Yul Lose Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 For the last few years we’ve been going through about 60lbs of black sunflower bird feed a month but over the last couple of months their feeding has dropped off drastically. This morning I think I discovered the reason, a peregrine falcon. My wife spotted it first and then I was able to get this picture of it sitting on the feeder stand. Pretty cool.
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 About 2 years ago we had a hawk visiting a tree near our feeders. Saw it plunge into a bush across the sidewalk from us. Scrub Jays and Acorn Woodpeckers drove it off after about 3 days.
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 We have the occasional moocher! 20221228_092214.mp4 And a pair of hawks from time to time. 20210529_160350.mp4
Michigan Slim Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 Had a nest of five baby Sharp shinned hawks this year. Feeders were empty of birds for four months. Neighbors yard looked like a bone yard under the nest. They all learned to hunt on my wife's birds. Man, she was upset.
Pat Riot Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 We had a Cooper’s Hawk on the roof of my garage the other day. He was watching the feeders (not in the photos). He tried to get a sparrow but it looked like a monster truck chasing a Miata in a parking lot. What amazed me was he flew up into the trees across the way and the crows didn’t try to run him off. Strange.
Eyesa Horg Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 We occasionally have what I think is a goshawk that comes out of nowhere and snags morning doves at the feeder area! Sometimes they slam the windows when they snatch em. Amazing they haven't broken the windows! Startles the sh*t outa ya when they hit. Look up to all the feathers floating down! Came home a month ago just in time to see a dove slam an upper window, it fluttered down dazed to the ground and sat there, within about 10 seconds the hawk swooped down and took it away! No muss, no fuss. Now we just need a big ass bird that likes to eat criminals and politicians. Maybe like a giant magpie or an eagle.
Pat Riot Posted November 24, 2023 Posted November 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said: Now we just need a big ass bird that likes to eat criminals and politicians. Maybe like a giant magpie or an eagle. Fire breathing dragons! No, Griffins. That would be cool. They have a bird’s head. They could fit right in around the feeders.
J-BAR #18287 Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 Sharpshins/Cooper's, tough to tell the difference, but they show up in our neighborhood a few times each year, and leave a pile of feathers in our backyard. Breathtakingly aerobatic! We watched one sneak up on four crows perched on the power line in our backyard. The hawk knocked one off the wire with its fist...Tag! You're it!... as the remaining crows scattered. No doubt in my mind that the hawk could have killed the crow if it wanted to, but it was just showing who was boss.
Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728 Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 WOW!!!!!! Peregrine Falcon, and you got a picture of one.!!!! Correct me if I am wrong, but I understood they were the fastest flying birds in the world.
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 You are NOT wrong. When they fold up and dive on pray, they hit incredible speed. When they hit a Pigeon there is a cloud of Pigeon feathers and a loud "THWOCK." I believe they have been clocked at 200mph.
Eyesa Horg Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 1 minute ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said: loud "THWOCK Exactly, perfect word for it.
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 I forgot to mention. Were one to observe the profile view of the Peregrine Falcon with specific bird things like eyes faded out, and look at a profile view of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, you may detect a certain resemblance.
J-BAR #18287 Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said: I forgot to mention. Were one to observe the profile view of the Peregrine Falcon with specific bird things like eyes faded out, and look at a profile view of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, you may detect a certain resemblance. Bingo!
Buckshot Bear Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 I have Racing Pigeons and the Peregrines are 200 miles per hour death to them.
Pat Riot Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 Years ago a friend of mine and I were in the bar on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building in Chicago. We were sitting at a table next to a window. It was mid afternoon. I saw a bird land on a ledge nearby. It was a Peregrine Falcon. I got pretty excited about it and the bartender who was bringing our drinks over said “That’s our Falcon. He and his mate hang out here often.” When I looked back it was gone. Apparently he studied up on them and told us all about the falcons that lived throughout the city on skyscrapers. They had a lot of pigeons to feed on. That city was full of them. I have never seen so many of those fat winged rats.
Yul Lose Posted November 25, 2023 Author Posted November 25, 2023 While I was minding the smoker preparing ribs for my grandson, Nick The Kid’s 17th birthday dinner this afternoon, I observed a pair of Peregrine falcons flying to and from one of the eucalyptus trees on the north end of my property. I got out my binoculars and sure enough they are building a nest. Looks like the bird feeding budget will shrink quite a bit for awhile.
Pat Riot Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 @Yul Lose I was curious about how many different types of falcons there are in California and found this link. Out of the 7 I have only seen the American Kestral, that I recall. This site also has recordings of their calls. https://www.birdadvisors.com/falcons-california/
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 Quite a few Cities are utilizing Peregrine Falcons for "pest control." The Peregrine find the city to be a "Target Rich Environment." Sort of like a Winged Buffet. Shame it's unsafe for Humans to eat Pigeon. The majority of Pigeons carry nasties.
Warden Callaway Posted November 25, 2023 Posted November 25, 2023 Years ago the Missouri Department of Conservation published an article basically denouncing feeding of wildlife. Their argument was that predators soon took advantage of the concentration of animals drawn to the feed.
Sedalia Dave Posted November 26, 2023 Posted November 26, 2023 When the Grackles start roosting at work they bring in a falconer to encourage them to roost some place else. Falcon is very efficient and by the third day there isn't a grackle within a couple miles of the airfield.
watab kid Posted November 26, 2023 Posted November 26, 2023 that predator would be a deterrent to be sure , we have had great horned owls , osprey . eagles and red tailed hawks , one winter we had a shrike visit for a spell , our lot is heavily wooded and on a river so there is opportunity for all , the blue herons like the rapids rocks to frish and the ducks have nested and fed here - no geese so far thankfully
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