Sparrow Hawk Kill

[barquar]

Had a sparrow Hawk visiting my garden for a while now never seen her catch anything. But this morning she came over the hedge at such speed caught a male sparrow landed on my lawn with it.I tryed to shoo it off to save the sparrow but she flew away with it in her claw.The speed off this bird is incredible.This is the first time i have seen a sparrow hawk kill.
Barquar

[htcdude]

They are very fast birds, especially when you witness one in a small area like garden!


Why shoo it off? If we all did that whenever a Sparrowhawk attacked anything they would all starve and die out

Nige

[faz]

dont shoo it off count your self lucky

[~T~]

Originally Posted by barquar

Had a sparrow Hawk visiting my garden for a while now never seen her catch anything. But this morning she came over the hedge at such speed caught a male sparrow landed on my lawn with it.I tryed to shoo it off to save the sparrow but she flew away with it in her claw.The speed off this bird is incredible.This is the first time i have seen a sparrow hawk kill.
Barquar

I know it's a shame for the sparrow but it's nature. For all you know the hawk could be struggling to find enough food and by scaring off it's meal you could be putting it's life at risk too.

[Acipiter]

Plus the fact that it will have to kill on maim another bird, completely defeating the object, please don't do it.

[C J Smallman]

I would let nature take its course if the hawk has the prey pinned down or if you shoo it off you end up with a dead sparrow that ends up in the bin and its life will of been a waste.

But by all means help the little birds with extra cover and the safe placing of feeders.

Hope you dont get to much flack for trying to help the sparrow its a reaction most of us have inside of ourselves

Chris.

[barquar]

I suppose it was seeing it for the first time I thought if I shoo him of he would have let the sparrow go and not be harmed it to much. Foolish off me its nature and you have to let it take it course.I wont interfere in future.Glad he didnt get my White Tailed Blackbird who was in the garden at the Time.
My Garden is small its about 18ft by 18ft.
Barquar

[Acipiter]

Originally Posted by C J Smallman

I would let nature take its course if the hawk has the prey pinned down or if you shoo it off you end up with a dead sparrow that ends up in the bin and its life will of been a waste.

But by all means help the little birds with extra cover and the safe placing of feeders.

Hope you dont get to much flack for trying to help the sparrow its a reaction most of us have inside of ourselves

Chris.

Completely agree Chris, you will have to forgive me Baquar, but my passion for s/hawks, completely takes over, when I hear people frighting off a s/hawk with a bird that has been caught.

[~T~]

Originally Posted by barquar

I suppose it was seeing it for the first time I thought if I shoo him of he would have let the sparrow go and not be harmed it to much. Foolish off me its nature and you have to let it take it course.I wont interfere in future.Glad he didnt get my White Tailed Blackbird who was in the garden at the Time.
My Garden is small its about 18ft by 18ft.
Barquar

Thats bigger than my garden

[rossy]

Originally Posted by barquar

Had a sparrow Hawk visiting my garden for a while now never seen her catch anything. But this morning she came over the hedge at such speed caught a male sparrow landed on my lawn with it.I tryed to shoo it off to save the sparrow but she flew away with it in her claw.The speed off this bird is incredible.This is the first time i have seen a sparrow hawk kill.
Barquar

yes the word ambush springs to mind, its typical sparrowhawk behaviour, when its been coming as you have observed before, its not only looking for prey, it will be weighing your garden and where the birds are, not only are they fast, but their agility has to be seen to be believed , they can turn on a sixpence, nature at its best, unfortunate for the little fellow, but its a meal for the sparrowhawk, rossy.