Problem Child

[John Pearson]

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...Nov2011120.jpg

Here is my problem child that found my colony this year. My birds are long gone but this one stops by ocasionally to see if there is any activity. Unfortunately he looks pretty healthy and is probably not leaving anytime soon. Darn.....

[Robert Mohler]

Is that a Red Tail Hawk? We often see hawks in our area but thank goodness they have not come close to our colony. Does it come and bother your colony?

[John Pearson]

Hi Robert,
I don't think it is a red tail because usually their tail has a rusty type coloration that this one does not have. However, I'm not sure what kind this is because Sharp Shinned are usually no this stocky.

Yes he bothers my colony and seems to check in every couple of hours. Last year I went out and he was sitting on top of my Purple Martin house daring the birds to enter or exit. He found easy pickings at my colony 2 years ago when we had that oppressive heat and had all those jumpers. I never saw him get any birds last year but I'm gone during the day for work. I think he's a resident too because I saw him with his mate (?) over the winter months. I'll have to look him up in my bird book.
John

[Robert Mohler]

Could be a Broad Winged Hawk. Looks similar to one. Between the Sparrows, Starlings, Hawks, and Owls there always seems to one or another that we must keep an eye out for. :shock:

www.PurpleMartinLandlordsOfNorthTexas.com