Hawk on the wing. I bet this hasn't happened to you ;-)

[CalG]

So, there is a nesting pair of Broadwing hawks up 90 feet in one of our back yard maples. Some portion of them raised a brood there last year as well (two chicks then wife and I got to observe them grow and go out on their own) . This year it's three fluffy white bobbleheads.

I was sitting out on the back deck this afternoon watching the rain clouds build to the west, back turned to the nest tree.

WHEN WHOOOSH! and Flap! the dang adult bird struck me from behind! Talons left three blood streaks running down the left side of my face and head. the biggest cut right at the temple. (What little hair I have didn't protect much ;-)

I was flabbergasted, amused and excited. Watching that raptor peel away after a successful strafing run was a once in a life time experience.......

I hope ;-)

The wife sent a pic of the bloodletting to our three adult kids. They all thought I probably deserved it ;-)

 

[oosik]

What a fantastic experience. Mixed with a little luck. Many years ago the wife and I were on a moonlit stroll down our driveway. Suddenly something knocked the knit stocking cap off my wife's head. No sound - no blood. It was either a Great Horned owl or Barn Owl. It continued on it's low level flight - down the driveway. I would guess - just a warning with no ill message intended. Knowing a raptors available weaponry - she was fortunate.

 

[Alan W.]

Yes a raptors talons can do damage. A great horned owl that was tangled in my fence. One of his talons found the seam in my welding glove while I was getting him loose. Went to the bone, but the Dr. was impressed.

 

[Torvy]

I guess you should have been wearing OSHA approved helmet.

You weren't wearing a chipmunk hat, were you?

 

[bdhsfz6]

We had a similar experience last summer with a pair of nesting Redtail Hawks. My wife was gardening when one flew down and took her fuzzy brown garden hat right off her head!

Luckily, the hawk flew off with the hat in it's talons without causing any injury. My wife now wears a bright orange garden hat.

 

[gstrom99]

I've had a few owls buzz me, sitting in deer hunting tree stands over the years. They never connected. Maybe they were attracted by the blaze orange hat I was wearing?

 

[ponytug]

@CalG I'm glad that you are ok. I hope that it all heals up ok.

All the best,

Peter

 

[CalG]

@CalG I'm glad that you are ok. I hope that it all heals up ok.

All the best,

Peter

I'll heal up fine, just scratches.

But there was dried blood on the pillow slip this morning.

 

[BackRoad]

There was a hawk where I used to run. First time was a strafing attack about 15 feet over my head. I could feel the whoosh.

Seemed every day that I ran in that area, that bird would get closer and closer on its mission.

On it's last swoop, I could have reached up and touched it. It always came out of no where and attacked from the back.

Likely a nesting hawk, it won. I changed my course and quit running through its nursery.

 

[CliffordK]

Many years ago we were horseback riding near Black Butte, OR when we came across an injured Golden Eagle.

So, I was given the job to catch it. I must say I was a little nervous. But, I was given a pair of gloves for my hands, and a Pendleton shirt to cover it with. I managed to corner it and throw the shirt over it, expecting a bit of a fight.

It was the most odd thing. The bird didn't struggle a bit. It completely fell asleep for the horseback ride back to the pickup, to the point we had to poke it to make sure it was still alive.

We took it to a vet in Sister's Oregon, which then transferred it to the Oregon Raptor Center in Eugene, OR.