New Critter Around The Homestead

[NoCage]

This guy's been hanging around the house lately. He's about 10 feet from our deck in this picture. I'm guessing he's a red-tailed hawk, but not positive. I took it through the window, so the quality isn't good.

 

[ionbeam]

I believe you mentioned you have a small dog seen it recently? :huh:

(definitely not a red tailed hawk, way too small)

Alan

 

[NoCage]

I'm curious to know what kind of bird... it's definitely in the Raptor family, I've watched him pounce on little animals. I'm guessing a hawk of some kind. He's easily a foot tall. He was after something the other day... I was on the sidewalk and he came around the corner of the house about 15 feet from me screeching really loud... scared the **** out of me. :haha:

 

[ionbeam]

From the picture Birdie looks like an American Kestrel also known as a Sparrow Hawk. Cool bird, great picture! Wildlife from the picture window, life is good

Alan

 

[teerex51]

Hi, I'm a new Forum member and this is my avatar

The other day I saw a weird-looking spiky cat with vaguely human features and he scared the livin' sh*t outa me.

Falcus

 

[NoCage]

I saw a weird-looking spiky cat with vaguely human features and he scared the livin' sh*t outa me.

:rolf: :rolf: :rolf:

 

[dobias]

I've got new critters (for my neighborhood) around here in NW Michigan.

Foxes. Both kinds, Grey and Red and a litter as well. They've decimated the rest of the wildlife. No more rabbits or large black squirrels. The population of most everything is taking a dive. I have to keep my Tonkinese indoors to keep her from being a meal like the other neighbor's cats have been.

The DNR won't do anything and say the foxes are too smart to be trapped.

Trouble I'm having is they move through the yard too fast for me to get a gun out.

Any recommendations? :angry:

dobias

 

[ionbeam]

I've got...Foxes. Any recommendations?

A large, hungry rottweiler with up to date rabies shots. Doggie doesn't have to catch the foxes, just harass them. Maybe a neighbor or friend can make you a loan?
Perhaps it is time to contact a local equestrian club and see if they are interested in organizing a fox hunt?

A life guard chair, pen in a dozen chickens, sit in afore mentioned chair with gun in hand. Land going skeet?

 

[Just Plain Dave]

I looked in my bird book and it most resembles the Swainson's Hawk which inhabits the left half of the U.S.A. It says they get to be 21" long with a wingspan of 52". This may not be it but the markings and color are very close.

 

[BlueWing]

Trouble I'm having is they move through the yard too fast for me to get a gun out. Any recommendations? :angry:

LOL....The next time the NRA is looking for votes on the "Right to Carry" bill sign up. Then when the little darlings jump out of the bush you can practice your quick draw and smoke 'em. :trinibob:

 

[lawinter]

When I first saw it I thought it was a swansons hawk also. They are very common here in Co.

 

[slapnpop]

My SO who's into birding says:

Red tail hawk +1

Definatly not a kestrel.

 

[dobias]

ionbeam,

Good suggestios, except I live on a near vertical 6o foot high bluff. That's why the foxes can appear and disappear so quickly. I fear that would put a crimp in horseback fox hunting!

The chicken-in-a-cage lure sounds like the best suggestion. I'll have a long wait, though. Now that they've eaten most of the critters, they're off & running searching for more. Even the turkeys are gone.

dobias