perigrine strike.

[pigeonpete]

Dont get 2 many strike of the perigrine (plenty off sparrowhawk) but last night my son had his latebreds out, they are flying really well, no less than 40 mins morning and same in afternoon. so pretty fit!! they had been flying approx 25 mins, just come back from somewhere, Jordan and i were watching them rip round the sky, i was just saying mine will be flying like that soon, Then, christ, a little black dot hurtled out of the sky at them, happened so fast, But what happened next was strange, never seen it before. probably about 5/10 metres before it hit them, the pigeons all went into an accrobatic roll, didnt know racers could even do that!! they split up into groups of 3, the hawk had missed, (i think) but hadnt give up, the pigeons zig zaged around the perigrine, rolling near enough right by it, and the pigeons in there small groups, (he has 15) took it in turns for about 5 minutes, the percy did not know where to turn!!! they got higher and higher doing this, still in there groups of 3, never joining back up??? then went out of site for another 20 mins, then come back as a group, landed went in no problem, crowing etc, looking no worse for wear!! (think they get used to the sparrow hawks daily visit) so think this was a victory for the pigeons  ;D ;D ;D

 

Has anyone else seen anything similiar? hard to explain properly, you had to see it. It was as if the pigeons knew what they were doing?? And communicating with each other, :-/

 

And no im not drunk or wasnt at the time ;D ;D

[Guest lenwadebob]

You've been smoking to much of that wakky bakky mate, and having halucinations. Pink elephants next mate  ;D ;D ;D

 

Seriously not seen it with pigeons but watched a flock of about 50 starlings beat up a Sparrowhawk last autumn.

[Guest mick bowler]

Pete last year when mine were flying out regular you would get to know when they about they would head towards it, directly!! No acrobactics but no element of surprise either. Only loss was on training but i think birds are distracted then.

[pigeonpete]

You've been smoking to much of that wakky bakky mate, and having halucinations. Pink elephants next mate  ;D ;D ;D

 

Seriously not seen it with pigeons but watched a flock of about 50 starlings beat up a Sparrowhawk last autumn.

 

Wanted sensible people to reply Bob :-) ;D

 

It was scary to watch, but amazing, Jordan was a bit upset, But then he went home, gloating to his mum, that his pigeons were fit to avoid the percy, and even went up to see it off!!

 

Must admit though if it was mine, i doubt i would have been so lucky, as struggle to get 5 minutes out of them at the moment, and you can hear how fat they are when they go over you, cant wait to get these babies moved over next week, then get rid of the hens(dont know where yet) and widowhood here we come!!!  ;D

[Guest lenwadebob]

 

Wanted sensible people to reply Bob :-) ;D

 

It was scary to watch, but amazing, Jordan was a bit upset, But then he went home, gloating to his mum, that his pigeons were fit to avoid the percy, and even went up to see it off!!

 

Must admit though if it was mine, i doubt i would have been so lucky, as struggle to get 5 minutes out of them at the moment, and you can hear how fat they are when they go over you, cant wait to get these babies moved over next week, then get rid of the hens(dont know where yet) and widowhood here we come!!!  ;D

 

I did Pete   :P

[Guest Owen]

I have seen my widowhood cocks outfly a peregrine quite a few times. But the dangerous time is when they are first released out after the winter when they are shut up. I have lost some really good pigeons at that time.

I have come to the conclusion that the birds are most vulnerable when the two peregrines are hunting together in early Spring and again when they are teaching their young to hunt later in the year. Later in the year it is usually the young birds that cop it.

We have been having big problems this year with a pair of peregrines. They are deadly. What I do not understand is why they don't seem to attack the street pigeons. The street pigeons I have in mind are not your usual scruffy sick looking things you see in the towns. These are fed by the Public and look pretty good. They spend a lot of their time flying high and clapping around, more or less the same as our racing pigeons. So why are the peregrines leaving them alone? One of the local Fanciers leaves his birds out all day every day and has not lost a bird through the winter. The Guy concerned is one of the best fliers in the area. Last year he won all the young bird races in the Club and topped the Fed seven times out of eleven races. So as you see he is not one of those "Could'nt give a damn" people. I think I have a lot to learn about the habits of peregrines because some of the things that happen are a mystery to me.

[Roland]

On the flat the pigeon is as quick. It's the dive and swoop and then upwwards that they are really portent.

Strangely Pete, I have always been led to beliee that Rollers, wee they favourite feed sauce.  :-/

But glad they are OK.

[BLUERON]

yes mate the bop love rollers.

[Guest stb-]

no victory its still alive for the next shot at them  and it will soon get used to there little trick and try a different tactic unfortunatly ..

 

 

big firework rockett to the ready  

[Guest IB]

Glimpsed something similar on TV footage that I saw years ago, and posted on here. First run of the clip it looked as if the peregrine hit the bird, and pigeon dropped out the sky. They then re-ran the clip in slow motion, told a completely different story. Just before the peregrine and pigeon  paths crossed, the pigeon stalled in flight and fell backwards out of the peregrine's path. Peregrine shot right by, continuing in downwards dive.

 

Remarked at time pigeon must have known peregrine was there, and timed 'stall' perfectly. But how did it learn to do this?

 

There was also a post on here a couple of years back by one of our American members describing use of Oriental Flying Rollers to confound peregrines, prior to letting racers out. Peregrines soon learn they are incapable of catching these rollers, apparently birds are specifically bred to outperform peregrines, and percy leaves the racing pigeons alone.

[Guest strapper]

last year in oldbirds..i had an attack on the birds ..well the peregrine missed all the birds and what stunned me was...a single cock pigeon flew straight at the peregrine and looked as if it was mocking it..as crows do to buzzards.

i thought yes boy..ur book is marked from now on.

good job a m8 was here to see it, else i would be accussed of losing it  ..well more than usual  ;D

 

[pigeonpete]

Dont think we have been so lucky today! my sons just phoned me in tears, perigrine hit into his latebreds about 30 mins ago, and it had hold of one of his grizzles, and only 11 back out of 15, and im at work nowt i can do!!! grrrrrrr. Had a sparrowhawk have a go yesterday aswell!!!  :B :'( :'( :'(

 

[Guest bakes]

Dont think we have been so lucky today! my sons just phoned me in tears, perigrine hit into his latebreds about 30 mins ago, and it had hold of one of his grizzles, and only 11 back out of 15, and im at work nowt i can do!!! grrrrrrr. Had a sparrowhawk have a go yesterday aswell!!!  :B :'( :'( :'(

 

sorry to here this mate a pair pergrines been up courseing haverk around my way last few days seen them havent a go at local flyer just down the road 1 will drop threw group other will try to brake them up to single  a bird out then both of them will go after the bird i havent had an attack in while but not holding my breath as it comes in fazes round her nothink for a few weeks then you have it every time you let the birds up not nice to see your birds flying for there lives even worse a younglad seeing his birds scared out of there wits flying for the lifes. hope the rest come back mate and the grizzle managed to get away from the pest

 

all the best

klaus

[Mealy Cock]

 

Out of interest, I mentioned this before, has anyone got photographic evidence of a hawk strike and the after math

And then billed the RSPB to get a response from them and put in the letter

 

Since you are responsible for the care and protection the said hawk, the cost to replace the bird is £xxx

I wonder what their reply would be.

 

The other thing is if every fancier in the UK, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland who lost birds sent letters of compensation for replace, Could you imagine the cost to the RSPB and the man power involved for every reply. I know that when I start racing again it will be the first

thing I will do if it happens to me.

 

[PIGEON_MAN]

Out of interest, I mentioned this before, has anyone got photographic evidence of a hawk strike and the after math

And then billed the RSPB to get a response from them and put in the letter

 

Since you are responsible for the care and protection the said hawk, the cost to replace the bird is £xxx

I wonder what their reply would be.

 

The other thing is if every fancier in the UK, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland who lost birds sent letters of compensation for replace, Could you imagine the cost to the RSPB and the man power involved for every reply. I know that when I start racing again it will be the first

thing I will do if it happens to me.

 

Think we all know what the answer will be its NATURE.

[shaun h]

had 4 bop fly around mine today together  2 were alot larger then the other 2 could it be 1 family or 2 seprate types of bop i know we have a pair of percy about 2 mile away maybe the smaller ones were hawks but they seem to tolerate each other luckily i didnt let the ybs out as i was planing to just before i spoted them . :o

[frank-123]

and thet wonder where all the starlings go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLG1UVMvyn0&feature=related

 

[pigeonpete]

Well ended up with all 15 back, the grizzle that was taken, was bred by david off here, he will be o.k, (i hope) had a coat of germoline, and he crowed when back on his perch. have got another 2 with minor scuffs on breast, where they have either hit wires/trees in panic!! Sons happy though :-) all he kept saying was 2-0 to the pigeons, He says his pigeons are just 2 quick and strong.

 

Had mine out last night in the rain, and only the sparrowhawks squarking away. pigeons down and in pronto!!! but as for relaxing watching them fly round home, no way lol, heart in mouth. :-) roll on the better weather so i can get them in the basket.

[BLUERON]

glad you got them back mate. i know that feeling waiting for them to make it back. with our rollers that just get took out of sky.but our races gave it a good run .

[gulkie]

Out of interest, I mentioned this before, has anyone got photographic evidence of a hawk strike and the after math

And then billed the RSPB to get a response from them and put in the letter

 

Since you are responsible for the care and protection the said hawk, the cost to replace the bird is £xxx

I wonder what their reply would be.

 

The other thing is if every fancier in the UK, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland who lost birds sent letters of compensation for replace, Could you imagine the cost to the RSPB and the man power involved for every reply. I know that when I start racing again it will be the first

thing I will do if it happens to me.

 

i think the goverment would be a better target, it's them that issue the protection order

and they won't just bin ur complaint. send them the bill

 

[johnny11]

 

Think we all know what the answer will be its NATURE.

 

But imagine how ****** off they would be receiving and opening all the mail if everyone did it...Good idea I think

 

John

 

[pjc]

make sure the bill is tied to the dead bird before sending!

[Roland]

make sure the bill is tied to the dead bird before sending!

 

C.O.D eh. Cash on delievery, and housed in bricks of course. No one mustn't forget to put their  home address on it lol.

[lightning fast]

 

C.O.D eh. Cash on delievery, and housed in bricks of course. No one mustn't forget to put their  home address on it lol.

 

 

we all should request info from the RSPB , and send it back C O D , it would cost them a fortune  ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[kev43]

Well ended up with all 15 back, the grizzle that was taken, was bred by david off here, he will be o.k, (i hope) had a coat of germoline, and he crowed when back on his perch. have got another 2 with minor scuffs on breast, where they have either hit wires/trees in panic!! Sons happy though :-) all he kept saying was 2-0 to the pigeons, He says his pigeons are just 2 quick and strong.

 

Had mine out last night in the rain, and only the sparrowhawks squarking away. pigeons down and in pronto!!! but as for relaxing watching them fly round home, no way lol, heart in mouth. :-) roll on the better weather so i can get them in the basket.

 

pleased everything worked ok pete for ur youngin and nothing to serious happened to his birds