Owl attacks Parrots!??
Charles
Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
(Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
birds!
Anyway, two nights ago, while they were sleeping on their stand,
overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling windows, I
suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit the window
VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
PARROTS!
My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
keep my windows closed at all times?
Any feedback would be appreciated...
Sincerely,
-charles
Tom Wahl
Charles wrote:
>
> Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
> (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
> birds!
> Anyway, two nights ago, while they were sleeping on their stand,
> overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling windows, I
> suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit the window
> VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
> gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
>
> I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
> the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
> PARROTS!
>
> My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
> owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
> keep my windows closed at all times?
> I'm not an owl expert, but have had a couple of encounters, not always at night. They
are predator birds, as are any hawks, eagles, or falcons in the area. It is very likely
that if your window had been open, at least one of your birds would be gone. I don't
know if you have curtains, or at least sheers, but that would help, and while sheers
would allow some air flow, they would blur the image of the birds. You are dealing with
a very bright color, and most bird's (including owl's) eyesight is very keen on picking
up movement and contrast. In any case, you must have the wings very well clipped if the
birds are going to be near an open window, and never unsupervised near an open window.
Also, as a side note, your birds aren't related, are they? If they are, you will want to
make sure they don't breed in the future, but you have a couple of years to worry about
that!
Tom
Julie and John Reiner
Charles wrote:
>
> Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
> (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
> birds!
>
> overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling windows, I
> suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit the window
> VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
> gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
>
> I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
> the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
> PARROTS!
>
> My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
> owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
> keep my windows closed at all times?
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> -charles
but I can guarantee you that many owls will kill birds, and not only at
night. They are very serious predators--very efficient. But super
critters, nevertheless. I wouldn't put the parrots outdoors. John.
Karen Irene Tolson Carroll (Thehawkmom)
Tom Wahl wrote:
>
> Charles wrote:
> >
> > Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
> > (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
> > birds!
>
> > overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling windows, I
> > suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit the window
> > VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
> > gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
> >
> > I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
> > the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
> > PARROTS!
> >
> > My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
> > owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
> > keep my windows closed at all times?
> are predator birds, as are any hawks, eagles, or falcons in the area. It is very likely
> that if your window had been open, at least one of your birds would be gone. I don't
> know if you have curtains, or at least sheers, but that would help, and while sheers
> would allow some air flow, they would blur the image of the birds. You are dealing with
> a very bright color, and most bird's (including owl's) eyesight is very keen on picking
> up movement and contrast. In any case, you must have the wings very well clipped if the
> birds are going to be near an open window, and never unsupervised near an open window.
>
> Also, as a side note, your birds aren't related, are they? If they are, you will want to
> make sure they don't breed in the future, but you have a couple of years to worry about
> that!
>
> Tom
Owls are a great danger to falconer's bird at dawn, night and dusk.
That is when they are are most active. Hawks, eagles and falcons can be
a danger to a falconer flying a smaller bird. Parrots are probably a
great target too. I would not let my hawks sit out until I know the
owls are not active. Parrots should be as closely guarded. Their
bright colors probably attact owls. I wonder how many pet parrots, etc
have been killed by wild predators, remember that the neighborhood cat,
raccoon, coyote or dog is also a great danger too. You just have to be
careful.
Kathleen P. Lyons
> Charles wrote:
> >
> > Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
> > (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
> > birds!
> >
> > overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling windows, I
> > suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit the window
> > VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
> > gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
> >
> > I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
> > the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
> > PARROTS!
> >
> > My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
> > owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
> > keep my windows closed at all times?
> >
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > -charles
Charles,
I would definately keep the windows closed at night! We had birds
sleeping on a screened porch in Florida and had to rescue them from a
non-poisonous snake who would have nontheless enjoyed some poultry for
dinner. We once came home a bit later than expected, at dusk, and found
an oppossum trying to get through the screen. I don't leave my birds
exposed to anything unless I am sitting right next to them.
KT Lyons, bird slave
Leigh
Yes, there are large species of owls who eat other birds. Some
species of hawks also. It is illegal to shoot or trap birds of
prey. The fine is $20,000. It is better to use some sort
of curtain or screen as another poster suggested to keep
the birds of prey from noticing your parrots. --Leigh
>> VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on my deck,
>> gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
>>
>> I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
>> the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
>> PARROTS!
>>
>> My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead now? Do
>> owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I need to
>> keep my windows closed at all times?
Robin Panza
In article <32CB18...@www.plantnet.com>, Julie and John Reiner <jre...@www.plantnet.com> writes:
> Charles wrote:
>>
>> I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window at exactly
>> the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE
>> PARROTS!
>>
> Can't speak to the specific case you described, with windows and all,
> but I can guarantee you that many owls will kill birds, and not only at
> night. They are very serious predators--very efficient. But super
> critters, nevertheless. I wouldn't put the parrots outdoors. John.
And, while the owls are less active by day, the accipiters take over. I have
seen several museum specimens of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks that had
broken their necks aiming at cage birds inside the window. A hungry Cooper's
could try for an Eclectus parrot.
Robin pan...@clpgh.org
Mdleweight
I have a CAG, Quaker, and two parakeets that live in my solarium room.
The ceiling is 75 percent glass and the house is in a rural wooded
location. I frequently have large red-tail hawks circling above. I never
worried about one crashing into the glass before, but now I wonder if one
might try it.
Pup
In article <1997Jan3.092403.5502@clp2>, pan...@clpgh.org (Robin Panza) wrote:
>And, while the owls are less active by day, the accipiters take over. I have
>seen several museum specimens of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks that had
>broken their necks aiming at cage birds inside the window. A hungry Cooper's
>could try for an Eclectus parrot.
>
>Robin pan...@clpgh.org
>
Yep! Quite true... my neighbor's parrot, tethered (!!!!!) to his back fence,
was recently killed by a Cooper's hawk. First time I'd heard of such a thing
since the parrot was very nearly the same size.
Joanie
Pamela A Mitchell
Kathleen P. Lyons (ktl...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: > Charles wrote:
: > >
: > > Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two Eclectus Parrots
: > > (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old... beautiful
: > > birds!
:
: I would definately keep the windows closed at night! We had birds
: sleeping on a screened porch in Florida and had to rescue them from a
: non-poisonous snake who would have nontheless enjoyed some poultry for
: dinner. We once came home a bit later than expected, at dusk, and found
: an oppossum trying to get through the screen. I don't leave my birds
: exposed to anything unless I am sitting right next to them.
:
: KT Lyons, bird slave
Here in Virginia, my neighbors had their severe macaw taken by a
possum who gnawed through the screened outdoor cage they were housing
the bird in, in the summer months. Horrible to imagine since I also
have a severe! (Personally I would not leave Gandhi outside unsupervised,
though I often let him play in a vined trellis I have, while I am mowing
the lawn with my very quiet electric mower.)
Pam
Leigh R Hidell
In rec.pets.birds Pup <shena...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
: Yep! Quite true... my neighbor's parrot, tethered (!!!!!) to his back fence,
: since the parrot was very nearly the same size.
: Joanie
To put a tethered bird of any size outside is pretty much
an invitation to Cooper's hawks, which are not exactly
shy & retiring when it comes to their prey to begin with.
Where I live, though, the hawk wouldn't even get a shot.
The racoons would get there first.
--Leigh
Cheryl/Bill Kinkaid
shena...@worldnet.att.net (Pup) wrote:
>In article <1997Jan3.092403.5502@clp2>, pan...@clpgh.org (Robin Panza) wrote:
>
>>And, while the owls are less active by day, the accipiters take over. I have
>>seen several museum specimens of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks that had
>>broken their necks aiming at cage birds inside the window. A hungry Cooper's
>>could try for an Eclectus parrot.
>>
>>Robin pan...@clpgh.org
>>
>Yep! Quite true... my neighbor's parrot, tethered (!!!!!) to his back fence,
>was recently killed by a Cooper's hawk. First time I'd heard of such a thing
>since the parrot was very nearly the same size.
>
>Joanie
Too bad the hawk didn't go after your neighbour instead. People do
amazingly stupid things, don't they?
Cherane Pefley
In article <32CB18...@www.plantnet.com> Julie and John Reiner
wrote:
>Date: Wed, 01 Jan 1997 20:08:59 -0600
>From: Julie and John Reiner <jre...@www.plantnet.com>
>Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
>Subject: Re: Owl attacks Parrots!??
>
>Charles wrote:
>>
>> Hi, I live in the hills in Hollywood, CA.. I just got two
Eclectus
> Parrots
>> (Red Sided) a red female and a green male..2 and 3 months old...
> beautiful
>> birds!
>>
>> Anyway, two nights ago, while they were sleeping on their stand,
>> overlooking Los Angeles in front of our floor to ceiling
windows, I
>> suddenly heard a very loud crash, as if something had just hit
the window
>> VERY HARD. I ran out to see a HUGE owl, dazed and confused on
my deck,
>> gathering it's senses, and then it flew off in awkward flight.
>>
>> I looked at the window and could see that it had hit the window
at
> exactly
>> the same height as the sleeping birds... IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT
FOR THE
>> PARROTS!
>>
>> My question is... if my window was open, would my birds be dead
now? Do
>> owls kill other birds? And if so... is it only at night? Or do I
need to
>> keep my windows closed at all times?
>>
>> Any feedback would be appreciated...
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> -charles
>Can't speak to the specific case you described, with windows and
all,
>but I can guarantee you that many owls will kill birds, and not
only at
>night. They are very serious predators--very efficient. But
super
>critters, nevertheless. I wouldn't put the parrots outdoors.
John
Hello John, I have bred the Eclectus for over five years. I look
at my babies pictures of development and wonder how they are
perching at two months of age.
I also wonder how the babies feel looking around not having a place
to go for protection. As far as they might be concerned, they are
sitting ducks, looking at the world waiting to be plucked up for
diner.
They don't know they have a piece of glass in front of them! I
know you are wanting the best for them but for a baby a needed
place (as a nest box) could be much better for them at this age.
THey don't need to have something flying at them for attack with no
mamma, daddy or owner for them to run to at this age.
They would do better on a perch with you or at least by you. If
you work then that is a different story. However, I would take
them away from that window for the first six months of their lives.
Also, if it is hot, so is that area, if it is cold, so is that
area within that window.
God love you for I know what you had in mind, but not good for
those babies yet. They need to be focused on eating, not running
from predators, nor playing with toys. Foood, is the name of their
entertaninment for the time being.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
talk to you later, Cherane
Cherane Pefley
DSLAPHEAD
Hopefully this might answer a few of your questions !
Yes large owls such as the American Great Horned will attack roosting
birds however this usually only happen in the dawn dusk period, if you can
cover any view the intruder may have of your parrots during the night,
further attacks will be prevented-hopefully!
regards mark