Nesting hawks cause havoc at Indiana church

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) — Two hawks nesting on the roof of a northern Indiana church have been causing havoc by diving onto parishioners, the pastor said.

One woman needed stitches on the top of her head and another suffered facial injuries when the birds — protective of their nest — attacked at St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Mishawaka, just east of South Bend.

"Up until a couple weeks ago they really weren't bothering anybody and we weren't bothering them," the Rev. Terry Fisher told WSBT-TV.

The nest is near the building's front entrance. Fisher said the birds had nested at the rear of the church in previous years without any problems.

The church contacted state wildlife officials but was told the nest couldn't be removed because the hawks are a protected species.

"Once they build their nest I guess you have relatives moving in for a few months until their babies hatch and are old enough to fly away," Fisher said.

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Information from: WSBT-TV, http://www.wsbt.com/