Watch em like a hawk.

[sboggio]

A year or so ago I was working in my home office with my CAG Jazzy on her tree in the middle of the room. A large thud at one of the windows startled us both and jazzy flew down from her tree. I looked out the window to see a smaller hawk dazed on the ground. It took a minute or so to shake off and fly away. A half hour later it hit the window on the other side, this time not so hard, and flew off. Today the exact same thing happened with a Pygmy Owl (I think thats was the species).

If you live in a forested rural area like I do, watch out for preditor birds. When I take Jazzy out to work with me in the garden I have always stayed close. She usually spots anything over head first, including hard to see airplanes anyway. She loves hanging out in the garden. Now this is the second time that one came in alot lower. I don't think it was a coincidence, and preditor birds hunting horizontally is probably more common than I had concidered. Now I'm going to watch even closer.
P.S. Out standard pooldle pup caught and killed a grouse a couple weeks ago. I'll take her out with us too next time we go gardening.

[greyburd]

Hello Sboggio... I feel it is important to let our fids get outside and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. I would worry about the predators that you have though. If they really want to get at your bird, they WILL. You can watch them like a hawk (along with your poodle), but I think they might beat you to the punch if they really wanted to.

[sboggio]

I hope you are wrong, but I agree, I think it does them good to get outside. She loves digging around in tall green grass, and climbing on sapplings. I'll just have to stay close, as always. I worry most about the hawks as they are a resourceful bunch. It will be an interesting posting if one decides to test things. But I think Jazzy may have turned the tables on the pygmy owl. It was half her size, and I think the owl was expecting a dove.

[Franciscus]

Taking your parrot outside with you uncaged is a really really bad idea, especially having hawks and other predatory birds around. Parrots have been known to be snatched right off people's shoulders by raptors. I would invest in an aviary for Jazzy. Your poodle would not be able to save your birds life, and neither would you. Not only is there a danger of predation, even a clipped bird can and will fly when they perceive danger, perhaps to land in front of a car, cat, or a dog.

[sboggio]

I do plan to build an aviary outside for my finches. I agree that will be best. We have already spent many hours outside, and so far Jazzy usually spots them before I do, and I'm fairly observant. In the meantime I'll watch even closer. Jazzy loves scratching around in the garden, and would be crushed to be left inside on a nice day.

[Luvmygreys]

Originally Posted by Franciscus

Taking your parrot outside with you uncaged is a really really bad idea, especially having hawks and other predatory birds around. Parrots have been known to be snatched right off people's shoulders by raptors. I would invest in an aviary for Jazzy. Your poodle would not be able to save your birds life, and neither would you. Not only is there a danger of predation, even a clipped bird can and will fly when they perceive danger, perhaps to land in front of a car, cat, or a dog.

I live in Country setting. The other night my husband and I heard something screaming overhead. The best we can figure out is an Owl was flying away with a rabbit. I wished it had been one of our many moles.... :eusa_wall

[sboggio]

Giving a "hoot" about rabbit control can be a good thing. And now that you mentioned it...since we got our poodle, we have'nt seen many moles at our place. I think the squirrel and chipmonk populations are getting faster too.