We have pigions we are training to release.We had 2 picked up and carried off and 1 hurt by a hawk what now? ?

Question

WE HAVE TO LET THE BIRDS OUT TO FLY AND CANNOT KEEP THEM CAGED ALLTHE TIME. THIS HAWK CAME RIGHT BY US TODAY AND PICKED ONE OF THE PIGIONS UP AS HE WAS GOING BACK INTO THE COOP.WE STOPPED HIM FROM KILLING ONE TODAY BY THROWING A BROOM AT HIM BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GET SOMETHING, SO HE SWOOPED RIGHT BACK AND GOT ANOTHER ONE. WE ARE NOT IN THE COUNTRY BUT IT IS QUITE WOODED IN THE AREA. WE HAD 40 BIRDS TO START WITH BUT THEY ARE GOING FAST. IS THERE ANY THING WE CAN DO TO GET RID OF THIS PEST?

Answer 1

There are several things you can do:

1) Contact a falconer.  They might be interested in capturing this bird, if it is a healthy and nice specimen--which is obviously is if it keeps on taking your pigeons--they might want to keep it for their own purposes.

2) Buy a fake owl.  At any wal-mart or target, home depot, places like that.  You can get a fake owl that you place on your roof, or near your pigeon coop.  This will discourage your hawk and other birds of prey from hunting in that area.

3) Stop letting your pigeons out for a week.  Once it sees that there is no more food to be gained, it will leave for another territory for easier pickings.

4) Let him eat your pigeons.  Migration season is approaching, and he will soon be gone.

There's not much else you can do.  "Shooting it dead" as Lady Cockatiel said, is illegal and immoral; hawks and other birds are all protected by several teaties and acts; birds of prey especially.  Also, I know of one pigeon trainer who would shoot birds of prey for sport; falconers and law enforcement agents infiltrated a club, and found him boasting about it.  They arrested him the next day, and was fined 5,000$ and 7 years in prison, I believe--I could be wrong.

Best of luck,

Phoenix

P.S. Contact falconers at www.apprenticefalconry.com

Answer 2

there is a humane way, just research it.

Ladycockatiel - Are you serious? What country are you from? This is neither legal in the US or the UK. For good reason!! Why not educate yourself on the circle of life and how environments function (AKA environmental science)? Save your silly breath and look up the Fish and Wildlife Services and ASK them about all the reasons as to why it's wrong! *grumbles under breath*

Answer 3

Sorry...hawks along with all other native wild birds are protected by law.  As long as you are providing a free meal, the hawk will keep coming..it is only doing what comes naturally..it is feeding itself.  It has every right to be out in nature.  As far as pigeons are concerned...they are one of ONLY three species in the US that are NOT protected by law..they are not native to the US.  When it comes to native animals vs. non-native invasive species (such as pigeons) it is WAY more important to protect native species.  If you harm or harass the hawk in ANY way (throwing a broom at it included) you are breaking the law, you can be fine or jailed by violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  You need to keep you pigeons in a wildlife proof pen, or keep them caged for a while in hopes that the hawk will see there is no prey there and leave the area..then you can start flying them again.  There is no guarantee that another predator will not show up in it's place.  If you want to fly them..you must accept the fact that some will get eaten...you cannot stop nature.  

Unless Ladycockatiel is going to bail you out of prison..I would not take her advice.

Answer 4

Shoot the hawk

Answer 5

Shoot it dead is my opinion. I know it sounds bad but out in the country you have every right to protect your flock.

Answer 6

Unfortunately no. Pigeons fly in large groups for this reason...it confuses their predators. Hawks have to eat also, and they see your pigeons as an easy meal. It's sad but true.

Answer 7

Sorry to tell you but a hawk is not a pest.  They are federally protected.  Pigeons are hawk food.  That is a fact.  I had my own pigeons in the territory of a hawk and the pigeons are all gone.  My mistake.  

Typing in all caps means you are yelling.  

The hawk was there before your pigeons and will continue to eat them if you let them fly.  I know this.  Three of my pigeons joined a small flock of them in my village and they have survived.

Give it up.  Sorry.