Sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee while listening to the wife talking about her work morning, I saw a large shape fall/swoop to the ground between two of my lilacs through the patio door. I interrupted her with a "wow .. I think a duck just hit the ground outside" . We both stood up to get a better look and I pointed out the large brown shape I was sure was a female mallard. It was then I also became aware of 3 large and very agitated crows very close by, one of them swooped down and grabbed at the rear of the grounded bird which took to the air immediately, hugging the ground and twisting among the neighbors apple trees, the 3 crows in hot pursuit.

It was when the bird took off that I realized I was looking at a very large hawk, probably a red tailed tho I couldn't be sure. We noticed it was clutching a small dead/limp animal or bird in a talon as it took flight. The prior evening my son and I were relaxing in the gazebo, I had just put the pigeons back in the coop for the night. We both noticed a hawk cruise ten foot over my rooftop and land in a tall pine on my neighbors property. We never saw him leave so ... having lost my 1st bird 5 days ago I decided then and there that my loft would remain locked down until I can figure out what is going on.

The bird I lost ( a white homer) was six months old and had never free flown until last week. On her first free flight she grabbed air and circled the house a couple of times zooming among the trees like she was playing, then she left. She made a couple of appearances during the afternoon swooping down over the loft and then disappearing again. Boy that bird could motor. She didn't return that night but flew in for breakfast the following morning. I locked her down for 2 days then let her free fly once more. She joined the flock for a few minutes then took off on her own. Again I saw her a few times during the day flying over the house but she didn't return that night nor since. I doubt that she became hawk bait, more likely she flew too far afield and got lost. One thing she showed me tho is that either I have a slow flock of homers or she was powered by Ferrari.

Maybe she's out looking for a guy who can keep up.

Hi Maniac, do you mean the 3 crows were after the hawk? Can a hawk be a prey to the crows? Excuse my ignorance, having always lived in cities the predators
I know are cats and humans.
Gladys

Hi Dave,

I think it's a good idea to have your loft on lock down temporarily. I hope your lost little white rocket returns, sounds like she is a good racer!

It's a busy time of year for lots of birds and animals and with that, there is an increase in hawk activity. I've seen a sharp shinned hawk in my backyard three times in the last month. Crows weren't after it though, it was grackles! That's what alerted me to the hawk a couple of times.

Gladys Chardon wrote:Hi Maniac, do you mean the 3 crows were after the hawk? Can a hawk be a prey to the crows? Excuse my ignorance, having always lived in cities the predators
I know are cats and humans.
Gladys

Gladys, the crows would have had nests in the area and were running the hawk off their territory.

AH!! .Cyreen.
Gladys

I watched a video on YouTube once of a hawk that had caught a crow...I won't post it here because it might offend some members. However it was quite remarkable and fascinating behaviour! That hawk had the crow pinned down and was getting ready to kill it and the crow was unable to free itself from the hawks' talons. I don't know how injured it was, but over the course of several minutes, it's comrades, family and friends descended and kept physically attacking the hawk and until it released the fallen crow. The crow did fly off after this and then the video ended.

This is a very admirable, relatable and "human" thing for crows to do.....coming to the rescue of a member of the family in desperate need of help.

I found this on wikipedia .

The Red-tailed Hawk is generally non-aggressive toward people and
toward other birds, unless there are nestlings present. Approaching a
Red-tailed Hawk with nestlings will result in attack and possible
serious injury, so it is best to give the nest a wide berth. It is
commonly harassed by crows, magpies, owls, other hawks, and even songbirds over territorial disputes, though it is generally not injured.

Brad wrote:I watched a video on YouTube once of a hawk that had caught a crow...I won't post it here because it might offend some members. However it was quite remarkable and fascinating behaviour! That hawk had the crow pinned down and was getting ready to kill it and the crow was unable to free itself from the hawks' talons. I don't know how injured it was, but over the course of several minutes, it's comrades, family and friends descended and kept physically attacking the hawk and until it released the fallen crow. The crow did fly off after this and then the video ended.

This is a very admirable, relatable and "human" thing for crows to do.....coming to the rescue of a member of the family in desperate need of help.

I fully agree, Brad, and cannot imagine it could be the cause of offense to anyone, specially as it has a happy end. I'd love to see the video. Perhaps other members will let you know how they feel about it.
Gladys

I live at the edge of the Oka National Park. An uncultivated field separating my home from the woods. It is not uncommon to see Red Tails soaring or hovering over it hunting. There are a few but not many. Reading a little about these birds since yesterday has made me aware that their preferred diet is about 80% small rodents. Seldom do they seek out birds ( although I find it strange it's commonly known as the chicken hawk).

This morning, with binoculars I scanned the pine tree it had landed in 2 days ago. There is a very large collection of twigs near the top that sure appears to be a nest. I saw no activity in the 15 minutes I watched but I will keep watching over the next few days. I also picked up some feathers at the point where it was attacked by the crow under the lilacs, perhaps I can identify it by the markings on them.

Gladys Chardon wrote:
I fully agree, Brad, and cannot imagine it could be the cause of offense to anyone, specially as it has a happy end. I'd love to see the video. Perhaps other members will let you know how they feel about it.
Gladys

Ok Gladys, but be warned and any other members as well that might be uncomfortable seeing live action of a predator taking down prey.

Neat !! A Richard Attenborough moment almost.

Thank you Brad. I'm surely glad you had explained what was happening. Not sure I would have realized the other birds were there to help and, of course, knowing the good ending beforehand soothes the anguish. It is a story worth seeing. A precious example of solidarity. Thanks again

Gladys

The Crows were most likely after the Hawk's kill since he was still grasping onto it. They'll chase hawaks down until the hawk gives up and lets go of their meal, then they have a feast. Are you sure they were Crows and not Ravens?