Another Hawk...Coopers

[steg]

Guessing coopers hawk or sharp-shined. Still fun to see in the backyard.

[ThisIsMelissa]

We have (what I believe to be) Coopers Hawks that nest 2 doors down--looks different than the one you have. Last year, I saw 3 of them sitting atop our wooden swingset scoping out my garden. I'm guessing they were looking for mice, baby rabbits & squirrels... the more they take, the fewer curse words I say!

Problem is, we're considering getting a couple toy-size dogs (just born overnight!) and I'm afraid the hawks will swoop and take 'em. One of a couple reasons I'm re-thinking the prospect of adopting the puppies.

[govgirl75]

We have lived in this house for 31 years and I have never seen so many raptors as in the last two summers. They are coming right up to our house, sitting on the pool railing, and are just more visible than ever before. I am not sure if it is because the ground game is being decimated by the coyotes, so the hawks are coming into the developments or if they are more successful in raising young to maturity.
That being said, I have 3 chihuahuas and I do worry about them and the hawks and coyotes. I have bells on their collars and dress them in funny looking sweaters in the winter, in hopes they do not look so much like prey. Also, in the winter, they do not venture far from the deck and patio because they do not do well in snow and hate the cold. We do try to keep an eye on them from dusk to dawn year around because of the coyotes. It is a risk to have toy dogs, but they are such a joy.
Gloria

[ThisIsMelissa]

We have lived in this house for 31 years and I have never seen so many raptors as in the last two summers. They are coming right up to our house, sitting on the pool railing, and are just more visible than ever before. I am not sure if it is because the ground game is being decimated by the coyotes, so the hawks are coming into the developments or if they are more successful in raising young to maturity.
That being said, I have 3 chihuahuas and I do worry about them and the hawks and coyotes. I have bells on their collars and dress them in funny looking sweaters in the winter, in hopes they do not look so much like prey. Also, in the winter, they do not venture far from the deck and patio because they do not do well in snow and hate the cold. We do try to keep an eye on them from dusk to dawn year around because of the coyotes. It is a risk to have toy dogs, but they are such a joy.
Gloria

Gloria, we've been here for 5 years and it seemed 2009 was the first year we saw them. We were eating breakfast in the dinette and looking outside when 2 hawks landed on the deck railing just 12-15' from us, looking us square in the eye thru the sliding glass door. That summer, we saw a coyote, but other than that, we've not had any predators in the area.

The puppies we're looking at are Papillons. Right now, they're just 8 oz and at birth and fully grown, they're 4-5 lbs, kinda like a teacup yorkie. So, I know that these raptors could steal 'em if left unattended. And really, it's at the puppy stage I'm most worried (this summer). I've not had a dog for almost 30 years, but my 4 year old has been begging. So, we'll see.