Hawk Living In Home Depot Devouring Pigeons

[matcom]

<snip>

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (AP) -- One visitor to Home Depot has been hunting for more than home improvement items.

A Cooper's hawk has been flying above the stocked shelves at a suburban Cleveland store for more than a week while feeding on pigeons that live in the rafters.

The brown bird's three-foot wing span casts a moving shadow across the concrete floor, causing customers and workers to duck and cock their heads toward the 25-foot ceiling.

The hawk entered the store through an open door while chasing a pigeon last Saturday. It caught its prey above the electrical aisle, worker Craig Warth said. Witnesses saw the hawk rip the pigeon apart and feed until nothing was left but feathers and claws.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/02/25/hawk_hunting_for_pigeons_at_home_depot/

[HEyHEY]

1. Does it have a sibling?

I could use to tackle the mouse problem in my apartment?

[asjr]

2. That store can start a new line

called "Rent-a-Hawk" and help homeowners get rid of mice.

[HEyHEY]

3. yeah, he can make a little home on top of my fridge

then dive down at them

[blindpig]

11. sorry, not in job descripton

birds only, union rules & all that. Hire an owl.

[NightNurse]

4. It's Just St. Joe's Wolfing-Down the Remainder of the Schedule!

Let's Go HAWKS:yourock:
The HAWK will NEVER Die:loveya: :bounce:

[StClone]

5. Cooper's are now Urban Predators

The Cooper's is powerful medium-sized Accipiter that since the mid-80's has taken a liking to urban/suburban life. In the 70's there was some concern as its numbers had fallen off. With the ban on DDT and an adaptive response it is an increasing blur chasing down Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves and smaller birds around feeders. An adult Cooper's has a steely blue-gray upper parts and fine pinkish-orange striping below -- quite handsome.

The Merlin, a very fast small falcon, may be on the rise too. It is an exciting bird to observe and has appeared nesting in cities in Minnesota and other Midwest cities.

Shoppers beware.

[pink_poodle]

6. I have a hawk for almost 3 years now who gets a meal from pigeons.......

who land in my garden for the bird feeder. At least one pigeon per week , or more, becomes lunch. Either picked off the ground or right out of the air while trying to escape. I have never seen it catch a blue jay, cardinal or chickadees and I get sometimes 16 blue jays at a given time out there. It's gruesome to find a shredded bird in the garden.

[WoodrowFan]

7. shreaded tweet?? (NT)

[Tank in Texas]

8. Somewhat Symbolic

Hmmm... that is somewhat symbolic of the mass-corporatism Home Depot and its ilk represent.

[Vogon_Glory]

9. Good For The Hawk!

Good for the hawk! I personally think of pigeons as I would of giant, feathered cockroaches.

[ZenLefty]

10. Survival of the fittest

Those animals who cannot adapt to their changing environment may perish. Those who learn to shop for pigeons at Home Depot have developed a little more cleverness than they had the day before. Darwin was right after all. :D

Of course, if Cleveland's suburbs didn't encroach into the Cooper's natural habitat in the first place, this would never have happened.

[MountainLaurel]

12. Wow.

You go in to buy some caulk for the bathroom and get your own National Geographic special, live and in person.

[underpants]

13. Wait until they find out about the sadist and the brushshreader

:scared:

There are several hawks in downtown Richmond to kill the mice (which I can't say I've ever seen). They planted one in the bankbuilding only a few blocks out my office window about a year ago......but then it could be watching me........

:scared:

[radwriter0555]

14. ACTUALLY, I heard that they've had the hawk trapped and removed,

which is terribly WRONG.

We have hawks in LA that really do a great job of controlling our pigeon population. In fact, their preying on pigeons has helped increase their populations.

It's the circle of life baby.