Bird Strike Force

Tuesday, March 26, 2013:    A wonderful, dry cooler day in Miami.  I set the birds out and greeted guests who were intrigued by the concept of bird control with hawks.  One couple from Oxford, England was quite familiar with the method, since it is used extensively in the UK and Europe.  The birds were both on fist and flight patrols.  It was a dry day, warm in the sun, cool in the shade, temps in the 70's.  During the early evening, I noted activity at the Banyon tree by St. Louis at the exit circle.  I saw a larger bird, the size of a coopers hawk, being harassed by the mockingbirds.  I thought initially it was a Cooper's hawk.  But spotting it again after dark, I saw that it is a type of NightJar.  An insect eating bird that flies like a hawk.  Security had released it from being trapped in the garage area of the hotel.   Evening flight patrols were concentrated at the second circle, per request of Brickell security.  2 hawks were put up.  One, Tobasco seemed pre-occupied with things other than me after I put her up.  The other, Pepper, is very focused on me and is practically a shadow.  Pepper came down right away after flying around, but Tobasco flew, caught a a bird and ate it in the tree right at nightall.  She had a meal and did not come down until abut 7:15 the next morning from the same tree I saw her the night before.  But, she is safe and we start another day.