Actually, I don't think this was a Sharp skinned hawk because it was very large - bigger than a black crow, Linda. The owl just hunts here I think. I find "leftovers" occasionally. Didn't build a nest for it since the arborist who's also a birder showed me where the box would have to go and said I'd have to clean it. I don't do 25 ft. ladders. The raptor folk told me neither the hawk nor the owl would over-hunt a territory. I just hope they don't deplete us of our chipmunks or bunnies. I'm very fond of them.

Suzanne you left out the part about: The brown stinky stuff in the road you just ran over is manure either from the dairy farm down the road or the neighbor's horses. Great fertilizer also but it IS messy when it's thrown from tractor tires or it falls off the truck during transport. Don't put the top down on your cute little car and don't call to complain about it either. Welcome to the country. For Eagle fans here's a link for you. Click on live Eagle cam and enjoy. Here is a link that might be useful: Eagle Cam

His tail was pretty long, but I dont know much on him overall at all for ID, the going call was Coop (so I wrote below) but I personally haven't a clue here's a few more pics of him that I printed today for my neighbor (who calls me Elly Mae Crampet lol) he didn't believe me on the hawks that come and sit in our yards. He comes often to the yard, daily, sometimes twice a day :O He did have 2 RTH trying to steal his dinner last week, now THAT was a show! He also sounds like a crying baby, he will on occassion sit in a low tree in my back yard and whine (so weird!) -Michelle

Hi Johanna, First of all thanks for letting the hawk go unharmed. Yes it is illegal to harm or kill them, but still not everybody would have acted in a way respectful of the law (and the animal!) in your situation. You did the best thing by securing the coop; the best way to avoid having one of your chicken grabbed through the wire by any predator would be to use 2 layers of fence, 12 inches appart or so. Where there is a chicken coop, there are Coopers, but also racoons and those are much more destructive than a bird of prey. Then if the Cooper has no access, it will understand in time and move on, checking in once in a while. These birds have a high metabolism and need to eat on a daily basis so he won't loose his time on a lost cause. If it becomes a real problem, you can call your state or your state falconry association to have a falconer come and legally trap the hawk for you. The bird will then be released unharmed in an area that can sustain it and where he won't disturb anyone. But with chickens, be ready to see predators once in a while. Good luck! Audrey