Sparrowhawk attack!

k4t3 · #1 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 05:47 PM

Male sparrowhawk took collared dove this afternoon, but cat interrupted the kill. Dove still alive but obviously stressed, bleeding profusely from back where all feathers and skin been removed, would it be best to put dove out of misery or to try n help? have removed dove to safe site but now stuck...

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 05:51 PM

The dove will probably die of shock but if you feel it is suffering, best to have it painlessly put to sleep in my opinion.

k4t3 · #3 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 05:54 PM

Yes, the female sparrowhawk would not have let this one go... she's v determined, male could just not lift this one...just a pity to make this one suffer

squeek · #4 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 06:40 PM

thats so sad, thats why i try to stop these attacks and so far what im doing is working. i have a thread called "for those who want to stop sparrowhawk attacks in garden" i'll bump it if i can find it.

i hope the Dove's suffering ends very soon.
depends on your vet what will happen, many choose to put down wildlife, probably better at a bird sanctuary.
pls let us know what happens

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeek

thats so sad, thats why i try to stop these attacks and so far what im doing is working. i have a thread called "for those who want to stop sparrowhawk attacks in garden" i'll bump it if i can find it.

i hope the Dove's suffering ends very soon.
depends on your vet what will happen, many choose to put down wildlife, probably better at a bird sanctuary.
pls let us know what happens

Sparrowhawks have to kill to eat there for by interrupting them you could prevent them getting a very much needed meal and could die as a consequence..
Squeek you would be better off trying to stop local cat strikes on wildlife.

In this case its hard as WW said it would probably not survive anyway..

Jenny W · #6 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 07:14 PM

To be completely honest the best thing to do is to put it out of it's misery there and then and save the extra stress and expense of taking it to a vet/wildlife rehabilitator. It's perhaps just as sad that the Sparrowhawk lost it's meal needlessly because of a cat - the bird will have to expend well needed energy to hunt again. (Oh I may get slated for saying that

- sorry to be controversial but it's a valid point)

2dogs2000 · #7 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenny W

To be completely honest the best thing to do is to put it out of it's misery there and then and save the extra stress and expense of taking it to a vet/wildlife rehabilitator. It's perhaps just as sad that the Sparrowhawk lost it's meal needlessly because of a cat - the bird will have to expend well needed energy to hunt again. (Oh I may get slated for saying that

- sorry to be controversial but it's a valid point)

I agree with you.

squeek · #8 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Sparrowhawks have to kill to eat there for by interrupting them you could prevent them getting a very much needed meal and could die as a consequence..
Squeek you would be better off trying to stop local cat strikes on wildlife.

In this case its hard as WW said it would probably not survive anyway..

hi Kayleigh, we have seen the hawks recently all they do is fly over the garden into another. so they wont starve as there is plenty other places around for them to find food. and yes i do keep an eye on any cat that enters my garden, if i think it will get a bird i will shoo it off.

Kayleigh · #9 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeek

hi Kayleigh, we have seen the hawks recently all they do is fly over the garden into another. so they wont starve as there is plenty other places around for them to find food. and yes i do keep an eye on any cat that enters my garden, if i think it will get a bird i will shoo it off.

Glad to here it

We get Sparrowhawks in our garden I love to see them we don't get cats as the dog chases them away..

earthdragon64 · #10 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenny W

To be completely honest the best thing to do is to put it out of it's misery there and then and save the extra stress and expense of taking it to a vet/wildlife rehabilitator. It's perhaps just as sad that the Sparrowhawk lost it's meal needlessly because of a cat - the bird will have to expend well needed energy to hunt again. (Oh I may get slated for saying that

- sorry to be controversial but it's a valid point)

And it means a 2nd bird will die to replace the one that got away - or didn't as in this case. A perfect example of why I think trying to prevent the natural occurrence of a predator killing and eating is actually causing more suffering and death not preventing it.

Obviously in this case it was a cat that caused the interruption, so it's a bit different, but in cases where it's a person deliberately chasing the Sparrowhawk during/after a kill or attemped kill, then it's merely postponing the inevitable and killing two prey birds instead of one.