umbrella. That is not an option because the area they attack us in is where our garden and rabbit pens are. I have tried everything from attaching pe plates to a scarecrow to firing shotgun blanks in the air when they are around and nothing works. I was able to get an empty nest destruction permit last year but because of the height of the tree they nest in I can't get up there and to hire a tree climber to do it for me is not a fiscal possibility. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? We saw them flying around the nest today so I know our time of harrasment is fast approching.
Because we have a pretty comstant steady breaze I thought of maybe flying a kite to scare them away but am worried anout them flying into the string and getting injured.

WolfWalksSoftly · #2 03/10/12, 09:32 AM

12 or 20 guage Should do the trick. Both on the Hawks and the Nest's. After a while they will either be hit or go away. Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up. You are the Human here eliminate the problem.

texican · #3 03/10/12, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfWalksSoftly

12 or 20 guage Should do the trick. Both on the Hawks and the Nest's. After a while they will either be hit or go away. Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up. You are the Human here eliminate the problem.

True enough, and get caught, be prepared for a fine in the five figure neighborhood.

In the off season, I'd take down the tree if it were really a problem. If I couldn't 'take it down', I could make it awful sick and want to fall real quick, come the next windstorm.

Did you recently move into the area (if so, you moved into the country, and there are lots of wildlife that are going to have to get along with, because we as a society have deemed them worthy of protection) or did the hawks just move in? If they just moved in, I'd take out the nesting tree. AFAIK, there are no laws, rules, or regulations against that.

SSS does work... unfortunately, you've screwed the pooch, by already contacting the people who's job it is to protect the bird... (breaking one of the "S"s and the other two don't work)...

I've had excellent results firing a 22 off in the air, when a hawk lands in a tree nearby, looking for chicken nuggets. If it comes back, a sharp clap of the hands works just as well (at least for resident hawks)...

akaRach · #4 03/10/12, 04:16 PM

Just a couple days ago as I was outside doing morning chores, I hear some odd bird sounds.

Looked up and saw a crow chasing off a hawk. It was doing a fantastic job of it too. I look a little farther down, and another crow is doing the same thing with another hawk!

I've seen the hawks in the winter diving for mice etc in the fields and I was a little worried for the coming spring and the new meat chicks, but it looks like the crows have it covered. As they have in years past, I just never saw them actively chasing them.

I heard that if you had crows you wouldn't have issue with alot of birds of prey, but didn't believe it till I saw it.

Is there anyway to encourage crows to your yard?

CarolT · #5 03/10/12, 04:34 PM

Yep. Turn out fresh chicks for them to eat, or plant a garden. Hawks and crows fight because both will raid the others nests and eat the hatchlings.

Texican has the best idea I've heard so far. Take out the tree. If you can't take out the tree, get a powerful shotgun shell and blow the nest out (if your permit is still good). You might could get a raptor rescue person to go up and remove the nest so the birds will move somewhere safer...

Good luck, sounds like you have some pretty aggressive ones. Cooper's hawks, maybe?

WolfWalksSoftly · #6 03/10/12, 04:46 PM

Might want to check on the Environmental Laws first if you are going to go the, respect the law route. I have read about a multi million dollar job site come to a screeching halt because of an Owl.

Joshie · #7 03/10/12, 05:38 PM

If you've still got the permit shoot the empty nests. Otherwise I'd move the rabbits and garden. It's not worth getting hurt. We have hawks and eagles at the lake across the road. A young bald eagle got one of our kitties. DD, a bird lover, now hates eagles.

honeyrobber · #8 03/10/12, 06:04 PM

Just blow the empty nest to pieces with buck shot problem solved. As to taking your stock SSS works great. I got a problem on dad's farm with a nesting pair. All our birds are penned due to them and him being surrounded by animal loving neighbors who do not understand the problem. Well one does as her house dog was taken last year.

Natural Beauty Farm · #9 03/10/12, 07:52 PM

Eagles and crows will keep a hawk out of the area.
Someone holding a falconry license or rehabilitation permit are the only ones allowed to touch a live or dead raptor.

If you are near a populated area or are dealing with an endangered raptor, there is a strong possibility that one or more of the birds have radio trackers keeping tabs on them. The new ones I install are light weight, last over a year and are tracked by satellite all over the world. Far cry from the old leg bands we use to use.

They are all protected by the migratory bird protection act. Fines are $100,000.00 for an individual who harasses them plus up to 25 years in jail.

If they are already checking out nest spots, your permit is invalid now.

Huntinfamily · #10 03/10/12, 09:39 PM

SSS is definitely out of the question since I have already contacted DNR. We have lived here for quite a few years and started having the problem last year. I applied for the nest destruction permit last year and just received the permit two weeks ago and the hawks are already back. Apparantely hawks will use the same nest for multiple years unless it is destroyed. I think my only option now will be to plant some extra corn to entice the crows in and when the young hawks leave the nest and drop the entire tree.

Big Dave · #11 03/10/12, 10:48 PM

Crow call. Stand back and watch as the crow come in and the hawks freak out.

nancy237 · #12 03/10/12, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natural Beauty Farm

They are all protected by the migratory bird protection act. Fines are $100,000.00 for an individual who harasses them plus up to 25 years in jail.

I wish we could get fines & jailtime like that for people who abuse & kill kids.

copperkid3 · #13 03/11/12, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy237

I wish we could get fines & jailtime like that for people who abuse & kill kids.

**************************************
Start gluing feathers on all our kids......

WolfWalksSoftly · #14 03/11/12, 06:36 AM

Stock up on the Fireworks, and have an extended Celebration.

Haven · #15 03/11/12, 07:43 AM

I have a family of crows that live in my yard. Tons of hawks are still around, but they fly over the fields next door on either side of my property.

kara_leigh · #16 03/11/12, 09:08 PM

We have TONS of crows also, but still have a lot of hawks that hang around. We hear the crows freak out at the hawks all the time. We have had two young pullets taken by hawks, but thankfully otherwise they have just flown over and left us alone.

Sorry you are in such a predicament!! I hope you can get it fixed!

canecutter · #17 03/11/12, 09:38 PM

Sounds like self defense to me. My child gets stitches from the intentional act of an animal then I'll leave it to your imagination..

CarolT · #18 03/12/12, 12:42 AM

Hmmm, self defense sounds about right. The hawk defending itself and it's family from encroaching humans. There are things you can do, the OP is working hard to do so within the bounds of the law. This is a public forum, advocating breaking federal laws is not something I'd want to do on a public forum...

It's a shame the permit was so long in coming. If the hawks are only checking it out and you can prove they haven't started nesting yet, see if you can't take the tree down now. Sounds like the best bet for all concerned. I can understand your frustration. Good luck!

wogglebug · #19 03/12/12, 05:02 AM

It's been suggested before, but use a shotgun and slugs under the terms of your empty-nest destruction permit, to blast the nest apart. Alternatively, if the branches aren't too thick you could cut them off with the slugs.
You could maybe use a 45-70 rifle or other heavy calibre to do the same job, particularly on the branches.
Just remember that what goes up must come down, so make very sure of the direction you're pointing towards. There's no absolute guarantee that your projectiles will stay in the wood, or even hit it.

If they start rebuilding anywhere near you, start practising for July 4, or hone your accuracy on paper targets right around where they're getting interested.

sandsuncritters · #20 03/12/12, 07:42 AM

Specific to Florida:

http://myfwc.com/media/1485841/Nuisance_Hawks.pdf

There are several hawk families living in our area, part of the natural world around us and one of the blessings of living where we do. We have, over the years, learned to protect ourselves and Our small domesticated creatures by sometimes laughable creative means. As well as securely top-fencing, wearing appropriate protective gear, and keeping an eye on the sky.

Good luck.

In His Love
Mich