Copied from Wikipedia about Red-tailed Hawks’ behavior:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk

“The Red-tailed Hawk is generally non-aggressive toward people and toward other birds, unless there are nestlings present. Approaching a Red-tailed Hawk with nestlings will result in attack and possible serious injury, so it is best to give the nest a wide berth.”

They live anywhere across North America, hence the discussed problem is interesting to many.

I couldn't find any data about flying wild pigs.......

These things are more common in spring and early summer. I have seen Hawks, eagles and falcons all show interest in mostly slower planes. Some come quite close and stick around for sometime checking things out.
I really doubt that color plays into this much, last weekend we had a adult Bald Eagle stay over a friends big Telemaster for several mins.. He/she was clearly very interested in the big yellow/white plane slowly flying below it. There are many birds of prey in the area and we commonly see them around our field. (they are very welcome to the digging rodents that try and use our field.)

Wow so I'm not the only person to have this happen to about two years ago a Red Tailed Hawk attacked my Parkzone P-51 as I was flying the damn bird came from no where! It drug its talons across my wing at the start or the alieron on the left wing I thought after that the bird would leave my plane alone and that I would be able to save it but I sure as hell was wrong after our mid air I tried to roll the plane away to the right but he came right around and I pulled sharply back on the elevator to avoid hitting the bird head on and my plane just couldnt take the stress on the weakened area and lost the left tip and alieron but not completly it was dangling by the servo lead and that caused some horrible drag and the plane was completly lost at that point there was nothing for me to do so I just let it impact psh as if that wouldnt have hapened even if I tried to save it but this all happened so fast like within 20 or 30 seconds I didnt know what to do

The local field is next to a landfill so it is always full of buzzards. They seem not to care about the funny clunky "birds" that fly around with them on occasion.

Wasnt there a Disney movie called Fly with the Condors or something, about a sailplane flyer.

I think we need to get tougher about this. Once word of these air-to-air victories gets around to the entire Red Hawk Nation........

Seems it is just baby hawk makin' or raising season. I read elswhere that looping seems to deter the hawks. Avoid the PERCEPTION of harrassing birds though. Don't wanna tick off the Audibonians.

Are the AUDIBONIANS vegetarians, or are they HIPPOCRITS?

Chuck norris could have solved all this before it got out of hand !

LOL I just read through the entire thread and realized my post could have possibly made me one of the 2%ers here. Well trust me, I'm not a tree hugger or "PC" of any sort. I'm an avid hunter, I get my food (steak and potato) from a waitress, my rum and coke comes from a stewardess on a plane, and there is no dash (-) in front of American. My post was simply referring to the beauty of the photo and personal experiences with people killing animals needlessly.

The hawks on Camp Pendleton used to mess with my sailplanes once in a while, and sometimes I'd give them a reason too. We don't really have too much trouble with them and our planes here in Michigan, although we do see a few along with a bald eagle once in a while. Lots of turkey buzzards and seagulls, but they usually run shortly after a plane is pointed at them.

Jeff

We have a pretty good bird population where we fly - all sorts of birds. Birds of prey you don't see that often since they are mostly at the dam down the road. But sometimes you will have a bird of prey circuling in our airspace. They never really do anything - just check things out. Once in a while one will follow your plane around. We did have one incident when I was up with my Stryker. Can't remember what bird it was - but it came for my Stryker with claws out. I just pushed hard elevator and full throttle and went straight for the ground - the bird then seem to just pull out and went back to minding it's own business.

But yeah when other birds comes along we usually chase them with the airplanes. They cross over us when the go to the water.

just thought of something, if hawks think the planes are birds regardless of color, wonder what my planes chances are around hawks

To a hawk, a plane tastes just like chicken.

This thread seems to be going a bit fowl!

Foghorn Leghorn: Lookit here son, I say son, did ya see that hawk after those chickens? (well planes that is)

Good point aviator throttle back and stay wide with a saito fourstroke,good formation practice ps loud two strokes certainly seem to p#ss them off tho

Look out for PETA!

People Enjoying Tasty Animals.

Ya all could add bottle rockets to the wing pods and ignite them by radio , That shake up them tasty birds real good -Chickin for lunch anyone? - Maby a new AMA sport LOL

nah, it's gone to the birds