First, you need to know that hawks are protected in the United States under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC, 703-711). It is illegal to harm them, or to hunt, trap, cage, shoot, or poison them without a permit.

Birds
 

Hawks are birds too.

What about snowbirds?

NATURE is a beautiful thing. What we do. what we insist on doing is actually an abomination.
Neatly edged lawn, one single plant. Is NOT natural. Weeds etc, that is nature. We work so hard. Apply more, and more chemicals because we insist on fighting nature.

Far as feral cats, they do not last long before they are killed by one of the many predictors around here. Should you see one it is likely a recently escaped or abandoned pet.

Laws fascinate me. Should you hit a dog with your car, the law is you have to report it.
If, you hit a cat you do not need to report it.

I assume you are talking about those Have a Heart type traps. First of all the ones big enough to possibly catch a cat are big and expensive. NOT HERE and a long time ago. I used one to catch squirrels. First of all when you catch one, they are a lot bigger up close. Secondly they are scared and VICIOUS. I used to drive them miles away to a park. Did they survive the move? Truth I have no way of knowing. I suspect by the time I got home, they beat me as they go as the squirrel runs-roads do not.

Don't poke the bear !

Anyone can rent a table at a flea market, there is no requirement for it to be a licensed business. If an individual wants to sell some of their PRIVATE firearm collection, they can legally do so at the flea market and it is still considered a private sale between two people. No background check is required by federal law. Now, if the seller is constantly selling guns at a flea market, the ATF might classify that action as for profit commercial sales and the seller would be required by federal law to have an FFL.

A friend of mine had an extensive firearm collection that he accumulated over years. As he got older, he decided to divest himself of the guns so his widow wouldn't have to contend with it. He would rent a table at gun shows and sell his guns at the show. Perfectly legal as he wasn't selling them as a profit making business and they were from his private collection.

It is also ILLEGAL under federal law and many state laws that prohibited individuals, convicted felons, spouse beaters, drug addicts and a few other categories, are not allowed to purchase or possess a firearm or ammunition for a firearm.

You are correct that you can make "occasional" sales of a private gun collection at a flea market. But, someone who is displaying guns along with pots and pans at a flea market is asking for trouble with the Feds and the state, especially if he is a regular flea market seller.

Apparently they are not on the protected species list based on the way they are always getting viciously attacked on this forum?

What about bears?

The sparrow spoken of may be an invasive species, so the hawk is doing you a favor. Stop feeding them and do not be stupid about shooting firearms in populated areas.

I love bald eagles before I moved here. No longer a fan!

let me ask a question.
Have you ever eaten chicken , Turkey , Duck, Goose, Etc?

OK I’m the Op and must speak up.

First the shotgun comment was hyperbole. Some here really thought I would take a shotgun to a hawk???! Some of the comments re that were off the top laughable. And the many comments in how to buy a gun, and not. Jeez…

For the guy that said if I move to TV it better not be near him. I am in TV and I feel the same.

And the continual slam re bird feeder etc etc. it is in front of our home and the birdhouses in back.

Some of my OP comment was tongue-in-cheek, but I guess I need to point that out when posting.

As for some of the nasty comments, easy from behind a keyboard. One needs thick skin at times when opening a Thread.

Bottom line, never saw a hawk since and the little birdies are happily feeding out front and starting and caring for their new broods in back. Life goes on…

One poster linked a great site re hawks and how to avoid them. I forgot that they prey on all types of things esp rodents and snakes and stuff. Thanks for that link.

Re-read the 4th sentence in my post.

Take down the birdhouse!

I only relocated squirrels captured in my heartless trap which were eating through the soffits into the attic to raise little ones. .

The trap would accidentally fall into the ocean for a few minutes and then the tide would take them away. . .

They are too smart to forget where they live.

big game guy

Bird Feeders and Avian Flu
 

Bird Feeders spread Avian Flu. Plus they attract rodents and disrupt migration. If you love these animals like you say, then you would take them down. The birds are very capable foraging on their own, just as nature intended. It’s really the best way to help them.

2 years after my mom went into assisted living, the migratory humming birds still come to the house looking for the feeder which they fed from for many years. . . .

local feeding and warmer winters have some individual migratory birds not migrating . . .

are they becoming human amusements?

bears love feeders. . . once they find them they don't stop listing

OK .....Here's what you need to do:
Get more birdhouses and get more feeders.
Get a shotgun with the largest ammo capacity.
Make sure it's at least a 12 gauge.
Have a BLAST !!!
:jester::jester::jester: :wave::wave: :girlneener::girlneener: :crap2:

You missed post #95……

Send the hawk my way. They get rid of rodents, snakes and the like.

BB Rifle

Hawks do what they are supposed to. They are birds of prey and are protected. Move the bird cages to a safer location. Using a shotgun is a bit extreme. If you miss, these shotgun pellets will scatter and may hit someone. Also, discharging a weapon within city limits is illegal and irresponsible. Again, move the cages and feeders.

OMG folks. Don’t you review prior postings before doing your thing? Review my post from last night above to explain. No shotgun!!!!! Just hyperbole from me on first post. And that are not “cages” they are birdhouses with small holes for entry. Jeez.

Hawks lives matter. I guess little birds lives matter too. Maybe not as much as a hawk?

You actually have a trap called heartless. Talk about a marketing issue.

So if you are NOT going to use a shotgun, what type of gun will you be using?

a .22 pellet would probably do it, but the guy has his heart set on using a shotgun.

Hawk
 

It's the natural order of things. You said it in the opening line. You have seen many generations take flight. Feral cats kill 10 times as many and are not a rung in the natural realm of preditors. If you want to keep cars away I would recommend a nice pellet rifle. No noise and very effective!

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

And yet they continue...........

and the squirrels that eat thru our lanai screens

LOL, are you saying then you can kill a Feral cat, maybe you can but you’re still not allowed to sling a shotgun over your shoulder & sneak up on a feral cat & discharge a gun, period. You would have to choke it to death!

Love your comment! I was going to just ask let us know how it works out when they start shooting Hawks. That post was very mental. But great comment!

I am not sure he understands how to use the choke on the shotgun. I have learned so much from this post.

Sparrows
 

Here in the Villages it's mostly the bluebirds that are displaced by the invasive sparrow.

Problems With House Sparrows

House sparrows can cause many problems for native birds, including competing for nesting sites, even killing adult birds, hatchlings, and eggs; taking over food sources and reducing diversity at feeders; and crowding out less aggressive birds from traditional ranges and habitats. While all bird species may suffer somewhat from the invasion of house sparrows, particularly vulnerable species include:

Eastern and western bluebirds
Purple martins
Tree and cliff swallows
Orioles

These birds are often in direct competition with house sparrows for food and nesting sites, and house sparrows’ more aggressive, bullying behavior is often successful in displacing them.1

You can not...by law...
 

to discharge a firearm in the villages unless protecting life or property. I feel your desire to rid a protected bird because you don't find them as "cute" is wrong. Any bird of prey you'd kill would be replaced by another bird of prey. When your cute birds are food for these hawks it is ...as you say...the circle of life and whether they are killed near your home or a mile away is not under your control. Just accept it.

And the beat goes on……………

He’s dreaming, as soon as he discharges a shotgun, he might be meeting Bubba in the county jail showers. He just talking tough!