I was using a leaf blower around the back of someone's garden earlier this year and something that looked like this went to catch something, I had startled it and it went to fly at my face when it realized I was a person. It then turned around and flew and I never saw it again, with no evidence.
For several years one would glide past my living room window ,within 15m, searching the road cutting below for roadkill.Then she would turn right across the paddocks. She would do this every evening at about the same time. She isn't about this year.
I used to love raptors, but once I got chickens my politics changed. Still, these Swamp Harriers are fine-looking fellows. I admired their feathered pants at 2:22--and combined with the next shot of their serious, brooding visage, I can see a resemblance to senator-elect John Fetterman. I can't believe that magpies and starlings can be a threat to these fierce-looking birds. They are so majestic and lovely...and I feel so conflicted admiring these hawks!
Raptors being a problem with chickens? Most raptors rarely go for chickens. I have goshawks, sparrowhawks, peregrines, buzzards anc kestrels and never have any of them gone for any of my poultry. Unless your birds are bantams, or the raptors in your area are eagle sized, you shouldn’t worry too much. Ground predators like rats and loose dogs should be your biggest worries
Indeed. I have four chickens myself, and i'm a lot more worried about a stoat getting them than I am a hawk, even though I see them pretty frequently. All of my girls are like Takahe in build, lol.
Could they carry a 2kg prey and fly away with it? Wondering because a harrier came right by the house flying low checking my chickens and some are that weight.
i call them harrier hawks - im not new zealander - i like new zealand birds lol and i have aharrier hawk oc named alpine that looks like this one at 1:16
