Believe it or not, hawks are sometimes a major nuisance to property owners. While the recovery of birds of prey from the brink of exstinction has been a remarkable wildlife achievement, their recovery can mean headaches for you.
First, tolerance. There will never be lots of hawks or other birds of prey. Being the top of the key chain, it is impossible for their numbers to increase beyond the carrying capacity of the land.
Second, remember that hawks and other birds of prey are a FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES. You cannot kill them or harm them in any way without a federal and sometimes state depredation permit. So all solutions will have to be non-lethal.
Pyrotechnics: Scare them with the loud booms of screamers and projectile explosives. These are fired from a 12 gauge shotgun or special pistol. Some states consider them firearms and you will need proper permits to shoot them. Even if your state does not consider them firearms, you will still need to treat them as deadly. Get training and/or instruction before using these devices.
Hawks Aloft - September is prime time for hawk-watching from Massachusetts' higher peaks as thousands of sharp-shinned, broad-winged and other hawks press southward, riding prevailing wind currents. Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Tom, Skinner State Park, Mt. Watatic, the Blue Hills and similar points provide great vantages to witness the fall bird of prey passage. Source MassWildlife News Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Wayne F. MacCallum, Director Contact: Bill Davis - Phone: (508) 792-7270 ext. 153, Fax: (508) 792-7275 E-mail: email@example.com (09/22/99, #12)
This article talks about the use of a peregrine falcon named sugar to convince birds not to hang around an air port.
"Trained NYC Hawks Attack Chihuahua" by LARRY McSHANE Associated Press NEW YORK it tells of an 18 inch hawk that attacked the small dog.
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