Peregrines and jackdaws

~T~ · #1 (**permalink**) 20-03-2011, 08:59 PM

Ok so I have the privilege of living near a disused quarry which teems with wildlife including a few rarities, most notable being a pair of peregrine falcons and a pair or ravens (although I didn't see the ravens last year). One thing that's always puzzled me is the peregrines don't hunt the local jackdaws and the jackdaws don't seem bothered by the peregrines and actually nest very close to them. I've seen jackdaws mobbing a sparrowhawk before so why the truce in this situation? I see plenty of kill sites around the quarry which are almost always pigeons. I was told that BOP's don't tend to hunt directly around their nest but I have seen the falcons chasing other birds. One very lucky starling actually made a bee line towards where I was standing one time and dived into the bushes beside me. The falcon got within about 20 feet of me then banked sharply upwards as it realised I was standing there.So can any WABbers shed light on this. I'm looking forward to this coming summer to get some pictures of the wildlife in and around the quarry with my new DSLR.

Littlesparrow · #2 (**permalink**) 20-03-2011, 09:13 PM

I saw a couple of Jackdaws sitting on a roof near to a crow today. I can't remember seeing a jackdaw on its own, so I wonder if the sparrow hawks and such get to know it is not worth attacking them because they will be outnumbered.

Gill Catton · #3 (**permalink**) 20-03-2011, 10:15 PM

I watched a quarry for a job two or three times a month for a breeding season and again there were both Peregrines, jackdaw nesting there (ravens too) and the jackdaws always reacted when the peregrine flew through and I did see a peregrine chase after a jackdaw once (with no success) and the peregrine did seem to quater the quarry reasonably often my viewpoint wasn't brilliant to see exactly what was going on within the quarry but it did seem that the peregrines mainly went well away to hunt and I never saw them catch anything on site. There were also ravens in the quarry and they mutually ignored each other.

Interestingly there was also a pair of hobby within a few hundred meters of the quarry and they too seemed to travel away from the site to hunt.

John B (NTS) · #4 (**permalink**) 20-03-2011, 10:32 PM

At my favourite Peregrine nesting cliff Jackdaws have nested within about a metre of the resident Peregrines nest before now. The adult Peregrines seemed to call an armed truce and didn't molest the Jackdaws.

It has been suggested that the Peregrines are happy to have young Jackdaws on the wing nearby as it gives the eyasses something to practice on later.

Glasgowstef · #5 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 10:10 PM

Hi I live in glasgow too and had a tip off recently as to a nesting pair of peregrines 1 mile north of Glasgow! For obvious reasons im not going to say were on this website.Is there a chance its the same pair as youve seen ? regards steven

rossy · #6 (**permalink**) 14-04-2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~T~

Ok so I have the privilege of living near a disused quarry which teems with wildlife including a few rarities, most notable being a pair of peregrine falcons and a pair or ravens (although I didn't see the ravens last year). One thing that's always puzzled me is the peregrines don't hunt the local jackdaws and the jackdaws don't seem bothered by the peregrines and actually nest very close to them. I've seen jackdaws mobbing a sparrowhawk before so why the truce in this situation? I see plenty of kill sites around the quarry which are almost always pigeons. I was told that BOP's don't tend to hunt directly around their nest but I have seen the falcons chasing other birds. One very lucky starling actually made a bee line towards where I was standing one time and dived into the bushes beside me. The falcon got within about 20 feet of me then banked sharply upwards as it realised I was standing there.So can any WABbers shed light on this. I'm looking forward to this coming summer to get some pictures of the wildlife in and around the quarry with my new DSLR.

so long as any other bird dosent go anywhere near the peregrines nest they are normally ok, but there is footage on the forum of a peregrine taking out a lot larger bop, and they are very terrortorial when young are in the nest, top and bottom of it is peregrines rule the roost so to speak, as for hunting they will travel miles, but think about it , it wouldnt take long would it, yes pigeons are in the main ,their favourite food,and are found in lots of towns and cities,as pigeons are plentiful, but they do take other birds, and they also hunt at night, hope that helps t, rossy.