Hawks
This time of year (April-May) hawks have eggs or chicks in their nests and become very defensive. If they perceive that an animal or human has gotten too close to the nest, they may attack with little warning. Hawks and their eggs and young are protected from harm under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so action against an active nest is limited.
Swooping
If you observe swooping behavior, please be careful! Hawks do not generally want contact with people, but in defending a nest they can cause injuries with their talons. People can stay safe by being aware of their surroundings and avoiding areas close to hawk nests. Using warning signage and taping off areas on the approach to the nest is usually the best strategy for a community space. Using tarps or outdoor umbrellas to screen a heavily used area from view of the hawks can reduce the chances of diving. Hazing them with noise or water from a garden hose if they perch nearby can also discourage them.
If you must use an area close to a hawk nest, we recommend wearing a sturdy hat or using a large umbrella. Hawks can also be discouraged if they believe they are being watched, so drawing eyes on a hat or umbrella can also be use (examples of the eye design on these balloons). If you see a hawk swooping down at you, making loud noises by yelling or using an airhorn can dissuade it.
Nest Removal
Once the birds have grown up and left the nest, keep in mind that hawks will often reuse their nest the next year. To discourage them from reusing the site, you can remove the empty nest and trim the branches so they will not support a nest. Hanging shiny, moving objects or flagging can make birds uncomfortable in an area, and trimming or obstructing their normal perches can also put them off. Although we do not endorse any brand or product, you can get some other ideas for bird deterrents at https://www.birdbgone.com.
A nest without eggs or chicks can be removed without a permit, and the branches of the nest site can be trimmed so that it cannot support a nest in the future. Regularly moving an owl decoy, hanging mylar streamers (or pie-tins or old CDs), or positioning motion-activated alarms (example "critter gitter") can also discourage the hawks from returning.
In certain circumstances active nests (having eggs or chicks) can be removed, but they must have permission of the landowner and seek a permit through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional help on getting Form 37, a sort of preliminary step, is done by speaking to USDA Wildlife Services at their Gainesville office. This kind of permit would be for the removal of an active nest, but would have to be a process done by the landowner. This is an involved process and they do not grant this kind of permit lightly.
More Information
Contacts
- Lauren Barth, Wildlife Assistance Biologist, FWC Northeast Region: 352-732-1225 / Lauren.Barth@MyFWC.com
- FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-3922
- USDA Wildlife Services: 352-377-5556
- US Fish and Wildlife Services Migratory Bird Office: 404-679-7070