lOOK WHO DROPPED BY FOR A BATH!

I can't quite make out what bird that is but I'm guessing a bird of prey?

Yes, Rev...it's a Cooper's Hawk. I wish the zoom on my camera was better.

Matilda wrote:

Yes, Rev...it's a Cooper's Hawk. I wish the zoom on my camera was better.

Thanks, Charis. Just Googled the hawk and am impressed. Very striking! But obvioulsy, you don't want him to be a regular visitor!

No Rev...I don't but unfortunately...he is a regular visitor.

Beautiful photo Charis BUT Cooper's are one of my least favorite hawks! If I was you I'd go chase him away!!!!!

I've done my best, Robin...ever since October when he first showed up. He pays me no mind and all the pigeons are gone.

Matilda wrote:

I've done my best, Robin...ever since October when he first showed up. He pays me no mind and all the pigeons are gone.

Oh no, no more pigeons. You'd think he'd move on but he's obviously still finding food in your area.

Mrs.AviatorRodent wrote:

Matilda wrote:

I've done my best, Robin...ever since October when he first showed up. He pays me no mind and all the pigeons are gone.

Oh no, no more pigeons. You'd think he'd move on but he's obviously still finding food in your area.

He won't move on because he knows that she has pigeons and chickens. We always had an occasional coopers here, but since we built the loft a few years ago, after a lot of the songbirds leave for the winter, they are here all the time. I have fed a feral flock for probably 22 years, and not until we built the loft, did the feral flock all but disappear during the winter months, as the hawks are so bad around here. So I keep their feeder stocked, just in case they get desperate and need food, but I have come home to 4 strikes in the last maybe 6 weeks. I came home to one today. Very upsetting.

Charis---those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

NiteOwl wrote:

Mrs.AviatorRodent wrote:

Matilda wrote:

I've done my best, Robin...ever since October when he first showed up. He pays me no mind and all the pigeons are gone.

Oh no, no more pigeons. You'd think he'd move on but he's obviously still finding food in your area.

He won't move on because he knows that she has pigeons and chickens. We always had an occasional coopers here, but since we built the loft a few years ago, after a lot of the songbirds leave for the winter, they are here all the time. I have fed a feral flock for probably 22 years, and not until we built the loft, did the feral flock all but disappear during the winter months, as the hawks are so bad around here. So I keep their feeder stocked, just in case they get desperate and need food, but I have come home to 4 strikes in the last maybe 6 weeks. I came home to one today. Very upsetting.

Charis---those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

In the summer we have at least 3 pairs of Redtails that soar over the fields, thankfully they have never had an interest in our pigeons or chickens , but at least twice during the winter when the snow is deep I'll spy a Cooper's sitting in one of the trees watching the pij flights. Luckly the pigeons seem to have learned about the hawk & the all dash into the loft.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

NiteOwl wrote:

Mrs.AviatorRodent wrote:

Matilda wrote:

I've done my best, Robin...ever since October when he first showed up. He pays me no mind and all the pigeons are gone.

Oh no, no more pigeons. You'd think he'd move on but he's obviously still finding food in your area.

He won't move on because he knows that she has pigeons and chickens. We always had an occasional coopers here, but since we built the loft a few years ago, after a lot of the songbirds leave for the winter, they are here all the time. I have fed a feral flock for probably 22 years, and not until we built the loft, did the feral flock all but disappear during the winter months, as the hawks are so bad around here. So I keep their feeder stocked, just in case they get desperate and need food, but I have come home to 4 strikes in the last maybe 6 weeks. I came home to one today. Very upsetting.

Charis---those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

In the summer we have at least 3 pairs of Redtails that soar over the fields, thankfully they have never had an interest in our pigeons or chickens , but at least twice during the winter when the snow is deep I'll spy a Cooper's sitting in one of the trees watching the pij flights. Luckly the pigeons seem to have learned about the hawk & the all dash into the loft.

I think lots of birds seem to know instinctually. I step into my loft one mornning, and my birds were just frozen motionless on their perches. I was cleaning when all of a sudden, I heard a loud bang on the window screen. I went outside to see a hawk perched right over the loft. He had been banging on the screen and trying to get in. On occasion I go in and they are like that. I know a hawk has been around.

Yep they sure do know In the summer I'll be working around the flights & all the pigeons are frozen with one eye looking up, like you said! I know theres a hawk over head even if I can't see it!

Kind of like the chickens are all hiding right now under the bushes?

Matilda wrote:

Kind of like the chickens are all hiding right now under the bushes?

Matilda wrote:

Kind of like the chickens are all hiding right now under the bushes?

Yes! Kinda like that! LOL.