Two Red Tail Hawks in the backyard right now! With Photo...

[Rob'in'To]

I just got home from work and there are two Red Tail Hawks in the backyard right now.  One is on the ground just over the fence eating something and the other is in the tree above my swing with a big bloody chunk of ?

I am going to try and take some photos from the kitchen window and possibly sneak around the neighbour's house shortly when I feel they may be just about done eating whatever it is.

Is this normal for them to hunt in a pair like this and share prey?  Did they kill two things?

Funny though, even with them here and eating, the yard is full of the Finches, Chickadees, a male Cardinal and some Starlings.  I guess the birds know they are safe?

If I have a decent pic or two, I will share in this thread.  Wish me luck!

[Rob'in'To]

It turns out they, or one of them, took down a Pigeon, and did share it.  I watched them fly over the house after some time and off into a neighbour's tree where they sat together.  The screeching as they flew across the street sounded like something from Jurassic Park!

[Luv2Bird]

Hi Robin .. you sure are getting a lot of action in your back yard.  Vince just posted a Sharpie / Cooper's that almost flew into our sliding glass door Sat. afternoon chasing a mourning dove.  We got the pics right after, since he landed in a nearby tree. Then flew up into another. Then back down to our Japanese maple . close to the feeder.  He was in a perfect spot for a pic .. but as I slowly moved the door he saw me and took off!  It would have been such a great shot as there were no branches in the way and he was only about 50 ft. away.

[Rob'in'To]

There has been a lot of activity lately.  I know the snow brings them in to get at who is feeding at the feeders.  Usually it's a Sharp-shin or Coopers.  I've only seen a Red-tail here with something it caught once 2 or 3 winters ago.

On Sunday there was a Coopers sitting in my apple tree.  I couldn't tell if it was waiting for something or if it was warming itself in the full sun on such a bitterly cold day.  It's front area (stomach?) was splattered in blood.  I could tell through the binoculars that it was not it's own blood though.

I try to take most of the Hawk photos from my kitchen window first, and especially if they have caught something.  I don't want to spook them and have them fly off, especially if they have killed something and barely begun to eat it.  It's like a wasted death of a Pigeon or Starling (even if they are pests).

This shot above was through my window screen.

[JW Mills]

Nice shot there Rob!
How would you compare this years Hawk activity with other years?

[Rob'in'To]

I'd say a lot more active for sure.  Now almost daily while there is snow on the ground.  And with at least 5 to date (2 Red-tails, 1 Sharp-shin, 1 Coopers and the other is one or the other being larger than the Sharpie but smaller than the Coopers).

[BIGFRANK]

Have an eye for where the Redtails may go and their behavior. If they start sitting side by side they are bonding. U may want to try to figure out where they go from your yard. This time of year,a nesting pair within Toronto that Ive watched for 9 years,starts to rebuild their old nest and begin courtship. We usually go check on them early in the 2nd week of Feb and they are at it. Birds that stay all winter in the city get an early start.

[angieinto]

He followed them yesterday! LOL!!  :lol:  I'm sure he'll post more later, he was quite excited about all this activity yesterday.  

[Rob'in'To]

I know the direction they went, but it's going to be a bit of a walk.  No sight of them today but there is a Coopers hiding deep in the cedar trees at the back as I type this.

[Luv2Bird]

Great tips BIGFRANK , re bonding and early spring cleaning of previous nest. We had a pair of Red-tails nesting in the woods near our house.  Will have to check the nest starting early Feb. to see if there's any activity.  We've seen a lot more hawks this winter ... Red-tails , Coopers and Sharpies.

[Rob'in'To]

I haven't seen the Red-tails since that day.  

I guess this would be much to the delight of the Pigeons; but I haven't seen one of them either since Monday.

I am always keeping my eye out for them and anything else with feathers in the backyard.

[bluejay55]

I am pretty new to bird feeding. But have had a wonderful array of wild birds at my feeders.  I back on to a city park and today while filling my feeders a flock of pigeons flew overhead.  I thought "darn" now they will be back at my feeders as they haven't been here for a few months.  Sure enough, I came into the house and they started scrounging around the ground in the back yard.  All of a sudden they were all spooked and I couldn't figure out why until I saw a hawk balancing on the cable wires at the back of my fence.  I really could not identify the bird as it shocked me so much that I told my husband to look and went to get the camera and then he flew away.  He did seem quite big with long legs not fully covered with feathers but that is all I can say I'm afraid.  This might explain the drops of blood on the snow at the bottom of my bird feeder.  I thought ( remember, I am new to this lol) that the squirrels who are usually fighting amongst each other in the back yard had maybe hurt each other in the process.  I will certainly be watching my backyard feeder a little more closely these next few days.  Could this also be why I am not having to fill my feeders as often lately.  I usually fill them daily, but they are not being emptied as quickly, plus  last week my back yard was full of birds and I have not seen any lately at all these past few days.  Are the birds not coming to the feeders because of the hawk.

[feathered]

Did the hawk have a long tail? It sounds like you have a Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk scoping out your feeder. If it was roughly crow-sized, you probably have a Cooper's, and if it was smaller you might have a Sharpie.

[angieinto]

It definitely seems you got something hunting your birds.  Keep an eye out from your window or get out there and most often the hunter will take off at the sight of a human.