Bird Strike Force

Rest of  Tuesday, September 23, 2014:   Waited for the rains to end.  Hawks were then moved to the beach and evening patrols were started around 5:30.   Hawks were set up at the walkway by the parking garage at the hotel with 2 carts of 4 hawks.    All 4 hawks were released into trees above the hotel to deter birds from flying and roosting on the hotel.  Across the road at the office building, I noted that the grackles would sit in the trees, yet the starlings sit on the rooftops.   I love to watch the boiling, swirling flights of the starlings with the coordinated flight patterns.  The hawks were flying back and forth on T posts and trees.  Birds were moving about and attempting to roost in the trees.   Then the carts with their vari kennels were moved across the street next to the office building.   Positioning of the boxes is crucial to getting the hawks down in a timely fashion.  They need a clear 'flight path' so they can fly in and out of the boxes confidently.  It was a busy evening with lots of people walking dogs and out for evening walks.  Affecting  the flight path of the birds at bus stop.  Two hawks like to roost at sundown, so they were put up; to prevent worrisome sleepless nights by the falconer.  The other two are very connected to their falconer and come down readily to a T post with a light on it, then laddered down to another t post to the vari kennel.  One hawk stayed out until 8:00, attempting to roost, but was safely retrieved using the lighted t post and laddering method with a treat in the box at the end of the day.   By the time the last hawk was put to bed.  I noted very little bird noises.  The next morning, also it seemed very quiet at the office building as well.  A good start.