| Re: Sparrowhawk menace?
Its the evidence of a healthy and thriving small bird population that sparrowhawks are around, although I can see that sometimes they would be unwelcome. However, there have been a number of threads recently about seemingly empty gardens with causes highlighted as being such a mild winter meaning there's still plenty of wild food around - rather than sparrowhawks.
Also there are threads about birds carrying on regardless - despite recent sparrowhawk kills in the garden illustrates how sparrowhawks are not necessarily a deterrent.
Capture and relocation of sparrowhawks would be extremely undesirable. As... well..... frankly sparrowhawks have as much right to be around as a great tit but also because as indicated, they are evidence that the small bird population is good and healthy and a new sparrow hawk would simply move into the area.
Plus points,
Sparrowhawks are operating on winter ranges at the moment and activity may shift areas when breeding starts.
There are methods of deterrents such as sticking bamboo poles in the ground around feeders that (supposedly) slow the hawk up as it has to negotiate around the obstacles. I think I've also seen something in the bird food catalogues that looks like a reflective mirror globe on a stick that's supposed to deter raptors too.
Planting nice dense spiky shrubs gives small birds a bush to dive into to be safe that a sparrowhawk can't get into, a regularly used tactic!!
Sparrowhawks are generally weeding out the weak and the unfit - ultimately making the population stronger - just as you would thin a tray of seedlings. This surely should be considered a good thing?  |