Taking him outside?

[jajeanpierre]

I believe you're misunderstanding me. I'm telling you it doesn't happen MOST places. I said specifically "In this area". First you started with seagulls, ravens, and hawks. Now we're down to 2 species of hawk that are known bird hunters taking parrots from people, not lizards. I'd be curious to know where you live, incidentally. I would never leave a chameleon in a tree or bush more than 10 ft away, partly because of hawks but mostly because of cats and dogs.

It's great to warn people about remote possibilities but perspective is important.

Yes, perspective is important and since I have spent a lot of hours studying hawks and their hunting styles as well as hours learning from my dear friend, Dr. Jamie Samour who is an avian vet and who is also a world renowned falcon expert, I might have a bit of perspective.

Both of these hawks are common in the US and thrive around human habitation. Both are especially bold hunters. The thing about hawks is they are opportunistic. Go talk to a falconer and ask if a hungry young Coopers or Sharp Shinned would have any hesitation of snatching a chameleon off your shoulder.

From Cornell University's Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

Sharp Shinned Hawks:
Studies report quail, shorebirds, doves, swifts, woodpeckers, and even falcons as prey. Sharp-shins also eat small rodents, such as mice and voles, and an occasional moth or grasshopper. While nesting, much of the food for their babies is the nestlings and fledglings of other birds.

Coopers Hawk:
Cooper’s Hawks sometimes rob nests and also eat chipmunks, hares, mice, squirrels, and bats. Mammals are more common in diets of Cooper’s Hawks in the West.

 

[jajeanpierre]

i looked it up, only 2 or 3 species of hawks are native here

Where do you live? Hawks migrate as well, so you might deal with hawks that are just passing through.

I can't believe you only have two or three species of hawks. Red Tailed hawks are all over the US. Coopers are pretty much all over. Sharp Shinned hawks are everywhere but the middle of the US. Harrier hawks are everywhere. That's four just off the top of my head without looking.

 

[tenchijin]

Yes, perspective is important and since I have spent a lot of hours studying hawks and their hunting styles as well as hours learning from my dear friend, Dr. Jamie Samour who is an avian vet and who is also a world renowned falcon expert, I might have a bit of perspective.
Both of these hawks are common in the US and thrive around human habitation. Both are especially bold hunters. The thing about hawks is they are opportunistic. Go talk to a falconer and ask if a hungry young Coopers or Sharp Shinned would have any hesitation of snatching a chameleon off your shoulder.

Excellent. As an expert (you didn't call yourself an expert but with your studies you may be), how many cases have you documented where a chameleon was taken off a human's shoulder, arm, or other body part by a hawk or other bird? How many professional falconers have documented such a case?

From Cornell University's Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
Sharp Shinned Hawks:
Studies report quail, shorebirds, doves, swifts, woodpeckers, and even falcons as prey. Sharp-shins also eat small rodents, such as mice and voles, and an occasional moth or grasshopper. While nesting, much of the food for their babies is the nestlings and fledglings of other birds.
Coopers Hawk:
Cooper’s Hawks sometimes rob nests and also eat chipmunks, hares, mice, squirrels, and bats. Mammals are more common in diets of Cooper’s Hawks in the West.

Right. Is any of this in dispute? We're discussing relative risk of a hawk (or raven, or seagull) taking a chameleon off of your body.

 

[Nursemaia]

Where do you live? Hawks migrate as well, so you might deal with hawks that are just passing through.

I can't believe you only have two or three species of hawks. Red Tailed hawks are all over the US. Coopers are pretty much all over. Sharp Shinned hawks are everywhere but the middle of the US. Harrier hawks are everywhere. That's four just off the top of my head without looking.

He's in Virginia he's also 12

 

[jajeanpierre]

He's in Virginia he's also 12

Ah, that explains a lot. Thanks.

 

[EveryGreen]

Ah, that explains a lot. Thanks.

He's in Virginia he's also 12

thank you, finally someone said something xD

 

[Virgil1972]

Taking your animal outside has some risks like predation or losing him/him running away. If you want to take him out then do it but be aware there are risks and stuff can happen. I personally lost a cham that was outside. I had him in a potted plant outside in my driveway. Went inside to pee and he was gone. Searched all weekend for him could not find him. I was gone less then a minute. As for birds, someone I know lost a dog to an owl when he took the dog out to pee.

 

[Andee]

If you search it on the site I am pretty sure there are at least three threads about chameleons be taken by hawks or birds in general (probably more) and one I know for certain mentions the person being right next to the chameleon or holding the chameleon and it being taken.

 

[Angelwolf]

I have iron cages outside for them.

Seems extreme

Well. @Nursemaia does like lizard jail!

 

[Angelwolf]

I know people who have lost small parrots off their shoulders. Coopers hawks and their smaller relative, Sharp Shinned hawks, are incredibly bold. Trust me, they will come down and take a lizard if they are motivated enough.

Very soon they will need to be feeding nestlings and they will take more and more chances as their demand for food increases. Later in late summer and the fall when the babies have fledged and are no longer being fed by their parents, they will take all kinds of chances because most hawks die of starvation very soon after leaving their parents.

Red Tailed hawks are unlikely to bother you. They are slower and less agile than the very bold accipiter family (Coopers and Sharp Shinned). No hawk wants to be on the ground when a big human predator is around, but a snatch off the shoulder by the very fast agile Coopers/Sharp Shinned happens. Red Tailed hawks attacking people are probably just protecting their nests. They are a very territorial species. I love my Red Shouldered hawks (a relative of Red Tailed hawks) as they tell me what other winged predator is in the area and drive them off. (I free fly my parrots outside, so need to know what dangers are in the air.)

Very cool! What kind of parrots do you have?

 

[Angelwolf]

It's alright for my Cham to bask all day right?

Yes. Veiled get rather lazy ass they age.

 

[Angelwolf]

No, the woods are all around me. I live in the forest

Wow! I thought you lived under a rock in @Remkon's cave! Sorry. I had to! You still luv me, right?

 

[Angelwolf]

Ok. I think I am done spamming this thread, now.

 

[Nursemaia]

Ok. I think I am done spamming this thread, now.

Lizard jail for you

 

[Angelwolf]

Lizard jail for you

I'm not going unless there are whips and chains involved!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Very cool! What kind of parrots do you have?

I have two African Grey Parrots, a Scarlet Macaw, a Red Fronted Macaw and a White Capped Pionus. I no longer fly my African Grey outside because I live in prime Coopers hawk territory. I've only had one migrate in and spend the winter here one year and the pair of Red Shouldered hawks keep them out in the summer. She can out fly a falcon (by dodging at the last minute) but a Coopers is an incredibly agile and fast predator. Fortunately they don't have any stamina.

 

[EveryGreen]

I have two African Grey Parrots, a Scarlet Macaw, a Red Fronted Macaw and a White Capped Pionus. I no longer fly my African Grey outside because I live in prime Coopers hawk territory. I've only had one migrate in and spend the winter here one year and the pair of Red Shouldered hawks keep them out in the summer. She can out fly a falcon (by dodging at the last minute) but a Coopers is an incredibly agile and fast predator. Fortunately they don't have any stamina.

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how do you manage to get them back?

 

[Angelwolf]

I have two African Grey Parrots, a Scarlet Macaw, a Red Fronted Macaw and a White Capped Pionus. I no longer fly my African Grey outside because I live in prime Coopers hawk territory. I've only had one migrate in and spend the winter here one year and the pair of Red Shouldered hawks keep them out in the summer. She can out fly a falcon (by dodging at the last minute) but a Coopers is an incredibly agile and fast predator. Fortunately they don't have any stamina.

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Wow! Your birds are AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing your pics. How do you make sure they don't take off and never come back? I lost my beloved Senegal because she got spooked. And nearly lost my sun conure because of a freak accident with an open door.

 

[EveryGreen]

Wow! Your birds are AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing your pics. How do you make sure they don't take off and never come back? I lost my beloved Senegal because she got spooked. And nearly lost my sun conure because of a freak accident with an open door.

thats what i said..

 

[Angelwolf]

thats what i said..

Eh. I just squawk more. pun intended. Lol!