Advice please

andreaM · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 09:36 AM

Hi,
I've been feeding birds in my garden for the last three years and have a wonderful variety of small birds including long-tailed tits, bullfinches and, this year, goldfinches. Yesterday, a sparrowhawk swooped in over the back gate and picked a juvenile goldfinch off a nyger seed feeder. The feeders are hanging from an apple tree. I've put some 6 foot garden canes in a row around the tree, but, this morning it made another attempt. Has anyone got any advice how I can discourage it.
Thanks
Andrea

matt_xyz · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 09:50 AM

It sounds like you've done the one thing that you're meant to do, and that is to provide some cover near to the feeders. Presumably the apple tree provides this so the birds have someone they can dive for cover (if they have time). I can't think of anything else to suggest I'm afraid. You wouldn't want the Sparrowhawk to go hungry though would you?

Matt

DL · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 10:05 AM

Apart from providing the cover I dont think there is much else. Its all part of the process, look the other way

I have seen them plough straight through both our 4' wide privet and 3' wide hawthorn without even seeming to loose speed and thats got to hurt. It is no deterent.

It is a bit of a shocker when they dont realise you are on the other side of the hedge and you nearly get one between the eyes.

Owl-Light · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreaM

Hi,
I've been feeding birds in my garden for the last three years and have a wonderful variety of small birds including long-tailed tits, bullfinches and, this year, goldfinches. Yesterday, a sparrowhawk swooped in over the back gate and picked a juvenile goldfinch off a nyger seed feeder. The feeders are hanging from an apple tree. I've put some 6 foot garden canes in a row around the tree, but, this morning it made another attempt. Has anyone got any advice how I can discourage it.
Thanks
Andrea

A Sparrowhawk visits our garden regularly once every four months - its almost as if she has a calendar. Her target is the Collared Doves and its always distressing when she takes one, so I know how you feel.

You can get feeders that are in something or a bird cage frame. The Feeder Guardian Packs intended to discourage squirrels could prove useful. Scroll down to the second and third items. Perhaps you could adapt one for Niger. It would protect them when they are eating and when the leave they might be more likely to be having a look around before emerging.

Kev Lewis · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DL

Apart from providing the cover I dont think there is much else. Its all part of the process, look the other way

I have seen them plough straight through both our 4' wide privet and 3' wide hawthorn without even seeming to loose speed and thats got to hurt. It is no deterent.

It is a bit of a shocker when they dont realise you are on the other side of the hedge and you nearly get one between the eyes.

I've seen a high speed film of a hawk harris going through a hedge and they 'walk' through. It is incredibly quick in real time but slowed down it shows them clearly placing their feet on each branch going through the dense wood. Their reflexes and thought process are so fast the hawks probably feel like they are actually walking through the hedge. To us, slow thinking bipeds, it is one hell of a sight lol

DL · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 12:12 PM

Im shure they can shrink themselves to a tiny size as well. I have tried to put a broom handle through the hawthorn joining the exit and entry points and cant. In fact its a real struggle to find any point in the hedge where you can push the handle through.

andreaM · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the response - and to everyone else as well. I have to say the speed at which it happened was amazing. The canes seems to be acting as a deterrent so far but I'm not sure whether they will prevent the great spotted woodpeckers from returning to the nut feeders.
Andrea

chunkychambers · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 05:23 PM

Welcome to WAB andreaM I hope you enjoy the site.
I think you're priviliged to have visits from a sparrowhawk, they are majestic, proud hunters.
Try to change your attitude towards them and study them the way you study the other bird-life, they have to kill to eat and have to eat to live.

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 06:33 PM

Send me your woodpeckers andreaM,I hear them but non in the garden

Lincs Yellowbelly · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 07:44 PM

My advice is don't try and stop it

it's all part of nature isn't it and is how nature works, i love seeing the sparrowhawks when they visit the garden. They won't have a massive effect on the numbers of birds in the garden, in fact they wont really have any effect

Wolfhill · #11 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 08:03 PM

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the Sparrowhawk in my garden but currently it is coming in up to seven times a day and it almost always catches something. Today I was sitting in a hide I put up in my back garden, to try to photograph the Sparrowhawk where it perches. But today, it was through the back of the tree so I couldn't get a photograph. It sat there for half an hour before the birds got used to it, and thats when it struck unfortunately for a young female House Sparrow

I understand its all part of Nature and i won't try to stop it coming, infact I feel priveledged to have one in the Garden, but it is sad when you see a bird getting caught and carried away right in front of your eyes. There are lots of House Sparrows in my garden this year though 100+ at times, so it isn't too bad when it catches , these I just hope it stays with them and not my resident Tree Sparrow families who's number are far fewer.
Fergus

gez · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 08:24 PM

a great reply wolfhill. i only wish there were sparrowhawks around here nature is sometimes cruel but that also depends from which side of the fence you sit...gez

honeybee · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2006, 09:18 PM

I moved earlier in the year and had just managed to attract a good number of garden birds and then the sparrow hawk came along and took two sparrows in two days that I know of. Now I have hardly any birds in the garden but that's their strategy to make the hawk move elsewhere for a bit. Like others have said, it is sad when a bird is killed but it's all part of nature and the sparrow hawk is beautiful. There's quite decent shelter from small shrubs and trees in the garden but they're able to fly straight through.

andreaM · #14 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 07:33 PM

Hi,
I was impressed by the sparrowhawk - the closest I've ever seen one. There have been few birds in the garden at all today, so I think you are right to say I should change my attitude. I put the canes up in such a hurry that they'll blow down in the first breeze! It was a reaction to seeing a goldfinch that had just been flapping its wings in "feed me" mode, becoming a meal for the hawk. I'd have loved to have a photo of the sparrowhawk but its speed was amazing.
Andrea

Wolfhill · #15 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 03:58 PM

I spent all of yesterday afternoon out in theh ide I put up waiting for the Sparrowhawk to come in.... it was in 4 times in 3 hours... poor sparrows lol. An even biger shock was when I saw not the male Sparrowhawk, but a female Sparrowhawk. I feel like this..

if that makes sense lol. Heres a pic of the male.
Fergus

Boddie · #16 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 04:04 PM

Hi Fergus

I was up your neck of the woods a couple of weeks back and saw a guy with an incredibly funny number plate on his car. If he's local you will know which car it is

Owl-Light · #17 (**permalink**) 12-09-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfhill

I spent all of yesterday afternoon out in theh ide I put up waiting for the Sparrowhawk to come in.... it was in 4 times in 3 hours... poor sparrows lol. An even biger shock was when I saw not the male Sparrowhawk, but a female Sparrowhawk. I feel like this..

if that makes sense lol. Heres a pic of the male.
Fergus

I know exactlywhat you mean

Fantastic photo by the way - really must be clicked to view full size. Oooh those wild eyes of hers!!!