Swallow Tail Kite (hawk)

[ColombiaCham]

Dear forum members,

I am writing this thread to hopefully save your chameleons life one day especially if you live in the southern states. Last week my brother had his 1-1/2 year Nosy be sunbathing outside. When out of nowhere a bird swooped down and grabbed his chameleon. He was in complete shock. He lives in Miami in the middle of the city and could not believe what had happened. It so happens that in another part of town 6 months earlier the same species of bird had grabbed an exotic parrot out of balcony of one of his friends, so the theme is not uncommon.

I urge you to keep an eye on the sky before allowing your chameleon to sun bathe outside. Do not allow them to perch too high or allow them to perch in tree that has no cover and always do not leave them unattended. Hopefully this information and image will save your chameleon's life one day.

 

[carol5208]

Yes, i know all too well what you are saying but fortunately my story had a happy ending. It was a red tail hawk and it swooped down to snatch my chameleon out of little tree he was basking in. He was in complete view to the hawk as he had ventured out onto a long branch I had for basking that rose above the tree and he was totally exposed. Well from behind he swooped with me sitting there in a chair. Luckily I was able to see my chameleons body language and started to turn to see what was the matter. Out of the corner of my eye I saw two big tallons! I literally swatted the bird of the air or my cham woulda been a goner. I am SO very sorry your brother lost his chameleon this way. It must have been horrible for him to see. I am very glad you shared your story as sometimes people just don't think of every little thing that can happen when they are not caged outside. I shared my story also when it happened and if you just saved one chameleons life then it was all worth it. Again, my condolences....

 

[Rodger]

I had a red tail hawk go thru chicken wire that was stapled very good ( pigeon/chicken pen ) . The hawk was still in shock from the impact when i discovered what had happened . If you build an outside enclosure , my advice is to have more than screen . A cage like in another thread covered with screen is much more protective . Like Granny Clampett said " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure "

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

We have a hawk that comes the same direction everyday with something big in its mouth probably feeding baby's now. I will def always keep an eye on my cham but its hard when you're cleaning cage I would die if this was to happen even tho were not best of friends
sorry about your brothers cham:/

 

[ibdragons]

That sucks here in san Diego they have the Coopers hawk same threat swoop down from no where and will take ur pets .I had my chams basking in their cages ,I went outside to check on them and there was a coopers on top of one of the cages looking into the cage and my cham was in his karate chop position all puffed up . Ever since then I make sure I don't ever bask them outside their cage.sorry for ur brothers loss. Can't blame the hawk he or she is just trying to survive.

 

[RealIzeRecognIze]

That sucks here in san Diego they have the Coopers hawk same threat swoop down from no where and will take ur pets .I had my chams basking in their cages ,I went outside to check on them and there was a coopers on top of one of the cages looking into the cage and my cham was in his karate chop position all puffed up . Ever since then I make sure I don't ever bask them outside their cage.sorry for ur brothers loss. Can't blame the hawk he or she is just trying to survive.

Its a wonder they can even see your chameleon of all things my veiled leaf walks hardcore when she is outside but she is mostly green also. Those hawks sounds scary btw ha. The one.near me takes the same route I always see his shadow first right over my back yard.

 

[Carlton]

We have a hawk that comes the same direction everyday with something big in its mouth probably feeding baby's now. I will def always keep an eye on my cham but its hard when you're cleaning cage I would die if this was to happen even tho were not best of friends
sorry about your brothers cham:/

Um, just a little tidbit of natural history: this bird you see carrying something in its mouth probably isn't a hawk. They don't carry things in their beaks for any distance at all. I've seen them carry light twigs while nest building, but never food. Typically, they would carry prey back to a nest in their talons.