Hawk on the wing. I bet this hasn't happened to you ;-)

[CalG]

So, there is a nesting pair of Broadwing hawks up 90 feet in one of our back yard maples. Some portion of them raised a brood there last year as well (two chicks then wife and I got to observe them grow and go out on their own) . This year it's three fluffy white bobbleheads.

I was sitting out on the back deck this afternoon watching the rain clouds build to the west, back turned to the nest tree.

WHEN WHOOOSH! and Flap! the dang adult bird struck me from behind! Talons left three blood streaks running down the left side of my face and head. the biggest cut right at the temple. (What little hair I have didn't protect much ;-)

I was flabbergasted, amused and excited. Watching that raptor peel away after a successful strafing run was a once in a life time experience.......

I hope ;-)

The wife sent a pic of the bloodletting to our three adult kids. They all thought I probably deserved it ;-)

 

[oosik]

What a fantastic experience. Mixed with a little luck. Many years ago the wife and I were on a moonlit stroll down our driveway. Suddenly something knocked the knit stocking cap off my wife's head. No sound - no blood. It was either a Great Horned owl or Barn Owl. It continued on it's low level flight - down the driveway. I would guess - just a warning with no ill message intended. Knowing a raptors available weaponry - she was fortunate.

 

[Alan W.]

Yes a raptors talons can do damage. A great horned owl that was tangled in my fence. One of his talons found the seam in my welding glove while I was getting him loose. Went to the bone, but the Dr. was impressed.

 

[Torvy]

I guess you should have been wearing OSHA approved helmet.

You weren't wearing a chipmunk hat, were you?

 

[bdhsfz6]

We had a similar experience last summer with a pair of nesting Redtail Hawks. My wife was gardening when one flew down and took her fuzzy brown garden hat right off her head!

Luckily, the hawk flew off with the hat in it's talons without causing any injury. My wife now wears a bright orange garden hat.

 

[gstrom99]

I've had a few owls buzz me, sitting in deer hunting tree stands over the years. They never connected. Maybe they were attracted by the blaze orange hat I was wearing?

 

[ponytug]

@CalG I'm glad that you are ok. I hope that it all heals up ok.

All the best,

Peter

 

[CalG]

@CalG I'm glad that you are ok. I hope that it all heals up ok.

All the best,

Peter

I'll heal up fine, just scratches.

But there was dried blood on the pillow slip this morning.

 

[BackRoad]

There was a hawk where I used to run. First time was a strafing attack about 15 feet over my head. I could feel the whoosh.

Seemed every day that I ran in that area, that bird would get closer and closer on its mission.

On it's last swoop, I could have reached up and touched it. It always came out of no where and attacked from the back.

Likely a nesting hawk, it won. I changed my course and quit running through its nursery.

 

[CliffordK]

Many years ago we were horseback riding near Black Butte, OR when we came across an injured Golden Eagle.

So, I was given the job to catch it. I must say I was a little nervous. But, I was given a pair of gloves for my hands, and a Pendleton shirt to cover it with. I managed to corner it and throw the shirt over it, expecting a bit of a fight.

It was the most odd thing. The bird didn't struggle a bit. It completely fell asleep for the horseback ride back to the pickup, to the point we had to poke it to make sure it was still alive.

We took it to a vet in Sister's Oregon, which then transferred it to the Oregon Raptor Center in Eugene, OR.

 

[oosik]

I have a family of Osprey that always nest in a large pine - right adjacent to my lake. They are an amazing bird and really fun to watch.

They will spot a bass - swimming close to the surface in my lake. From really way high up they will start their dive. By the time they hit the water - look just like a speeding bullet. Somewhere I read that their success ratio was around 35%. That seems about right.

It's really amazing to see the Osprey rise to the surface - bass in his grasp - shake all the water off his wings - struggle to regain flight. Some times the bass is just too big and they have to drop it or they miss it altogether.

However - something about this place brings them back every year. Nothing ever bothers them and plenty of fish.

 

[Eagle1]

I have an Osprey that shows up a month or so at a time couple times year. I enjoy watching him fish while sitting on the porch at sunrise.
Even more fun when the resident bald eagle tries to chase him away.

 

[CalG]

Wife and I each got strafed a couple of times today while out in the yard and gardens. No contact, though one run did ruffle her shirt. We have taken to wearing brim hats these days. Chicks seem to be eating well. I keep the spotting scope set up most of the day.

 

[jaxs]

Wife and I each got strafed a couple of times today while out in the yard and gardens. No contact, though one run did ruffle her shirt. We have taken to wearing brim hats these days. Chicks seem to be eating well. I keep the spotting scope set up most of the day.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with less than a complete hockey goalie outfit.

 

[ponytug]

Many years ago we were horseback riding near Black Butte, OR when we came across an injured Golden Eagle.

So, I was given the job to catch it. I must say I was a little nervous. But, I was given a pair of gloves for my hands, and a Pendleton shirt to cover it with. I managed to corner it and throw the shirt over it, expecting a bit of a fight.

It was the most odd thing. The bird didn't struggle a bit. It completely fell asleep for the horseback ride back to the pickup, to the point we had to poke it to make sure it was still alive.

We took it to a vet in Sister's Oregon, which then transferred it to the Oregon Raptor Center in Eugene, OR.

Wow! And Double WOW! Gold star for taking on a golden eagle for a recovery. That is one big bird, with pretty fearsome weapons.

A few years back were riding a narrow trail, and spooked a pair of Golden Eagles. I had no idea that they were as big as they are. I was so amazed that the horses didn't dump us as one of the Goldens can within an arm's reach on takeoff.

My closest strafing incidents were dealing with food thieving kites as a kid. I had one dive between me and a friend at lunch; my sandwich had a pair of talon marks in the bread from my reflexive yank away, but the talons got the cheese. No blood thankfully, but I wasn't the target.

All the best,

Peter

 

[pmsmechanic]

We brought a mother cat and kittens to our place from the neighbors. I wanted help controlling the mice. The resident owls did not appreciate my efforts. One owl flew at waist height between my wife and I to strafe the cat. We were standing about 6 feet apart and the wings just missed us. Both of us felt the air off of it's wings. We gave the cats to a different neighbor.

 

[beckmurph]

We have had nesting hawks in a big oak tree in a field close to our house.

We also have owls, I think.

Two years the hawks had chicks.

Two years the owls raided the hawks nest.

Hawk feathers all over the back yard.