Hawks

[jock3]

IB  i know a man that a pigeon fly into its loft persued by a falcon both went into loft. but only one came out

[Guest IB]

IB  i know a man that a pigeon fly into its loft persued by a falcon both went into loft. but only one came out

 

Glad you posted this one up John, given the replies I got. Wull Strang was the first to tell me this - a goshawk? followed the birds into his loft a few years back; know Jacko had the same with a sparrowhawk.

 

Different when the birds have had a start, e.g. a shadow passing over the garden, or a noise from the house, expect them to go in; chased by a hawk, well no, cos of what is likely to happen, 1 bird in danger has put the whole colony in danger. And in my case, the one bird that I've had caught in my garden in 6 years did the same, it put my loft on the map for attack. So no apology for thinking 'that's marked down' (as a threat to the rest of the team).

 

 

[sapper756]

Speaking to a few local fanciers lately, and it appears they too are experiencing regular hawk attacks :-/

[Roland]

Know Sam had the same last  season...

[greenlands]

   Getting hammered here in Cumbria.Sparrow hawks and peregrines,just about frightened to let them out.

   Quote  >>> IB."First, I'd be surprised if any bird flew into a loft to escape a predator: I'd think that totally against nature as even in humans its instinctive never to lead the enemy back to your camp".

        Mine head for the loft as soon as they see Percy,top perches out of the way and you'll be lucky to get them back out of the loft for a day or two.Lindsay C

[Blue Chequer Pied]

got a hawk attack 2 weeks ago  got the birds back alive but at end of day we must accept they are part of nature and one of gods creatures

 

What happens if you dont believe in god? I dont think we have to accept it at all. We as a body need to do something about it. Someone mentioned farmers being legally allowed to protect their sheep. Why cant we legally protect our pigeons. After all some pigeons are worth a lot more than sheep and there are some who make their living from racing pigeons so why is it we cannot legally protect our flocks?

 

Paul.

 

[jock3]

think the time is near that we take on the RSPB in court . we could set a fighting fund from all the uk and beat them  we should have the right to protect our stock every one else has the right ?

[sammy]

think the time is near that we take on the RSPB in court . we could set a fighting fund from all the uk and beat them  we should have the right to protect our stock every one else has the right ?

 

would be the right idea but when it comes to money think you can forget it as they have far to much available to them as they have millions at their disposal along with the law and the goverment, who dont be kidded get wealthy donations from  and you think they are going to change the law for some pigeon folks at the risk of monetary donations dont think so ,quite sure that the head of defra was also head of rspb at one time so make you think as to evertime bird flu comes to these shores pigeon racing gets stopped .

[Guest]

ian /b where do you get all that gunk from leading it back to the camp i can tell you when a hawk attacks pigeons will fly any where in blind panic there brain is not working they are in survival mode trees lofts houses garages even glass doors anywhere just to get out of its way ive seen it many many times so you need to wake up to it as talk like that the rspb love to hear from fanciers us making a fool of our self they wont need to do anything come into the real world ian

[les]

you should all bring it into the open ,dont hide any more ,say that enough is enough and you ARE going to start killing them leagal or not .just remember propergander wins wars .if the oposition start reading that there presious hawks are starting to pay the price for their stupidity and ignorance  then they just might sit up and take notice ,and start to talk to us to help save there hawks and falcons .STOP HIDING , and see what happens ,after all they got to catch you in the act .

[Blue Tooner]

Just had a sparrowhawk take a pigeon off the loft roof 45 mins ago > >. I was in the loft calling them in when I heard a thump on the roof, one pigeon came through the sputnik in such a panic that I thought he was going to go through the back wall of the loft, on going outside, the hawk had a 2yo dark cheq cock pinned to the ground at the side of the loft. The hawk didn't come off the bird until I was only 4 or 5 feet away. The pigeon took off and flew for another 15 minutes and then hardly hit the landing board and was inside the loft in a flash, luckily the bird was okay with just puncture wounds on his back and side.

I know it has been said before but why can't the proceeds from the Blackpool show be used to fight our corner against the likes of the RSPB. Let's face it charity begins at home and the way that fanciers are having their flocks decimated by raptors there aren't going to be many left in this sport to justify a show of the year and then the money for charity will dry up anyway. It's time to stand on our own feet.

[sammy]

I know it has been said before but why can't the proceeds from the Blackpool show be used to fight our corner against the likes of the RSPB. Let's face it charity begins at home and the way that fanciers are having their flocks decimated by raptors there aren't going to be many left in this sport to justify a show of the year and then the money for charity will dry up anyway. It's time to stand on our own feet.    dont go to blackpool evryone should boycot it after all its our money that keeps it going and thats given to charities not of our choice and for our benefit is it  

[Blue Chequer Pied]

The Songbird Society was set up I believe by bird lovers who have become disillusioned by the RSPB or so I am led to believe. It is maybe time the RPRA and the SHU and alike made contact with this society to see if they can work together and possibly find a way to combat the raptor problem. I have spoken to members of the Songbird society and they are disgusted that the sparrowhawk problem has been allowed to escalate out of control. They see the massive drop in the number of birds that visit their gardens and see the sparrowhawk as public enemy number 1 in a lot of cases. Just a thought but our organisation and theirs may become allies and fight the fight together.

 

Paul.

[VAGIN]

I agree with you Blue Tooner Something should be done before we are all wiped out . When ever there are a charity event anywhere in GB the Fanciers from all walks of life dig into there pockets either donating or buying. The only thing the RSPB do is go around with the begging bowl and most of that goes to pay there big wages  Its not right  SODS law or not

[Guest]

The Songbird Society was set up I believe by bird lovers who have become disillusioned by the RSPB or so I am led to believe. It is maybe time the RPRA and the SHU and alike made contact with this society to see if they can work together and possibly find a way to combat the raptor problem. I have spoken to members of the Songbird society and they are disgusted that the sparrowhawk problem has been allowed to escalate out of control. They see the massive drop in the number of birds that visit their gardens and see the sparrowhawk as public enemy number 1 in a lot of cases. Just a thought but our organisation and theirs may become allies and fight the fight together.

 

Paul.

 

thats bieng on going for a few years now but the rspb just waffle a load of sh-- and have no intensions of doing anything we dont count maybe lee,s ans is the only way to go be upfront takes a bit of balls do we have them????????

[gooner]

rspb royal society for the protection of birds, well the last time i chjecked pigeons were birds so do they not have an obligation to protect our pigeons or is it RSPB royal society of pigeon bashers

[Blue Tooner]

I agree with you Blue Tooner Something should be done before we are all wiped out . When ever there are a charity event anywhere in GB the Fanciers from all walks of life dig into there pockets either donating or buying. The only thing the RSPB do is go around with the begging bowl and most of that goes to pay there big wages  Its not right  SODS law or not

 

We also need better PR which could also help our case. Most members of the public think pigeon racing is a Mickey Mouse Operation, how many of us have tried to explain to Joe Public what is involved in racing pigeons and get the what a load of sh*t look in return.  We should appoint a PR man, get an advertising campaign going to attract people in to the sport or at least let the public know what a highly organized and competitive sport Pigeon Racing is as well as a campaign against raptors.

Another problem we have is that we can't even get along within our own sport, with too many people in it that are only out for themselves and to make money so how can we expect to be taken seriously in our battle against raptors. :-/

 

 

[les]

rspb royal society for the protection of birds, well the last time i chjecked pigeons were birds so do they not have an obligation to protect our pigeons or is it RSPB royal society of pigeon bashers

they dont care about any other birds only the hawks and raptors because  they  have made the RSPB a mint of money ,they first  buy the land to protect some nesting sites of certain raptors ,and they have done this for years ,with public donations ,then they rent most of the land out ,so they get a regular income plus donations ,plus they still own the land that is worth 10 times  more than they paid for it in the begining ,that is how they made most of their millions .do you think they care about us and our hobby .would you in their position .

 

 

[robbiedoo.]

well said stuart i agree with you100%.

[aye ready]

ian /b where do you get all that gunk from leading it back to the camp i can tell you when a hawk attacks pigeons will fly any where in blind panic there brain is not working they are in survival mode trees lofts houses garages even glass doors anywhere just to get out of its way ive seen it many many times so you need to wake up to it as talk like that the rspb love to hear from fanciers us making a fool of our self they wont need to do anything come into the real world ian

 

hear hear frank agree with don't know what planet IB's on but he blethers some sheeeite

 

[The Navigator]

There are tons of them down here. The sparrowhawk as had a go at mine a few times but touch wood it's missed!!! I do get them street wise though so maybe they learn more. The peragrine will be on the move in the next few months and then the trouble starts. He hit may daily last year and I lost about 6 around the loft to him. But I won in the end.

[les]

if you all keep asking other pigeon folk have they seen the antitreading device to stop unwanted matings with your pigeons ,and do they know how to make them ,you will eventualy come across some one that has or does ,make them your self they are very good at protecting your pigeons as well , ,just remember to show others that is all i ask .

[Guest IB]

Can't disagree with you Frank on blind panic. What I am trying to point out is that in your example, a team of pigeons are taken by a surprise attack - aye everyone for themselves there - but in my example the birds are aware that something is on the go. I see mine on the loft roof watching, and when I see what they are watching I used to try and call them in, but they took off instead. I didn't understand why they would do that and  I asked one of my clubmates - the answer I got was it was safer for them in the air, above the hawk, and that's where mine go. So for me anyway, if the loft is the last place mine go, then there must be a good reason for it, sh*te or no. If a hawk followed them into the loft, then its hardly a safe place for them anymore, is it?

 

The one thing I think you are wrong on though, is RSPB. Others too seem to think they make laws to protect birds, and enforce them through the courts. They don't. Governments and politicians make laws, and they enforce it through the police & courts. So it is governments that we need to persuade. The SHU have persuaded Scottish Government to undertake a project on sparowhawks targetting specific lofts. And I think I'm right in saying Dr Lynch is also part of Save our Song Birds Group. For me that is the right way to go; and others who advocate breaking the law both undermine SHU project and gets us all a bad name in public eye. Scottish Government has already stated that the position with raptor protection needs to change, silly to do anything to change their mind 'back' again.  

 

 

[The Grass Cutter]

The RSPB is geared up as a money making machine and it has been in their interest to portray raptors as near extinct and persecuted.   For years all their literature had a prominent portrait of a hawk and a pitiful story about their imminent demist unless you sent in a contribution to save them.   Years ago I contacted the RSPB statingmy concern about the increase in the population of raptors and the effect the increase was having on song birds.   I stated to them that in the future the only place you would hear the song thrush would be on tape.   Now years later they are now making money from that source.   Do not subscribe or give donations to the RSPB.   It appears they will not attend to injured birds as it costs them money.   The RSPB tell you to 'phone the SSPCA

[Merlin]

Birds of various species including pigeons will often "buzz" a Kestrel in their own area,but the above posts and on other sites,are only the tip of the iceberg as far as Hawk predation is concerned,and if we think it is bad now,its a fact that come this time next season,there will be twice as many Hawks getting set to go to nest,and  again twice as many the following year,which leaves the outlook re saftey of our birds pretty bleak.