I heard this story yesterday a.m. (Of all places...on the
Howard Stern show while flipping through stations...)
And have two questions:
1) I heard it was because NY has such a terrible rat
problem. So, the hawks are used because of
pigeons? (Or is this a NY thing...I know I've heard
of pigeons being called flying rats before! :-))

2) Is Bryant Park on off-leash park? If so, wasn't
the owner watching? If NOT, then how in the heck?
(Not being sarcastic...seriously, but if a dog was
on a leash near a human, I don't imagine a hawk
would get too terribly close)

Weird...
Shelly & The Boys

wrote in message
...
Trained NYC Hawks Attack Chihuahua
Wed Aug 6, 5:54 PM ET

By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Trained hawks employed to keep pigeons from
making a mess on visitors in a midtown park have been
grounded because one of the birds mistook a Chihuahua as
its lunch.

An 18-inch hawk swooped down and gouged the diminutive
pooch with one of its talons while the dog was nosing
around in the bushes of Bryant Park, located behind the
landmark New York Public Library.

The hawk was quickly separated from the pooch Tuesday
afternoon. A park employee flagged down a cab so the dog's
owner could take it to a veterinarian, said Richard Dillon,
vice president of security for Bryant Park.

The dog owner asked that her identity not be released.

The program, which aims to scare pigeons out of the park,
could be finished. A final decision is expected by the end
of the week.
"I sincerely believe the bird mistook it for a rat because
it was in the shrubbery," said Thomas Cullen, the falconer
hired to run the anti-pigeon program.

The hawk, named Galan, was taken to Cullen's headquarters
in Goshen, N.Y.

The Bryant Park Restoration Corp. picked up the vet's bill,
Cullen said at a news conference with another of the
sharp-taloned birds, Starbuck, perched on his left hand.

Daniel Biederman, executive director of the Bryant Park
group, said the hawk program has been a success since it
was started in April, with pigeon infestation down 50
percent and fewer complaints from visitors.

However, city Parks Department officials called for its
end.

"We place the safety of park users, including their pets,
over any minor inconvenience that may be caused by
pigeons," said spokeswoman Megan Sheekey.

Some park visitors disagree.

"I don't think this should be done away with because of one
misstep," Ward Miller, a lawyer from Glen Ridge, N.J., said
of the hawks while taking his daily walk in Bryant Park.
"This is a great idea. It's better than the alternatives,
like poison."

If so, wasn't
the owner watching? If NOT, then how in the heck?
(Not being sarcastic...seriously, but if a dog was
on a leash near a human, I don't imagine a hawk
would get too terribly close)

Well, for one thing, it doesn't sound like these particular hawks are 100%
wild.
And I know of a case in FL where a hawk swooped down on, grabbed, and TOOK
OFF with a Rat Terrier on a Flexilead. The owner was able to pull them down,
and beat off the bird.

On a bit of a side note, a family of hawks nests in the woods adjacent to
our agility classes. On several occasions, both Debi and I have seen them
come low and circle over small dogs, then lift away again when they realise
there are humans near. On one occasion, when a Chihuahua was in a class,
Debi said the bird circled for an extended period of time, apparently
waiting for an opportunity. (She made a point of staying near the dog and
keeping half an eye on the hawk.)


--
Sarah
Brenin, CGC, AD, O-EAC-V, O-EJC-V, EGC
Gwydion, Handy Cat
Morag Thistledown, Novice Triple Superior, S-OAC, S-OJC, O-OGC, EJC
Robyn Meezer, Inspector of Human Activity
Rocsi Cadarn, S-NJC, NAC, NGTG, OGTG

we can be seen at: http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs1
and http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs2

On a bit of a side note, a family of hawks nests in the woods adjacent to
our agility classes. On several occasions, both Debi and I have seen them
come low and circle over small dogs, then lift away again when they
realise
there are humans near. On one occasion, when a Chihuahua was in a class,
Debi said the bird circled for an extended period of time, apparently
waiting for an opportunity. (She made a point of staying near the dog and
keeping half an eye on the hawk.)


Yep. Hawks and owls can and do take small animals of almost any type. I'm
sure to them a chihuahua is some rather bizarre looking rabbit. It's all
just a potential food source. Something I don't worry about with the
dobes...

Hi sarah ,
I saw a kestral carrying a rat fly over my house which is very
unusual and rather alarmimg as I let my piggies run free. They are
in a large pen now. I hope it doesn't mistake Diddy for a black and
white rat ,G
alison


"Sionnach" wrote in message
...
If so, wasn't
the owner watching? If NOT, then how in the heck?
(Not being sarcastic...seriously, but if a dog was
on a leash near a human, I don't imagine a hawk
would get too terribly close)

Well, for one thing, it doesn't sound like these particular hawks
are 100%
wild.
And I know of a case in FL where a hawk swooped down on, grabbed,
and TOOK
OFF with a Rat Terrier on a Flexilead. The owner was able to pull
them down,
and beat off the bird.

On a bit of a side note, a family of hawks nests in the woods
adjacent to
our agility classes. On several occasions, both Debi and I have seen
them
come low and circle over small dogs, then lift away again when they
realise
there are humans near. On one occasion, when a Chihuahua was in a
class,
Debi said the bird circled for an extended period of time,
apparently
waiting for an opportunity. (She made a point of staying near the
dog and
keeping half an eye on the hawk.)


--
Sarah
Brenin, CGC, AD, O-EAC-V, O-EJC-V, EGC
Gwydion, Handy Cat
Morag Thistledown, Novice Triple Superior, S-OAC, S-OJC, O-OGC, EJC
Robyn Meezer, Inspector of Human Activity
Rocsi Cadarn, S-NJC, NAC, NGTG, OGTG

we can be seen at: http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs1
and http://photos.yahoo.com/amberdogs2

"Alison" wrote in message
...
Hi sarah ,
I saw a kestral carrying a rat fly over my house which is very
unusual and rather alarmimg as I let my piggies run free. They are
in a large pen now. I hope it doesn't mistake Diddy for a black and
white rat ,G

Eek! Unpleasant thought! Kestrel's a fairly small bird (as hawks go),
though, isn't it?

Sionnach wrote:
Well, for one thing, it doesn't sound like these particular hawks are 100%
wild.

Heard the Falconer on NPR yesterday. These Hawks are trained to drive
away the overly aggressive NYC pigeons from Bryant Park. The handlers
walk on foot to patrol the park, while the hawks fly from tree to tree,
along the route taken by the people - it is a very controlled situation.
Galen, the hawk that went after the Chi is also a known ratter - he's
caught rats in the bushes on previous occasions. The Chi was on leash,
and rooting around in the shrubs when the Hawk mistook it to be a rat.
As soon as the mistake was realized, he was asked to let go of the Chi,
which he did, and the Chi was pronounced to have a few scratches, but
otherwise unharmed by the vets. Clear case of mistaken identity - maybe
the Hawks should be taught to only focus their efforts on pigeons, and
nothing else.

Suja