160816 Hawk attacked birds on railing

THE HAWK skimmed  one foot above my shoulder like a missile yesterday... aimed 6 feet in front of me at my 4 pigeons sitting peacefully on the deck railing. There was an explosion of birds flying to escape the hawk and in 1/4 second the hawk had vanished thru the lilacs... not a bird left on the railing It was over in an micro-second. I ran down to the patio, where my white Homer Pigeon 2.5, had smashed herself into the house trying to get away and she  got wedged into some folded lawn chairs and was stuck... I picked her up, no blood, she was ok, just very frightened. I looked for the other three. Newbie and Sue-ez had flown away but had quickly returned to the railing, they were ok too.
. . BABY Khufu however, was nowhere to be found. It appeared that the hawk had snatched him right off the railing and flew away with him. Over and over we searched everywhere, all the tiny hiding places, etc... and searched the neighbors yards. Khufu had vanished. We searched and searched for 3 hours. . . . . Khufu had been having so much fun, flying repeatedly to my arm, shoulder, and head... I love that little bird. Now it was clear that he was gone. I gave up the search and sat on the couch and cried...
. . But then, more than 3 hours later, Karen discovered Sue-ez (Khufu's mother) sitting on the playhouse in the far back of the yard, with another bird... I ran out and yes, it was Khufu, looking as good as usual.
. . Apparently Khufu DID fly away, far away? but even at 7 weeks old he managed to find his way back home. Khufu followed me to the deck, then onto my arm and we went inside and I hugged him for a long time . . He/She's fine ~:<)
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 . It appears that the white Homer, 2.5, had been the target, but 2.5 has been attacked many times and is experienced at not getting killed.
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Just two weeks earlier the same happened but we were not home to witness it... baby Khufu was hiding in a window well and the others were gone. Sue-ez eventually returned an hour later, but Cleopatra did not... That's when I lost my sweet loving Cleopatra Egyptian Swift.
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C:\Personal PICS AND VIDS +2000\-J Pics 2016\160726 2731 Pigeons Egyptian Swift Cleopatra Suez Khufu Tuna Cat
Pic = 160726e Sue-ez, Khufu, Cleopatra, Newbie
Pic = 141111c Cleo

150413 Newbie attacked by hawk

150413 Newbie attacked by hawk
He survived 3 attacks. He's still alive and well.
AS WE WERE watching, a hawk swooped down on the deck just 2 feet from the patio door and tried to fly off with Newbie (2yo Modena Pigeon). Newbie broke free but the hawk attacked again. Again Newbie broke free and he tried to fly away but the hawk attacked the third time..
. . We were just inside the door and watched this happen so immediately opened the door and the hawk flew off.  Feathers everywhere. Newbie's wing was apparently injured a bit as he kept trying to hold it in position. There was a spot with feathers missing but I could find no blood.
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The Picture... Most of the feathers had blown away by the time I took this picture. There were many.  The attack took place at the edge of the green mat.
. . After a few minutes it became apparent there was no permanent damage. A short time after, Newbie was able to fly to the top of the hutch. Later he flew to the Aviary.  As far as I can tell, he's ok.
Pic = 150413 2731 Pigeon attacked by hawk Newbie.JPG
FB Link = https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153161756820295&set=a.10151252769390295.516518.752165294&type=1
I ADDED 2 COMMENTS
1) So lucky... Minutes before, my sweet dear Simon was laying in the same spot. Simon (14yo) wouldn't have stood a chance against a hawk.
. . Just before the incident, I noticed NO Chickens or Pigeons were in the yard. very unusual.  So Karen went looking for them. They were all far back in the yard under some bushes... that seemed ok?  BUT now I know the Chickens had seen the hawk and were hiding.  Otherwise they would have been the victim, not Newbie Pigeon.
. . I keep the deck furniture arranged so as to provide cover for the Pigeons when they are on the deck, but THIS hawk dropped down from straight above.
2) Likely, the hawk will hang around knowing there are Chickens and Pigeons. Therefore I'm keeping them in the aviary for a few weeks until the hawk moves elsewhere.

This is not a sunset picture. It is a message sent just to me.

This is not a sunset picture.
It is a message sent just to me.
It was overcast when we drove to my farm. A dark and gloomy day with a light rain coming down as I was digging. Then just at the instant we buried my sweet loving Pigeon Velcro, the sun shown for a few minutes then it became dark.
For those who may not know, Velcro and I were very close for nine years. She was killed by a hawk as she was flying to the deck to visit me. She now has a view of this sunset every night and of our cabin on the creek. It was not easy to drive back home and leave her behind. I miss her desperately.