Comments on: SPARROWHAWKS AND THEIR PREY http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/ A place to chat about all types of birds and also exchange bird feeding and other wild bird advice Sun, 20 May 2012 16:50:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Michael Shahoud http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-758 Michael Shahoud Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:58:29 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-758 I was priviliged to see a Sparrow Hawk attack and kill a Collared Dove in my back garden early this year. In the 10 years I've lived in Kent this was the first time I witnessed this event. The kill was not swift, but it was as precise as a bird of prey could manage. It was a female SH. No doubt she had young to feed. SHs kill a fraction of the birds cats kill, and many cats kill only for pleasure! I have nothing against SHs, and admire their stealth and skill. I also love to watch garden birds on our bird feeders, and on occasion we have over 30 birds feeding all at once. There is a place for every creature on this earth. I was priviliged to see a Sparrow Hawk attack and kill a Collared Dove in my back garden early this year. In the 10 years I’ve lived in Kent this was the first time I witnessed this event. The kill was not swift, but it was as precise as a bird of prey could manage. It was a female SH. No doubt she had young to feed. SHs kill a fraction of the birds cats kill, and many cats kill only for pleasure! I have nothing against SHs, and admire their stealth and skill. I also love to watch garden birds on our bird feeders, and on occasion we have over 30 birds feeding all at once. There is a place for every creature on this earth.

]]> By: Shell http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-713 Shell Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:55:37 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-713 I don't think the birds would fair any better to be honest if you stop feeding them. If you encounter a Sparrow Hawk stalking the garden then altering the feeding plan should help the smaller birds. If there are one or even two SHs flying around then you would need to be extra vigilant and think very carefully about what to do, even if it means stopping feeding them for a week or two until there is no threat. I haven't seen a SH in my garden for many months now, and I have stopped hanging up feeders. I have camouflaged an area for the birds in which they can eat. When the bird of prey was watching the feeders, I took them down and didn't put much food out as normal until it was all clear. It would have been more difficult in the winter but I would've done my best to protect the garden birds and made sure they had something to eat. They are very happy out there and have a wonderful life eating healthily. If it wasn't for me and no doubt many others feeding them through the harsh winter I am certain most would've died. To see the same groups of birds flying around after winter is a privilege. I don’t think the birds would fair any better to be honest if you stop feeding them. If you encounter a Sparrow Hawk stalking the garden then altering the feeding plan should help the smaller birds. If there are one or even two SHs flying around then you would need to be extra vigilant and think very carefully about what to do, even if it means stopping feeding them for a week or two until there is no threat.

I haven’t seen a SH in my garden for many months now, and I have stopped hanging up feeders. I have camouflaged an area for the birds in which they can eat.

When the bird of prey was watching the feeders, I took them down and didn’t put much food out as normal until it was all clear. It would have been more difficult in the winter but I would’ve done my best to protect the garden birds and made sure they had something to eat.

They are very happy out there and have a wonderful life eating healthily. If it wasn’t for me and no doubt many others feeding them through the harsh winter I am certain most would’ve died.

To see the same groups of birds flying around after winter is a privilege.

]]> By: N Campbell-Smith http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-711 N Campbell-Smith Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:19:43 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-711 I agree with most of the above items ,but my thought is that by putting feeding stations ,of whatever sort out for wild birds are we then not morally responsible,if these feeding stations become a target .Is it possible that the birds would fair better if we had not fed them,a point which I would like to put to the RSPB as a member .They reckon that they are far too busy to answer emails ,it is sad when you would like an answer to a question that is important to you ,that an organisation you have supported for years has not time for their members Nigel Surrey I agree with most of the above items ,but my thought is that by putting feeding stations ,of whatever sort out for wild birds are we then not morally responsible,if these feeding stations become a target .Is it possible that the birds would fair better if we had not fed them,a point which I would like to put to the RSPB as a member .They reckon that they are far too busy to answer emails ,it is sad when you would like an answer to a question that is important to you ,that an organisation you have supported for years has not time for their members Nigel Surrey

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-570 Trish Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:33:56 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-570 Hi Shell, I do agree. I'm pleased there are other people who agree with me. Your understanding of the garden /wildlife situation is brill. Of course if a sparrowhawk saw a lot of birds about it would stay and build a nest and breed - and feed on the birds. I had never thought of how a sparrowhawk decides to nest - but of course food will be important. It is interesting how birds get to know food is about. Trisha. Hi Shell, I do agree. I’m pleased there are other people who agree with me.

Your understanding of the garden /wildlife situation is brill. Of course if a sparrowhawk saw a lot of birds about it would stay and build a nest and breed – and feed on the birds. I had never thought of how a sparrowhawk decides to nest – but of course food will be important.

It is interesting how birds get to know food is about.

Trisha.

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-568 Trish Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:15:21 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-568 Thanks for getting in touch. Goldfinches,Siskins,Bullfinches,Robins Bluetits CoalTits Blackbirds Nuthatch - you do get a lot of birds. And the money we spend feeding them is well spent I think. I think you hit the nail on the head when you say you made the garden as safe as you can can make it given the prevalance of killer cats in the neighbourhood and a sparrowhawk What another brilliant idea about keeping large birds off bird table - mesh on 3 sides and an open side near a window. I have put canes round my bird table - they are stuck in the ground and are higher than the bird table so they make a 'prison' of the bird table. Only small birds and blackbirds and thrushes can get through. If you click on the link below and scroll halfway down the writing you will see a photo of my birdtable. At the moment the canes have blown down - that is a job we have to do today - put them back up again. http://birdtablenews.com/2009/02/how-to-keep-pigeons-off-a-bird-table/ I agree with you as well . I have also gone to a lot of trouble and expense to feed garden birds this frozen, cold winter. They were frantic at the feeders sometimes. Heaven knows how much I have spent on bird food. I'd like to buy a camera nest box but always spend any money I have saved on bird food! Apologies for not replying sooner, but I've had a bit of internet connection trouble. I started a forum but had to stop for a while because of unexpected problems. If you would like to go to the link WAYS TO STOP LARGE BIRDS EATING ALL THE BIRD FOOD' you are welcome - as is anyone to add your point of view. Or start a new topic Trisha PS - Your bird table idea to keep large birds off - I have added it to this article. Hopefully it may help someone in the future http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/ways-to-stop-sparrowhawk-attacks-in-gardens/ Thanks for getting in touch. Goldfinches,Siskins,Bullfinches,Robins Bluetits CoalTits Blackbirds Nuthatch – you do get a lot of birds. And the money we spend feeding them is well spent I think.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you say you made the garden as safe as you can can make it given the prevalance of killer cats in the neighbourhood and a sparrowhawk

What another brilliant idea about keeping large birds off bird table – mesh on 3 sides and an open side near a window. I have put canes round my bird table – they are stuck in the ground and are higher than the bird table so they make a ‘prison’ of the bird table. Only small birds and blackbirds and thrushes can get through.

If you click on the link below and scroll halfway down the writing you will see a photo of my birdtable. At the moment the canes have blown down – that is a job we have to do today – put them back up again.

http://birdtablenews.com/2009/02/how-to-keep-pigeons-off-a-bird-table/

I agree with you as well . I have also gone to a lot of trouble and expense to feed garden birds this frozen, cold winter. They were frantic at the feeders sometimes. Heaven knows how much I have spent on bird food. I’d like to buy a camera nest box but always spend any money I have saved on bird food!

Apologies for not replying sooner, but I’ve had a bit of internet connection trouble.

I started a forum but had to stop for a while because of unexpected problems. If you would like to go to the link WAYS TO STOP LARGE BIRDS EATING ALL THE BIRD FOOD’ you are welcome – as is anyone to add your point of view. Or start a new topic

Trisha

PS – Your bird table idea to keep large birds off – I have added it to this article. Hopefully it may help someone in the future

http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/ways-to-stop-sparrowhawk-attacks-in-gardens/

]]> By: Arlene Morrison http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-566 Arlene Morrison Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:44:59 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-566 Hi Shell ~ you have hit the nail on the head~ the guy in question feeds Red Kites baby chicks I think?and has been doing so for years~ whilst I applaud his dedication it has obviously skewed the local bird population as perhaps I am doing. I have had to make a decision to try to keep a whole raft of small birds going in my small garden who are having a hard time because of the loss of habitat,food sources and an explosion in the feline population. The enclosing of the bird table works quite well as it also limits the number of rooks who visit as there is an extremely large population on the fringe of the wood about 100 yards away, and is worth trying if your bird table is suitable. I do belong to the RSPB~ Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust etc and hope that thay can promote the welfare of birds of prey in more suitable surroundings! Hi Shell ~
you have hit the nail on the head~ the guy in question feeds Red Kites baby chicks I think?and has been doing so for years~ whilst I applaud his dedication it has obviously skewed the local bird population as perhaps I am doing. I have had to make a decision to try to keep a whole raft of small birds going in my small garden who are having a hard time because of the loss of habitat,food sources and an explosion in the feline population.
The enclosing of the bird table works quite well as it also limits the number of rooks who visit as there is an extremely large population on the fringe of the wood about 100 yards away, and is worth trying if your bird table is suitable.
I do belong to the RSPB~ Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust etc and hope that thay can promote the welfare of birds of prey in more suitable surroundings!

]]> By: Shell http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-565 Shell Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:37:16 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-565 Hi Arlene, I understand. If you started feeding the Hawk it would very likely partner with another one and then nest close by and then the family will grow and your garden birds would gradually disappear. Even if they weren't all caught I expect many would fly knowing there were predators in the area. I watched on TV about a person who fed bird of preys and would go out on his tractor with a load of raw meat. It attracted many birds, could've been around 50 or something like that. One got to know about it, then another and before he knew it there was a large group of them there. Hi Arlene,

I understand. If you started feeding the Hawk it would very likely partner with another one and then nest close by and then the family will grow and your garden birds would gradually disappear. Even if they weren’t all caught I expect many would fly knowing there were predators in the area.

I watched on TV about a person who fed bird of preys and would go out on his tractor with a load of raw meat. It attracted many birds, could’ve been around 50 or something like that. One got to know about it, then another and before he knew it there was a large group of them there.

]]> By: Arlene Morrison http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-564 Arlene Morrison Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:37:53 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-564 I have large bird table and lots of feeders and have a large number of Goldfinches,Siskins,Bullfinches,Robins Bluetits CoalTits Blackbirds Nuthatch etc that have been feeding in my garden as safely as I can make it given the prevalance of killer cats in the neighbourhood and a sparrowhawk is definitely an unwanted guest in my garden and I chase it when I see it.It only turned up recently and I am hoping it will move on. My bird table has a roof and has been enclosed by my husband on three sides by the largest plastic mesh I could find~ the open side nearest the lounge window. It took awhile for them to get used to it but they hop through as though it wasn't there now. All the little birds hop through the mesh or through the side bits under the roof and the bigger birds such as Blackbirds come round the back. I would buy and put food out for the hawk.mice chicks etc but I think that would not be useful as we started with one squirrel and now I have two of those! I was torn when it first turned up but I have given it a lot of thought and there is no way I am providing a larder for a predator~ my visitors give myself and husband a lot of pleasure and we go to a lot of trouble and expense to get them through the winter. This is my decision and I am sticking to it! I have large bird table and lots of feeders and have a large number of Goldfinches,Siskins,Bullfinches,Robins Bluetits CoalTits Blackbirds Nuthatch etc that have been feeding in my garden as safely as I can make it given the prevalance of killer cats in the neighbourhood and a sparrowhawk is definitely an unwanted guest in my garden and I chase it when I see it.It only turned up recently and I am hoping it will move on.
My bird table has a roof and has been enclosed by my husband on three sides by the largest plastic mesh I could find~ the open side nearest the lounge window. It took awhile for them to get used to it but they hop through as though it wasn’t there now.
All the little birds hop through the mesh or through the side bits under the roof and the bigger birds such as Blackbirds come round the back.
I would buy and put food out for the hawk.mice chicks etc but I think that would not be useful as we started with one squirrel and now I have two of those!
I was torn when it first turned up but I have given it a lot of thought and there is no way I am providing a larder for a predator~ my visitors give myself and husband a lot of pleasure and we go to a lot of trouble and expense to get them through the winter.
This is my decision and I am sticking to it!

]]> By: Shell http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-552 Shell Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:51:45 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-552 I had not option because the hawk kept lingering around ready to swoop. I was going to use it again but I thought it may attract the hawk again. I think they can snatch birds off the ground and that's why I've camouflaged the area with various plants and shrubbery so that it would have a hard job getting to the birds. The hawk seems to have gone now that I have done that, I am still wary though. I've fed birds under the bushes too, especially when it's really windy which they seem to appreciate. I would love to put the table back up but the hawk used to wait in the trees and if it happens to fly over it will see them hanging around the table. I had not option because the hawk kept lingering around ready to swoop. I was going to use it again but I thought it may attract the hawk again.

I think they can snatch birds off the ground and that’s why I’ve camouflaged the area with various plants and shrubbery so that it would have a hard job getting to the birds. The hawk seems to have gone now that I have done that, I am still wary though.

I’ve fed birds under the bushes too, especially when it’s really windy which they seem to appreciate.

I would love to put the table back up but the hawk used to wait in the trees and if it happens to fly over it will see them hanging around the table.

]]> By: Trish http://birdtablenews.com/2010/03/sparrowhawks-and-their-prey/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Trish Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:59:21 +0000 http://birdtablenews.com/?p=5912#comment-549 You've stopped using your bird table! I knew two people who were so fed up of blood on their birdtables from sparrowhawks swooping down that they stopped feeding birds. One said itwas horrible trying to scrub off a bird table. I never thought of the fact that sparrowhawks catch birds in flight. I wonder if they catch any on the ground. Maybe that is why my garden bush that I put food near is so popular. I get a lot of birds hopping about in and out of this bush and getting the food I put near it. There is a lot of good information here. Trisha You’ve stopped using your bird table! I knew two people who were so fed up of blood on their birdtables from sparrowhawks swooping down that they stopped feeding birds. One said itwas horrible trying to scrub off a bird table.

I never thought of the fact that sparrowhawks catch birds in flight. I wonder if they catch any on the ground.

Maybe that is why my garden bush that I put food near is so popular. I get a lot of birds hopping about in and out of this bush and getting the food I put near it. There is a lot of good information here. Trisha

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