![]() Hollow bones and fluffy feathers make birds look like they weigh more than they actually do. The wings are not that strong and it’s physically impossible. Photo © Zak Pohlen/FlickrĪ hawk cannot fly while carrying more than its body weight. Let’s put this to rest: these stories are urban (or rural) legends. Such tales almost always involve secondhand source material and copious consumption of alcohol (by the storyteller, not the hawk or the poodle). I’ve heard and read countless variations of these stories. The poodle’s yips are replaced by the owner’s anguished howls. The hawk snatches Fifi in its talons and lifts her into the sky. The poodle sprints towards its home, but it’s too late. But there’s one problem: a yapping poodle (always a poodle) just won’t shut up.īut suddenly the annoying dog gives out a yelp in alarm, as a ginormous hawk drifts overhead. Your friend (or more likely, your friend’s cousin’s coworker) sits on the back patio, enjoying a cold beer or six. Photo © tatsuo yamaguchi / Flickr Hawk Versus Poodle Should this really be a concern? Does it happen often, or at all? Let’s look at the reality of birds of prey and pets. ![]() The comments often feature stories of beloved cats and small dogs being carried off by hawks and owls. Recently, there have been a number of hawk photos posted, often with warnings: These birds are in our neighborhood! Watch your pets! Many see those large, stealthy predators and worry about their pets. They are feasting on the bounty of songbirds that are drawn to bird feeders. Hawks show up a lot in suburban and urban environments this time of year. It served that purpose, but it also gives me sometimes-startling insights into my neighbors’ concerns.Ĭhief among those concerns is wildlife: Coyotes, bobcats (or bobcats misidentified as mountain lions), deer, and, lately, hawks. I recently downloaded the Nextdoor app, the “social network for your neighborhood community,” to keep track of road closures and new developments in my rapidly growing community. And many people seem to find their new neighbors terrifying. ![]()
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