Birding/crows and hawks

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Expert: - 10/7/2010


Question
I live in a rural area in East Texas and there is habitat for hawks.
I have a cat sanctuary and I do not want to keep small cats in a cage all the time.  I have noticed crows harassing hawks and some old-timers say hawks will not stay where there are crows/m

Do you think I have a chance keeping hawks away if I attract crows to my land?  

Thanks for your time.    Susan

Answer
Crows will harass hawks at times, but I don't think this would work all the time.
You are obviously concerned that hawks will prey on cats, correct? I've heard all kinds of stories about that but I have yet to see any real evidence. No doubt that hawks or owls take an occasional kitten or weak cat, but an average full grown cat weighs three times as much as your average hawk. I very seriously doubt that adult cats are any any risk from hawks.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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