Deceiving the Hawks & Owls

Whatever your method at imitating the call of the wild, your degree of success will be increased if you wear neutral colors that blend easily with your surroundings. Perhaps the most important factor is your ability to avoid any sudden movement. For this reason one will do his best when alone. But a small party, well trained, may share the thrills that accompany the enticing of the rare warbler, or the tiny, retiring rodent or carnivore that is likely to appear at any moment. If you wish to get the maximum results from your observations of the spring migrants, practice squeaking at once so that you will be ready for them when they arrive.

Sparrows, wrens, vireos, warblers, and many other perching birds respond quickly to squeaks. This is especially true during the breeding season, when the parents are concerned about their eggs or young. However, satisfactory results can be obtained at any time throughout the year. If your object is identification only, stop squeaking as soon as the subject reacts, and remain silent until its curiosity is satisfied. If it is not then within sufficient range, give a few more squeaks until satisfactory results are obtained. By remaining motionless, and with patience, an animal may perch on your head or shoulder, but, with the exception of chickadees or chipmunks, this rarely happens.

Above all, avoid any sudden movements. Should you be fortunate enough to meet with a ruffed grouse with a brood of young chicks that have already taken refuge under leaves, or other forest logs and debris, you have a chance to witness a remarkable demonstration of mother love and bravery that will give you the surprise of your Nature-loving life. While the chicks are scurrying to shelter, mother becomes seriously affected; squealing piteously, she flops over on the ground with wings half-spread as if suffering serious injury, but, when followed, manages to keep just beyond your reach. Follow her a few steps and then suddenly drop to the ground and snatch at an imaginary object, and as you rise give several squeaks, wringing your hands in front of you but at the same time, being ready to protect yourself. Almost invariably she will fly right into your face.

After this outburst, and when she has subsided somewhat, give her the satisfaction of thinking that she is deceiving you by following her up and see how far she will decoy you before taking wing. Hawks and owls, while hunting, may chance to pass within hearing of your squeaks. They will often change their course of flight until they have discovered you, and even then may perch nearby, reluctant to believe that they have been cheated out of a meal.