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Officials warn of dive-bombing birds

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 8 (UPI) -- Florida wildlife officials said it is not uncommon for territorial mockingbirds or red-shouldered hawks to hit humans in the back of their heads.

Officials said they receive a handful of calls around this time of year, the breeding and nesting season for many birds, about hawks and mockingbirds causing minor injuries by striking people, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Wednesday.

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"We hear it a lot with mockingbirds," said Joy Hill, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "They'll come dive-bombing around real quick. If they hit you in the back of the head, it's kind of like 'Whoa, what's that?'"

The Federal Emergency Management Agency in Lake Mary, Fla., said it has closed off a portion of its parking lot known for hawk strikes and has posted signs warning people of the possibility of dive-bombing birds. The move came after three employees had encounters with hawks last spring.

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