HAWKS AND WHAT TO DO

By Wally Southwell

Hawks had become a major problem at my aviary complex, and the situation was getting very bad with hawks visiting several times per day, roosting directly on the wire flights or trees surrounding the aviaries.

This had led to bird deaths as they were becoming very stressed with the hawks, a pair of golden shoulders and some neophemas had already died.

Shooting the hawks or poisoning them did not appeal as a satisfactory solution. It was decided to try shade cloth, so a framework of 25 x 25mm aluminium was fixed to the aviary flight extending approx. 300mm above the flights and shade cloth loosely attached.

Some 12 months later the hawks have completely disappeared and the birds are much happier, no stress from hawks, and a little more shade for the hot summer months.