Certain Raptors are enemies of racing pigeons.  I think we will all agree there are too many of them.  This situation as developed by the over protection and introduction of these birds into new areas.  These predators have the same desire racing pigeons. They want to breed and eat.  They are protected and we have to respect that mandate.  Until government officials realize the effect the over population of raptors are have on endangered songbirds we as racers will just have to take as many precautions as possible to cut down pigeon loses.

Precautions:

If a hawk kills a bird then shut down  flying for 5 days.  Hawks are patient, but 5 days is more than they are willing to wait.  Hopefully, the hawk will move to another area.

Blowing a whistle during a hawk attach sometimes distracts the hawk enough to miss.

Encourage Ravens or Crows to nest in your area.  They drive hawks away.

Alternate, flying times.  Hawks are creatures of habit and hopefully you can confuse them.

Cover all your aviaries with garden cloth.  This material can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot.  It lets light penetrate, but conceals your birds from hawks flying over.  A hawk just hitting an aviary can cause panic in your birds that can result in the hawk killing them through the wire or giving them a heart attack. 

Remove as many ambush areas as possible.  Cut down trees and bushes that make good ambush sites.

You can purchase plastic models of Ravens.  Place them around the property.  Hawks learn quickly, so move them on a regular basis.

Toss your birds early in the morning.  It seems raptors are more active later on during  the day and evening.

Although Red tail Hawks can kill a pigeon they really prefer snakes, and rodents.  A nesting pair of retails on you property will keep the deadly Cooper Hawk away.  I have seen the same result with Red Shoulder Hawks, but they are more apt to take a pigeon.

Avoid flying your birds in inclement weather.  Most birds take cover during bad weather, and flying your birds during bad weather increases their chance of being the prey.

Don't try and settle your birds unless you or some one else is present until they are all in the loft.  Doing otherwise is an invitation to disaster

Stealth at its best.

Red Shoulder on the corner of Ridge and Climax.
(Photo by Rena Scoggin)

Red Shoulder with one of Orin's birds.
(Photo by Arlene Stuart)

Red Shoulder with one of Orin's birds.
(Photo by Arleen Stuart)