A few years ago, we played a course about an hour from us (in OK) and noticed signs posted on around the greens on about 4 holes warning to 'watch out for Kite Hawks'. I never noticed these beautifully graceful hawks (sleek smooth grey body, they seemingly glide effortlessly through the air...unlike the muscular Red Hawks which are also abundant here). I don't think I used to see them at our home course, but now I've noticed them a lot.
I never did find out why you were supposed to 'watch out for the Kite Hawks'?.... do they dive bomb you or something?
Like any animal these birds probably become aggressive during mating season and when having young to defend. Any bird is fearless when defending there hatch so yes they probably will dive bomb you. Bird talons are razor sharp and a trip to the emergency room for stitches will be the result if one gets a hold of you.
Sounds like you have it pretty easy though. On the courses I play alligators and rattle snakes are more of a worry. The alligator problem is a result of miss management. They are still on the no kill list here in Florida and there population has gotten to the infestation size. Its time for an open hunting season on these animals for everyones good including the gators. When twelve foot gators are holding up traffic crossing the road in a heavily populated area it is most definitely a problem.
Funny part is that most people don't understand the concept of wild life management. When the suggestion is made to thin out the gator population you here comments like "the gators where here first we don't have the right to kill them". Minds tend to change though when fluffy the family dog winds up missing during its morning constitutional down by the back yard pond.
Someinfidel...lol, thanks...that's exactly the same town in that story where the course was (Edmond, OK) that I saw the signs about "watch out for Kite Hawks".
Funny part is that most people don't understand the concept of wild life management. When the suggestion is made to thin out the gator population you here comments like "the gators where here first we don't have the right to kill them". Minds tend to change though when fluffy the family dog winds up missing during its morning constitutional down by the back yard pond.
You're exactly right Murph. Here in PA, while we don't have gators, our deer population had been exploding for the past 100 years or so as the poor (as far as supporting populations of animals goes) old growth forest was cut down and replaced with the secondary growth. Basically there were so many deer that they were ruining the understory of the entire forest floor. A secondary effect was that there was an unhealthy ratio of female to male deer and very few of the largest deer each year were taken in Pennsylvania. A new guy took charge of PA's management plan and immediately set out to reduce the number of female deer. His plan worked to perfection and in many areas of the state, the deer density is back to an almost acceptable level. However, the regular Joe hunters all complained because in their infinite laziness, they couldn't just walk into the woods the first day and be guaranteed a deer. As a result, the man who ran the program flawlessly and accomplished what he set out to do was basically run out of the state on a line. People just don't get it I guess.
KITE HAWKS !!!! yeouch.... We had a few is SW OK at the Air Force Base there
and they will definatly dive bomb you........Course was called Windy Trails on Altus Air Force Base. and i definatly was windy most of the time.
May 28th, 2005, 01:28 AM
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
