garden visitors

cazxxxx3 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:47 PM

I have been reading this forum and would like some advice. I feed the birds here (currently spending about £30 wk on everything from fat blocks, no mess seed, fat balls and peanuts) I really love it...BUT recently we have a couple of unwelcome visitors ie sparrowhawks and kestrels. I had found body parts of birds in the past but put it down to cats until this week. I was in the bathroom when I heard a commotion from the feeder. At the time I thought it was starlings squabbling over the fat blocks so I ignored it. It kept on so I went to the window and to my utter horror was a very, very large grey/blue sparrowhawk (I think) sitting on top of a poor starling. The starling was really struggling. I then ran downstairs to scare it away but it just sat there and opened it's wings as if to protect it's victim. It then flew off with the poor bird. I realise that it is nature and they have to eat but still it is not nice to hear or see. Does anyone know how can I get rid of these very unwelcome guests!!!! I now spend my spare time looking out the window in case they come back.

ron1863 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:55 PM

Hi and welcome to WAB. While it is sad to see little birds being preyed upon, it is nature and I and probably other members would be more than happy to see birds of prey in the garden. There have been other threads addressing similar problems, which may give you some advice, such as not putting feed out for a few days as the hawks will return to the bird table as it is a bit like a McDonalds to them - fast, easy food.
Check this old thread out:

bird of prey deterrent

cazxxxx3 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 10:08 PM

Thank you Ron for your reply. I wll leave off feeding them for about a week to see if the hawks stop coming. Do you think it sounds like a male sparrowhawk to be that colouring? They are very beautiful birds...just wish they would live off road kill instead of taking live birds.

crockfordkat · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 10:28 PM

im affraid im with ron on this id love to have birds of prey visiting my garden,its the same old thing im affraid where theres small fish theres bigger fish etc..

although i love the small birds id love to have a problem like yours

keith

Adam Cheeseman · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 10:47 PM

If you put food out for the birds, you are in effect attracting food for other birds. Tis nature and it's been going on longer than we've been around.

Cheers,

Adam

ellen h · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 10:48 PM

Hi and welcome!!
One of the numerous cats round here hides in the bushes and pounces on an unfortunate bird,"plays" with it ,kills it and invariably leaves it on the lawn!! Somehow people can accept that as "oh thats what cats do",but if they see a wild creature hunt,kill and eat something in front of them then thats deemed"horrid and cruel".Thats nature I am afraid,they have to eat!
Sorry to rant a bit but I have a friend with 4 cats,3 are "hunters" and she is always asking me to remove carcases or live mice/birds from her house the cats have brought in.Yet she HATES with a vengance the sparrowhawk that took her"tame"blackbird.No matter how I put it she wont see how illogical she is!!
ellen

ron1863 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 11:02 PM

I would guess that it was a Sparrowhawk. We had one that sat on our wall for a minute then flew off, beautiful birds and they will take the easy option when hungry.

Ron

Rob_D · #8 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 09:29 AM

When you see Sparrowhawk hunting it really makes you understand why small birds are nervous and need bushes and trees close by for cover. One moment of inattention and they could be dead - the Sparrowhawks mostly rely on surprise.

It's no consolation but in theory they do weed out the weak and the sick. At least Birds of Prey don't kill more than they need unlike horrible cats.

Hedge Witch · #9 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cazxxxx3

Do you think it sounds like a male sparrowhawk to be that colouring?

The blue grey suggests a male.

PS Females are larger than the males.

Kev-B · #10 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 10:13 AM

Hi Caz ..

And welcome aboard ...

Sparrowhawks are "ambush" predators .. which means they only take live prey .. they don't eat carrion ..

Red Kites on the other hand are carrion feeders & will happily live off road kill ..

Many species of bird, besides BoP's will eat other birds given the chance or if other sources of food are hard to come by ..

"Your" Sparrowhawk may have its own young to feed .. and when it covered the prey item with its wings, it was "Mantling" .. (from where we derive Mantlepiece) .. perceiving you as a rival for the kill ..

I can understand you being upset .. but as others have said .. "That's nature" .. Red in tooth & claw ...

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

silverspring · #11 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 10:33 AM

Forgive me if I sound callous but, did you by any chance have the camera set up; I'm imaging you would have got some fantastic shots of the sparrow hawk at work (excuse the pun) !

Steve

galanthus · #12 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 11:28 AM

We've had sparrowhawks taking birds over the years, a facinating sight and a sign that you're contributing to the overall food chain succesfully.

We don't own the birds we feed, we're just privileged to see nature at work so enjoy it and take pics of the lovely things.

Tracey.A · #13 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev-B

Hi Caz ..

And welcome aboard ...

Sparrowhawks are "ambush" predators .. which means they only take live prey .. they don't eat carrion ..

Red Kites on the other hand are carrion feeders & will happily live off road kill ..

Many species of bird, besides BoP's will eat other birds given the chance or if other sources of food are hard to come by ..

"Your" Sparrowhawk may have its own young to feed .. and when it covered the prey item with its wings, it was "Mantling" .. (from where we derive Mantlepiece) .. perceiving you as a rival for the kill ..

I can understand you being upset .. but as others have said .. "That's nature" .. Red in tooth & claw ...

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

I've never heard of the term "Mantling". Your postings on this thread are really interesting, keep 'em coming!

Tracey

Kev-B · #14 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 12:50 PM

Hi Tracey ..

We actually get quite a lot of our everyday language & sayings from the world of Falconry & Hawking ..

For instance if you want to motivate someone .. you might say .. "C'mon, shake your feathers" .. this comes from the "Rouse" an act performed by all BoP's immediately before take-off, ensuring that all the flight feathers are perfectly aligned .. which might make all the difference between catching a meal & going hungry ..

Or, in Medieval times Hawks were often carried in the field on a pole shaped like an elongated letter "T" .. this was known as a "Cadge" and the servant deputed to carry it was called the Cadger, or said to be "on the Cadge" .. if he was a particularly elderly retainer he was probably called the "Old Cadger" .. from where we get the corruption to "Old Codger" ..

Another suggested origin for "Cadger" is that the servant wasn't paid for his work & so scrounged "tips" from the Lords & Ladies in return for carrying their Hawks ..

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

Kayleigh · #15 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellen h

Hi and welcome!!
One of the numerous cats round here hides in the bushes and pounces on an unfortunate bird,"plays" with it ,kills it and invariably leaves it on the lawn!! Somehow people can accept that as "oh thats what cats do",but if they see a wild creature hunt,kill and eat something in front of them then thats deemed"horrid and cruel".Thats nature I am afraid,they have to eat!
Sorry to rant a bit but I have a friend with 4 cats,3 are "hunters" and she is always asking me to remove carcases or live mice/birds from her house the cats have brought in.Yet she HATES with a vengance the sparrowhawk that took her"tame"blackbird.No matter how I put it she wont see how illogical she is!!
ellen

Sorry I'm with ellen on this, I would rather see a sparrowhawk take a bird than a cat.
I can't wait to catch mine with camera.
That's nature.

cazxxxx3 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 01:49 PM

Hi Everyone Thank you for the info on SH. As a newbie to this site I have found all the info very helpful. I will get to like the SH and other birds of prey - it was just my first sight of an actual kill. I agree that cats are by far the biggest killer of birds. I have cats and for this reason mine are totally indoor. They like to lay on the windowsill and admire the birds in the garden. That way everyone is happy!! Would a SH attack a human? or have I watched one too many films - as when it opened up its wings to shield the prey from me I wondered if I ventured too close do you think it would have attacked me? Does anyone know when SH have their young? If they have young will their young stay around here or do they get chased off by the parents to a different area? Sorry if I sound abit ''geeky'' it is just up until now birds of prey have just been pictures in a book so it would be good to have an idea from people that know them.

demicav · #17 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 01:57 PM

I agree with the other postings. Whilst it's sad for some to see, it's nature. Backbirds take worms, lions take Gazelles ect.
Check out this thread though for advice if it really upsets you,

The RSPB: Advice: Sparrowhawk deterrents

Kayleigh · #18 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 02:09 PM

Don't worry I have never heard of a sparrowhawk attacking anyone...Its not a Hitchcock film

Enjoy looking at the beauty of theses birds, Its nature in the raw. I don't like seeing big cats on tv catching and eating prey alive but that's life.
We eat animals too.

Kev-B · #19 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:23 PM

I doubt that a Sparrowhawk would attack a human .. except in defence of its nest or young .. & then one gets what one deserves for interfering ...

But that "defence" behaviour is common in most birds .. Terns for example will & do "dive-bomb" people (often drawing blood) to defend their nest sites ..

Small birds will very often "mob" Owls & BoP's too .... a good indication of the presence of a Bird of Prey or a roosting Owl is the behaviour & agitation of the smaller birds ..

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

Adam Cheeseman · #20 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Sorry I'm with ellen on this, I would rather see a sparrowhawk take a bird than a cat.

I'd love to see a Sparrowhawk take a cat.

Cheers,

Adam

Kayleigh · #21 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I'd love to see a Sparrowhawk take a cat.

Cheers,

Adam

That would be something..

Kev-B · #22 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:34 PM

European Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo) would be good for that .. and they're now successfully breeding in North Yorkshire & Lancashire ...

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

Kayleigh · #23 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev-B

European Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo) would be good for that .. and they're now successfully breeding in North Yorkshire & Lancashire ...

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

Yes, they take buzzards too.

ron1863 · #24 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 07:56 PM

I take it you have a lot of feeders and a big garden as £30 is a heck of a lot to spend on bird food

Rob_D · #25 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 09:47 AM

I'm pretty sure a Sparrowhawk wouldn't attack a human deliberately, but I do wonder if there haven't been any accidental collisions with people? They do fly irresponsibly low and fast.....

Once I was nearly hit by a Goshawk which was chasing another bird! BIG talons aimed at my head - I ducked just in time!