An old bird

[Navre]

Pit vipers "see" infrared, but not really with their eyes. The pits sense it and they use that to locate prey in total darkness.

[galeriagila]

I wonder what I look like to the Rickeybird...

[Pajarita]

I would not be too concerned over the mix up between infra red and ultra violet, they are both parts of the light spectrum that we can't see. Infra red would be like being able to see heat and would be useful for a predator like wolves which I believe that I had read sometime in the past and had locked in some dim distant portion of my brain that wolves and some other predators might actually be able to see to some degree.

Actually, we now know that, under certain circumstances, our eyes DO perceive infra-red. See this:

http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science ... 02313.html

[Navre]

I would not be too concerned over the mix up between infra red and ultra violet, they are both parts of the light spectrum that we can't see. Infra red would be like being able to see heat and would be useful for a predator like wolves which I believe that I had read sometime in the past and had locked in some dim distant portion of my brain that wolves and some other predators might actually be able to see to some degree.

Actually, we now know that, under certain circumstances, our eyes DO perceive infra-red. See this:

http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science ... 02313.html

I know that I can see a CFL flicker, even though the human eye/brain supposedly can't discern that rapid of a pulse.

[Georges mom]

Summer has been interesting. Georges transition to his new cage was perpetual. He would hang out in and on the new one all day but as soon as dusk came he'd go back to his old cage even though it was completely emptied out. He was very happy treating the new one like a vacation house. I finally just moved the old one out but had to keep it inside the house because of all the storms and yes, he eventually found it down the foyer by the dining room entrance. I'm hoping to get it out on the patio, scrub it down and return it this week. Until then George will seek it out every day and climb it and perch. He eventually comes back because that part of the house is far away and he realizes he's all alone when there. He likes his new cage but loves his old one. They are both the same size but the old is white and the new one is dark gray. On another note, I eventually returned George's to his favorite window location and the eagle was back within 2 days. It actually tried to land on a bush near the window and lost its footing which created a loud noise which scared the heck out of George and me. It is huge!!! It doesn't scare easily too for I went outside yelling and clapping my hands before he left. Georges cage is back on the other side of the room but now I'm worried because he likes to hang out by the patio screen doors ( on the floor) and watch everyone. Does anyone know if Hawks fly away for winter?? I don't think he's ever going to leave.

[Wolf]

As far as I know neither hawks nor eagles migrate. I would try and find about 5 or 6 fake crows, the realistic decoy ones and set them up outside of the window and in the bush and move them around a little bit every few days to simulate a real flock of crows. Crows are known for ganging up on hawks and eagles to chase them out of their territory. It might help and is the best suggestion that I have at this time.

[liz]

Birds do not migrate because of the cold. It is about the kind of food they need. Bug eaters like Robins have to migrate. Hawks and Eagles can always fin food even if their food is a cat or rabbit. They will attack anything they think they can carry.

A Red Tail Hawk attacked my pet chicken. She was too heavy for him so he just ripped her back off. It was awful. He took feathers, skin and fat. All that was left was the muscle between her head and tail and her sides under her wings.
She came to me for help and I used Neosporin to deter infection. I watched as pink skin grew out of muscle then feathers grew out of her pink skin. I watched the miracles of GOD rebuilding her body.

[Georges mom]

Thank you Wolf, I will try the decoy idea today. I have 2 very realistic large crows from a Halloween display which should work nicely. It's amazing how quickly he came back as soon as cooler weather set in and the windows were opened. He left for the whole summer with the hot weather and all the pool activity. Or maybe he never really left . Liz, that is a horrific story. I couldn't imagine even having to witness that. I'm so glad she was able to heal and be well after such an attack. Miracle!!

[Pajarita]

Thank you for the update! Clever boy found his favorite cage, eh? Any particular reason why you changed it for a new one? I mean, been that it's the same size - and I say this because, usually, I get new cages only for their bigger size.

[galeriagila]

There are tales out West of hawks and eagles taking parrots off peoples' shoulders...

I worried about coyotes, too, WHICH, by the way are EVERYWHERE these days.

Wonderful story about the chicken!