Library patrons advised to use umbrellas to protect themselves from swooping hawks

Workers at Port Orange Regional Library, Florida, are stocking up on umbrellas for guests to use as protection against red-shouldered hawks.

A family of hawks live in a tree next to the building and there are at least two babies in the nest. The adult birds fly to the ground and attack people as they approach the library, according to library workers and guests.

The county is urging visitors to always use umbrellas as they walk to and from the library after several reports of the birds getting too close and injuring people. County officials have placed numerous signs outside the library warning people about the aggressive birds.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said the hawks are protected and in some cases officials will come out and remove the nests, but not in this case. County officials said the birds should be less aggressive in about three weeks, once the baby hawks are out of the nest.