bird of prey deterrent

[FairyNuff]

Yes there are some deterrents on the market. The one which seems to working in my garden (I don't keep doves) is a raptor globe

It's a shame that putting out food for Doves/wild birds (and so concentrating the area the birds are in) means that we have unwittingly made it easy for Sparrowhawks to thrive.
Good luck with the Globe, please let me know if has the desired effect!!

[Dogghound]

Why is it a shame that we have made it easy for sparrowhawks to thrive? Do you not think that the large amounts of habitat we have destroyed, agrochemicals such as DDT we have put into the environment, persecution we have inflicted on them has had a large impact on their populations. I think we owe it to them to rectify it. I dont see what the difference is between a sparrowhawk having the right to survive and a dove. Sparrowhawk numbers arnt what they were in the past, they are part of a healthy ecosystem.

[Yan21]

Originally Posted by Fiona5

I'm afraid that in my experience once the hawks know where the doves are they will keep coming back. A mother dove managed to rear two squabs this spring in my dovecote, despite the hawk killing the father dove when the babies were only 2/3 days old. I still see one of the babies 4 months on - I recognise it by the rings. My flock is free to fly loose, and though I understand anyone wanting to try to protect their birds I don't think netting them for longer than the initial 6/8 weeks is fair or kind. Yan21 if I were you I would do what I could to scare the s/hawk away while the doves are netted, and then hope for the best. I do feel for you.

Thanks for that Fiona. Obviously this subject seems to provoke feelings to run high! Did we mention we think sparrowhawks don't have a place? No didn't think so-just looking for advice!
Thanks also to Fairynuff. I'll have a look at this & keep in touch.
Great to hear you managed squabs Fiona. Have a bad feeling I might not get that far!!

[Fiona5]

Fairynuff, thanks for the info - I will have a look.

Dogghound, I said in my initial post that I realise hawks have to eat - and therefore survive. I reserve the right to be more interested in doves than hawks.

Yan21, I will send you a private message.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Fiona5

Dogghound, I said in my initial post that I realise hawks have to eat - and therefore survive. I reserve the right to be more interested in doves than hawks.

My post wasnt to you, Sorry I should have "quoted" was to the one above mine.

[Picidae]

Fiona, just a kindly thought, perhaps it is better to continue the discussion regarding keeping Doves as pets with other Dove owners in private messaging (or a pet bird Forum?). As this is a British Wildlife Forum, British Birds in particular, meaning 'wild' birds, unfortunately (or fortunately!?) the majority of opinion on here will be weighted by members whose primary concern and interests are in the welfare, observation and support of Wild Birds. There may even be some members who might take offense at a lengthy discussion on pet birds in an open forum such as this.

You've received some good advice from here, all this thread is doing now, is prolonging a conflict of interests which quite frankly, given what i've said above, is not likely to go away and will just fuel more antagonism.

[Fiona5]

Certainly Picidae, I totally understand, please consider this thread closed. Anyone interested in white doves can message me.