The Raptor Migration Season

Sharp-shinned hawkToday I heard a mad squadawk-ing from the direction of the chickens.  I looked outside and saw a Sharp-shinned hawk swoop past the mobile chicken pen (also called a chicken tractor or chicken ark) and perch nearby.  My chicken tractor is completely raptor-proof, and for good reason!  But although I knew he couldn't get in to slaughter my chickens, the hens had no such confidence in my building design.

I walked outside and shooed the hawk away.  It took a lot of shooing!  That hawk had spotted herself a tasty buffet of plump chickens, and he was not inclined to leave until she had figured out how to get to it.  She didn't take off until I was within 15 feet of her, and I had been speaking loudly and waving my arms around the entire time I approached!  She was perched at eye level, too, it's not as if she was way up in the treetops.  She was RIGHT THERE, and I shifted her only reluctantly.

As for the chickens, they gave a remarkable display of instinct.  Even though they see birds all the time, they somehow knew that this one meant them harm.  By the time I arrived, three of the hens had managed to cram themselves into the corner farthest from the hawk, wedged in between the wire and their waterer.  The fourth hen, Edith, had sensibly retired to the coop.

This reminded me that it's the beginning of the migratory season.  Every year starting in February, birds start migrating north along the West coast.  They follow the snow melt, looking for greener pastures and fresher prey.  Most migrating birds are also in a rush to get to their breeding grounds.

This time of year, we see a huge influx of raptors passing through.  Of all sorts of birds, actually - the Skagit Valley is famous for its annual collection of Snow geese and Trumpeter swans which flock to our agricultural fields.  They are beloved by tourists and bird watchers, but the bane of the farmers whose crops they nibble, and of local drivers trying to get where they're going without dodging cars that suddenly slow for no apparent reason.

Hummingbirds are also on the move.  March 1st is the typical arrival date for hummingbirds in our area, although they have been arriving early in recent years.  I guess I need to set out their feeders - last year I pulled the feeders early in a fit of pique, after a hummingbird managed to poop ON MY FACE as I was standing on my own darned deck!  The ungrateful buzzing wretches.

Most of the migrant birds are coming up from Mexico, and are nearing the end of their voyage.  After all that flying, they are really hungry!  I'm sure this is why the hawk was so persistent at the chicken tractor this afternoon. 

It's worth noting that even if you don't have trouble with our local raptors (which include Bald eagles, and several species of hawk and falcon), they are usually not as motivated as the migratory raptors.  Always secure the top of your chicken run, if you want to keep your chickens safe!

Creative Commons-licensed image courtesy of Flickr user oldmanlincoln.