View Full Version : Hosa 1 Predators 0....or
Hosakawa Tito
07-23-2009, 18:18
ChickenHawk Down. Last year my stepson was trying to think of a science project/presentation for school. I suggested we build a couple of Blue Bird boxes (http://www.michiganbluebirdsociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=39) and he could document the process from nest building to egg laying to fledging. As luck would have it everything was going well till we went on vacation over the July 4th holiday weekend. Upon our return we found the nestbox front cover *it's hinged at the bottom to provide easy access to the nesting cavity* pulled open, the young fledglings gone and a pile of adult Blue Bird feathers scattered about the bottom of the pole. We had no idea what killed them. The box was on a pole 5-6 feet off the ground with a guard below it *an inverted metal funnel* to prevent a cat or raccoon from climbing.
We tried again this year and this time we figured out the culprit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/Sharp-shinned_Hawk.jpg
We've had this Sharp Shinned Hawk hanging about and yesterday I spotted him attacking the box.
I chased him off, but he was back again this morning. They are beautiful birds and he could eat all the stinkin' starlings and sparrows he wants and I wouldn't mind a bit. However, he's apparently determined to eat my Blue Birds, and I'm not going to let that happen.....so I shot him, and yes it is illegal to shoot hawks.:sweatdrop: May the Lord and the Game Warden forgive me.
Hooahguy
07-23-2009, 18:39
haha whacker great response!
FactionHeir
07-23-2009, 18:40
Name and address please? :wink:
Hawk had it comin', if you ask me.
Proletariat
07-24-2009, 00:43
My nephew had to come up with a science project and I suggested we work on one studying grasshoppers. Everything was going fine, the little guys were starting to hop around and nearing adulthood. But then I took a trip and came home and these Eastern Blue Bird bastards started picking them off, one by one.
:shame:
I couldn't bear it any longer, I grabbed my 12 gauge and blew away every squirrel, blue bird, cardinal or child around and our grasshoppers were saved.
I've always thought hawks were really cool animals, but I don't blame you either, Hosa. Any pics of the little squakers yet?
Samurai Waki
07-24-2009, 08:38
Thank god you don't live in Montana, because the Game Wardens here are almost akin to Paramilitary and would have thrown your :daisy: in a deep dark hole, and let you rot there for as long as humanly possible. :laugh4:
Although I would have notified Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (or your state's equivalent) first, since they're usually willing to remove predatorial animals outside of urban areas.
Centurion1
07-24-2009, 15:33
It appears that the .org is now harboring criminals......
Can't say that i wouldn't do the same thing though.
Hosakawa Tito
07-24-2009, 15:41
This is the second brood in this nestbox this year. There are two adult females & one male taking care of them.Here are a couple pics.
Day1.https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/dbb1day1.jpg
Day3.https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/kbb3rdday.jpg
Mess with the nest, die like the rest. Do you feel lucky, punk!https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/mad_bluebird_large.jpg
Thank god you don't live in Montana, because the Game Wardens here are almost akin to Paramilitary and would have thrown your :daisy: in a deep dark hole, and let you rot there for as long as humanly possible. :laugh4:
That's getting off light. They just make us live the rest of our lives in the Empire Vampire State.:laugh4:
Megas Methuselah
07-25-2009, 07:51
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/dbb1day1.jpg
Ugly little beasts, eh? :clown:
Hosakawa Tito
07-31-2009, 23:45
Well, our little Blue birds flew the coop today, they grow so fast ~:mecry:.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/zdbb14thday.jpg
DAY 14
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/dad2babies.jpg
Dad & 2 Babies
Sarmatian
08-01-2009, 00:47
ChickenHawk Down. Last year my stepson was trying to think of a science project/presentation for school. I suggested we build a couple of Blue Bird boxes (http://www.michiganbluebirdsociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=39) and he could document the process from nest building to egg laying to fledging. As luck would have it everything was going well till we went on vacation over the July 4th holiday weekend. Upon our return we found the nestbox front cover *it's hinged at the bottom to provide easy access to the nesting cavity* pulled open, the young fledglings gone and a pile of adult Blue Bird feathers scattered about the bottom of the pole. We had no idea what killed them. The box was on a pole 5-6 feet off the ground with a guard below it *an inverted metal funnel* to prevent a cat or raccoon from climbing.
We tried again this year and this time we figured out the culprit.
We've had this Sharp Shinned Hawk hanging about and yesterday I spotted him attacking the box.
I chased him off, but he was back again this morning. They are beautiful birds and he could eat all the stinkin' starlings and sparrows he wants and I wouldn't mind a bit. However, he's apparently determined to eat my Blue Birds, and I'm not going to let that happen.....so I shot him, and yes it is illegal to shoot hawks.:sweatdrop: May the Lord and the Game Warden forgive me.
You should have just renamed the project Sharp Shinned Hawk hunting behaviour.
Aemilius Paulus
08-01-2009, 05:25
Last time a kid uploaded a video of himself killing a cat, some PETA hacker traced him and they locked him up. Lol, if someone wishes to report you to the PETA forums, I am certain you will have your computer swimming in malware b tomorrow and you will not see to witness it, as you will be languishing in jail... And the sad thing is, I do not doubt that happening very much, albeit so quickly....
Good thing the species you killed was not endangered...
Hosakawa Tito
08-01-2009, 10:50
Actually, until recently the Eastern Blue Bird was considered endangered. They are not as agressive as many invasive species like starlings and house sparrows. They are not as abundant as they have been before the introduction of these invasive species, but the population is stabilizing due to concerned citizens who provide nesting boxes and habitat that favors them.
As far as jail goes...I been doing jail for over 25 years so I think I got that piece down.
What was it you said about hacking my computer?
I should mention that my wife showed me a nest in one of the bushes in our front yard last week. Three brand new birds of who the hell knows what kind, they were demanding food and mom was in the next tree over a bit displeased at my curiosity. I checked on them again last night, all feathered up and were quietly trying to hide from the big ugly guy checking up on them. Don't know where mom was then.
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