Hey a hawk got our duck. The duck was too big for it to fly off with, but that didn't stop it from killing and starting to rip it to managable-sized pieces!

OP, here is what I learned from the duck episode (and another episode)--once the hawk sees the potential prey, it will never forget it is there, and will bide its time. I think they know where every mouse den or bird nest (or chicken run, whatever) that they have not been able to score with, and check it out as part of their routine. We had three ducklings in the yard and my dh was sitting in a chair with them at his feet, and a hawk flew to the top of our monkey bars right next to my dh. From that point on, the hawk was obsessed.

We also had a hawk fly down to snatch our pet chicken. There were three of my family members all bumping a volleyball to each other (so we were in a small triangle as the tweens were learning to bump) and the chicken was puttering in the middle of the triangle, and a hawk came down inside that small triangle and grabbed the chicken--my dh reflexively kicked the hawk off, that's how close they were. Hawk did not care that people were right there--I'm under the impression (from a WaPo snowy owl article a couple of years ago) that when they focus on their prey, and don't register anything else (in the article, that's why the snowy owl flew in front of a bus and got hit)

The birds need to eat. They can't go shopping at Safeway, so the find their food the best way the can.

I've had a small bird swoop down multiple times and touch my huge shepherd, but of course that was a different scenario. It came from across the street, but maybe it was defending its nest or something?

I know someone who lost a pet bunny that way, with all three of their kids watching. So awful.

Are there more hawks and owls around than there used to be? I don't remember seeing so many when I was young, and I grew up in a much less developed area than DC. A few days ago I could see one from my office downtown. Have they acclimated to suburbs/cities or something?

My three young kids were traumatized this summer when a hawk swooped down and snatched up a bunny while they were playing in our backyard. It wasn't a pet bunny, but one of a family of rabbits that live in the bamboo thicket at the back of our house.

Wow, I had no idea large birds went after cats. I see them outside and I don't even live in a woodsy area.

Anonymous wrote:One of my friends lost her very sweet little six-pound dog this way. It was awful.

I'm so sorry. Can't imagine how hard it would be to get that out of my mind.

Anonymous wrote:I see hawks and falcons in our neighborhood. I am terrified one will get my cat one day.

Not if your cat stays safely inside your home.

Anonymous wrote:Our pets are happy go lucky, well loved and well cared for babies. They are pretty much completely helpless against a wild animal that has to hunt for its food.

+1 So true!

A few years ago, I was in the back yard with my dogs. The dogs were chasing a squirrel and a hawk swooped down after my smaller dog (15 pounds). My larger dog jumped up and snapped at the hawk before it could touch the smaller dog. The hawk pulled up really fast. It was fascinating to watch.

Our pets are happy go lucky, well loved and well cared for babies. They are pretty much completely helpless against a wild animal that has to hunt for its food.

Wow that's scary.

One of my friends lost her very sweet little six-pound dog this way. It was awful.

Anonymous wrote:Since we're discussing birds of prey peregrine falcons eat other birds while diving at 60+ mph . Anyone else find some of the carnage in their yard?
Bloody bits of pigeon ?

I
we found a rat face (only) on our front sidewalk a few years back. Eww!