Welcome to the forum @DeniseA !
When you have a falcon actively scouting your yard, a covered run becomes your best option. An A-frame is fast and uses the least amount of materials. Old CDs hanging on a string flash and birds of prey find that very distracting.
Also, although you'll likely lose the pleasure of seeing the falcon, you can train your dogs to dissuade them. Take the most likely dog and every time you see the falcon, put on a drama worthy of William Shatner. Crouch down, stare at the bird, point (dogs will usually follow a pointing finger) stage whisper "What's that?!? Do you see the hawk??", stalk it and then run a few steps at it and jump and yell.
The dog will likely go flat out berserk at this, but after a few times, will zoom in on the hawk with <SQUIRREL> intensity, and in a surprisingly short amount of time will learn to watch the sky for it.
I've had several dogs who learned to circle and bark under a black speck in the air, daring the hawk to come down.
When you have a falcon actively scouting your yard, a covered run becomes your best option. An A-frame is fast and uses the least amount of materials. Old CDs hanging on a string flash and birds of prey find that very distracting.
Also, although you'll likely lose the pleasure of seeing the falcon, you can train your dogs to dissuade them. Take the most likely dog and every time you see the falcon, put on a drama worthy of William Shatner. Crouch down, stare at the bird, point (dogs will usually follow a pointing finger) stage whisper "What's that?!? Do you see the hawk??", stalk it and then run a few steps at it and jump and yell.
The dog will likely go flat out berserk at this, but after a few times, will zoom in on the hawk with <SQUIRREL> intensity, and in a surprisingly short amount of time will learn to watch the sky for it.
I've had several dogs who learned to circle and bark under a black speck in the air, daring the hawk to come down.
