f***in sparrow hawk

[les]

your a lucky lot ,i dont have any more to play with .

[Guest numpty01]

i can get you some free ones if you want?? ;D ;D ;D

[Guest IB]

it seems like an epedemic as ive had young bird killed by sparrow hawk hen this morning she stripped it to the bone came back this evening for seconds whats it all going to come to its about time these birds were culled to a resonable number like they used to be back in the days when you could . yours in sport mark condolences to all how have lost young birds to hawks .

 

I don't disagree with anything you've said. There was an interesting article in this week's BHW, on sparrowhawks & pergerines, and although I don't agree with everything in that article, especially the figures on losses, a couple of bits on self-help did make sense. And these were changing what we did during their breeding seasons; basically no breeding YBs before March / April (avoid s/hawk) and no racing before end of May (avoid peregrine). Although the article was written by conservation groups they were very candid in their advice if followed would mean we would stop feeding these things, so there would be fewer of them around.

 

[gooner]

I don't disagree with anything you've said. There was an interesting article in this week's BHW, on sparrowhawks & pergerines, and although I don't agree with everything in that article, especially the figures on losses, a couple of bits on self-help did make sense. And these were changing what we did during their breeding seasons; basically no breeding YBs before March / April (avoid s/hawk) and no racing before end of May (avoid peregrine). Although the article was written by conservation groups they were very candid in their advice if followed would mean we would stop feeding these things, so there would be fewer of them around.

 

this would only work for a while because like everything in nature the hawks would evolve and change their breeding habits to suit their needs

[Merlin]

This would definitely work I.B. as the Peregrine and other species of hawk population consists of like all species,good and bad hunters,with the latter easily outnumbering the former as Nature intended,but its when this false food chain is available(pigeons) just at the very times they need it most,mating,nesting,rearing season,which incidentally coincides with our birds racing/breeding seasons,is when the food is available in abundance,so the beat goes on,this is how they are able to multiply at such a rate,thanks to the generosity of us fanciers and our take aways,not too sure if they would follow suit Gooner,ours is a man made ideal governed by ourselves,these Hawks are governed by Nature,and would I believe revert to the the survival of the fittest only,as Nature decrees,I would rather avoid their breeding season for say two years,have reduced racing,earlier and later,this would solve the problem of the overpopulation within three years just watch the web cam on Derby Cathedral,all Perigrines are breeding within a few days of each other,consequently its in and around when our Y/B activity begins,their carnage amongst our birds is at its peak

[Guest numpty01]

has anyone noticed we seem to be on about the same thing as last year and still we do nothing about it well some of us dont. now one thing i notice is the location of relocated birds seems to correspond with flight paths of our birds as over bristol and gwent they most certainly have put them there due to food souce on way home

[les]

WHEN WILL IT HIT HOME [*expletive removed* ALL WILL WORK ]OTHER WISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM ,THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HELP IS FOR A CULL TO TAKE PLACE [AND IT AINT GOING TO HAPPEN ]UNLESS YOU DO A BIT YOUR SELF ,WHY O WHY DO EVERY BODY KEEP ON LOOKING FOR SOME THING THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH OUT KILLING THE BOP ,IT IS LIKE LOOKING FOR NEXT WEEKS LOTO NUMBERS ,[THE MORE THEY BREED THE MORE THEY WILL KILL OUR PIGEIONS ]

[Guest numpty01]

les good reports from around country onthe ???but it seems some just wont listen now if as fanciers we all listened then there comes a time when we would not be talking about the subject????? ;D ;D

[Guest IB]

the report says u loss 5 birds per loft out of 70  birds  but me m8  loss 2 already  & the hawks back same day  looking for more  so if it took 1 aday it would soon kill more then 5 per season  ,  :-/

 

Still on the self-help theme: I and others have picked up a lot of useful information over the years on this forum. One of the things I've learned is that you do not under any circumstances set up a feeding pattern. No one loft should be losing birds on a daily basis, because the advice here is 'hit' or 'near miss', you keep the birds in for a day or two, cos it'll be back same time same place next day looking for more - that is, if you are careless enough to provide it by not keeping them in then altering your exercise times.

[dazza]

Over the last few years i have been relatively lucky re sparrowhawks with just an occasional attack, now however i am getting hit every time the birds go out. It doesn't matter what time of day it is either. I cant clean out at the moment as every time i turn my back the bloody thing hits.

 

[les]

i can get you some free ones if you want?? ;D ;D ;D

i was only joking ,i hope it was not you that told mrs percy i was having it quiet ,because i just had my first attack this year ,a femail  peregrin ,it was unlucky on 2 acounts it did not get a meal to eat but it went away heavier than it came , i fecking detest the b******s,

 

 

[BLACK W F]

come the end of the month that will see the end of the sparrow hawk untill end september

but thats when percy and the goss hawk appear there will be no improvement  it will only get worse untill they are culled down  thats the way it is folk

cheers Alan

[Jillus]

Can someone explain  to a new girl why we are going to be fairly safe from the hawk until the end of September please. I am fairly new to the game and have my birds in a  dovecote, I lost two to the hawk last year and yesterday saw another attack attempt that failed, the doo came home after about an hour none the worse for her encounter.

[les]

Can someone explain  to a new girl why we are going to be fairly safe from the hawk until the end of September please. I am fairly new to the game and have my birds in a  dovecote, I lost two to the hawk last year and yesterday saw another attack attempt that failed, the doo came home after about an hour none the worse for her encounter.

i would be on your guard at all times [hawks will always be looking for a easy meal ] and they dont come any easier than our birds , others say they will leave them alone soon because they will be going to nest ,[not all will and they still got to eat ,]sorry to be a doom and gloom merchant but it is a fact .because there are at least 2to3 times  more hawks than last year.