[TN-Bird] Re: hand feeding wild birds...second try!
- From: "Marie La Salle" <mlasalle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jreese5@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 12:00:52 -0500
My husband can call the hawks who have nested in our yard for the last three
seasons. They are red-shouldereds and watch for him from the highest part of
the trees in the morning, coming down lower in winter when the lights go on
in the breakfast room in the morning, or the truck pulls into the driveway
in the afternoon.
It is when nesting begins that they really try to cozy up. Last year we were
astounded at the quantities of chicken gizzards, hearts livers etc. suddenly
being consumed. If the food wasn't out on time they were sitting on the
nearest "regular" platform feeder looking in the window and establishing eye
contact with whomever was visible until the food was produced. When the
young fledged we saw that there were three babies, which accounted for all
the feeding frenzy.
One day when dinner was a little late the parent hawk actually flew into the
bay window. I guess he figured, 'heck that's where it's coming from, maybe I
can just help myself'. Luckily there was no permanent damage that we could
tell, but he stuck to the wrought iron chairs on the patio from then on,
just sitting and staring you down.
As the fledglings matured the parents would take the food to a branch about
twenty feet off the ground, wait until the young hopped up next to them,
bleating, and then drop the food on the ground so the young would have to
swoop down and "catch" it. The parents leave with the young when they are
able to fend for themselves. i guess they know they have a good thing and
have no intention of sharing. When they return several months later they are
a little skittish at first, but by now they will catch food that my husband
tosses in mid air, and often land when he is only a few feet away.
Our acre lot is active at all times of the year, and when I went out this
morning and yelled at an audacious squirrel that he "was not to get on that
suet feeder, understand?" I figured maybe I have gone round the bend.
I printed your article out for my husband. Our mocker sometimes nibbles at
the hawks food when they're late picking it up, and sometimes tries to chase
them away. We'll see if he's up for training too.
Marie La Salle
Marietta GA
> As they get friendlier and more trusting, it's tempting to see if I can
> teach them to come closer, maybe even to eat from my hand. I don't know
why
> this is such a fascinating thought, but it is, and I'm evidently not alone
> in this. In fact, I discovered two books out currently that offer various
> techniques on "hand-taming" wild birds. I also found a variety of moving
> accounts from individuals who were not only able to induce a bird to eat
> out of their hand, but became emotionally entwined with "their" bird's
> family - watching it find a mate, bring the spouse along for treats, and
> pass on the relationship of trust to the offspring.
>
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