birds of prey

[Guest Silverwings]

jimmy , when i see the photograps of pigeons following a hawk attack it always fires up a bit of hatred towards them ? perhaps if the R.S.P.B so call bird lovers were exposed to shots of the  mutilated song birds, they  might see themselves as they see us ( Bit of Doostalker in there ) recon we could collect masses of photgraphic ammo and bombard em with it, and the local and national press get them involved too ? dont realy know my way around this computer stuff  yet , surely photographs could be collected and stored  on this site ( by our members ) AND GUESTS e.mail em to the press etc , get our own campaign going ? if we use reverse tactics on them , it just might make them take a closer look at the airborne terrorists they are protecting ? as for the pigeons themselves i think those  white rumps have been have been an obvious target for hawks in the past , have also noticed as hawk nombers increase  the white rumps are decreasing ? perhaps we should breed them out ? .....on a lighter note those those big saft overgrown predatorial  parrots dont attack silverwings pigeons ? they take one look at those grizzle flights and think  sh** man that woffla is carrying twenty  knife blades ? "asta la vista woffla "

[Guest Doostalker]

I like your idea Silverwings! If we show photos of what the hawks do, maybe those who don't realise how gruesome it is will have a change of heart.

 

 

[Guest Silverwings]

fantastic photo to start a campaign with doostalker ? might be an idea to start a new thread and get a photo collection underway   perhaps you and jimmy could work on this one , you both seem well informed with this topic ,  i think every  one will give 100% support,    its about time we stood together and  gave them some of their own medicine, they are quick enough to bad mouth our lot in the press ? lets get at em..!         `

[jimmy white]

i just wish i could remember the time when there was a photo in the"edinburgh evening news" of a sparrow hawk on top of its prey, a pigeon, right in the middle of the city centre, in front of all the shoppers and their families, if any one remembers when this was, or has any info, please post

[snowy]

great idea doostalker & silverwings, 100% support here!

[Webmaster]

Photos forwarded to me by Doostalker

[jimmy white]

i hope the rspb look at these photos, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, the song birds are being gradually wiped out as well,  

[Guest]

Photos transferred from Fifer's Website:-

 

 

[Webmaster]

Forwarded to me by Don

[jimmy white]

IF YOU DONT LIKE WHATS ON THE T.V, YOU CAN TURN IT OVER, SAME GOES FOR THIS THREAD, BUT YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM BOOTS THAT THE RSPB WILL NOT TURN IT OVER, I HOPE NOT ANYWAY

[THE FIFER]

yES BRUNO THOSE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY A NON FANCIER LADY IN HER BACK GARDEN   THE FIFER

[THE FIFER]

maybe i'll get using my new gadget when i get it, sent away for a pair of binoculars with the camera in them, hope they do the trick. i may even get a write-up for my column in the RP which is open to anyone by the way to send in any news atc, (hope webmaster does'nt see this plug).lol

[THE FIFER]

we have Goshawks in our area see them a lot, i was told they do not go for pigeons! so this proves that wrong, they are around a lot as well as the sparrow hawk, and plenty carrion crows which have done a lot of damage to me in the past, yes they chase the hawks but do not keep them away, and are as bad when nesting

[Guest]

Clubmate had problems with Goshawks this year, Fifer, chased and followed his birds into the loft. Described hawk as 'black' and I thought that was what Snowy was having bother with. Is that a Goshawk posted by Don? I'd have bother telling the difference.

 

My own experience with crows means I can't agree with your comment on them, Fifer. Of 4 lofts within one half mile radius, I'm the only one 'hawk-free'. I've seen them in action against peregrine, buzzard and sparrowhawk, and I'd rather have the crows than any of them!!!  They are also part of the wild-bird early warning system. I know that my pigeons do tend to take their cues from wild bird behaviour too.

[THE FIFER]

I have crows (carrion) nesting 30 yards from me and when they are on youngsters its watch ur birds, yes they keep everything out of their area but this is also pigeons, the last year or so i have been lucky, not as much trouble as i have had losing 8 birds to them, and puling the youngsters out of the sputnics, and u must be careful not to leave ur loft open or they are in and away with the young,y will go for u if u get too close to their nests, they are in the hedges taking the young black birds from the nests,

[Guest Doostalker]

Seems like there are lots of Goshawks about. I checked the RSPB website and found lots of info. I will post it below here. The Goshawk is much bigger than the Sparrowhawk. It's name comes from Old English and is a derivation of Goose Hawk. That tells you something about the size of it's prey. Falconers use them for both birds and mammals, and they will take up to a Hare in size. The site I checked shows them as being quite common in southern Scotland, and the RSPB has them on their Green list.

[Guest Doostalker]

This is the spread of the Goshawk in the UK.

[Guest]

Sorry to hear of your bother, Fifer. Guess I'm lucky in that I must be outside the 'danger' zone. A while back, crows used to land amongst my young birds before they were properly on the wing, and scatter them to the four winds. I started giving my youngsters a long 'induction' before letting them out for the first time, and my pigeons now don't take any notice of them other than checking out the 'shape' in the sky.

 

The only bird I am wary of coming near the garden is the magpie. Had them on occasion after the blackie nests in my hedges. I've read in BHW that they will come into the loft for the eggs and youngsters in the nest. So I will chase them off if they land anywhere near the house or garden.

[Guest Doostalker]

Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

AKA: Northern goshawk

A large hawk, almost reaching buzzard size. When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Its broad wings enable it to hunt at high speed, weaving in and out of trees, and its long legs and talons can catch its prey in flight. The female is substantially larger than the male. In late winter and spring it has a 'sky-dance' display. Goshawks are still persecuted and their nests are frequently robbed.

Where does it live?

Breeding

Particularly likes conifer woods and forests - spruce, pine and larch. Keeps clear of human disturbance as much as possible.

Wintering

Same as breeding habitats.

Where to see it

Best looked for near large areas of woodland and forests with glades and paths for it to hunt along. Can also be seen hunting over more open countryside.

What does it eat?

Birds and mammals

What does it sound like?

A chattering 'kek kek kek'

When to see it

All year round, but best looked for on fine days in late winter and spring when display flights take place high over the trees.

 

Eggs: 3-4

Incubation: 35-38 days

Fledging: 35-42 days

Maximum lifespan: 19 years

Length: 48-62cm

Wingspan: 135-165cm

Weight: 600-1,100g (male); 900-2,000g (female)

UK breeding: 400-450 pairs

Green list criteria

    No identified threat to the population's status  

[Guest]

Seems the Goshawk has reached Central Scotland, Doostalker.  

 

Clubmate's loft is Falkirk side of Linlithgow, near Miuravonside Country Park.

 

Also a strange encounter last year at Newcraighall railway station (between Portobello and Musselburgh). Train my birds from there and a person joining the train said to me: Pigeons? I keep a few too, well someone's got to feed the Goshawks, haven't they?  ??)

 

As I said, I wouldn't be able to recognise a Goshawk, but there are at least two accounts of them 'locally' from people who obviously can.

 

 

[jimmy white]

stayed at kelso, on farm a few years ago, goshawk was killing every day, impossible to keep pigeons, i think a big lord somebody, shot two, as they were eating the young pheasants, but maybe lords can do this, [very influencial people]

[THE FIFER]

yes bruno, the carrion crow will only have one nest in a tree, a family of them will keep to an area but during nesting time will fight like mad, if u disturb them in nest on eggs they will leave, (u cannot do this by the way it is ilegal so I would never think of it) I remember as a lad (going back a bit) watching the firemen shifting the nests with there hoses, this was an annual thing, it was the rooks of course which had dozens of nests in each tree, not like the carrions, a lot of people think u can shoot crows but u cant u must have a licence to do so, u can frighten them with one of those lazer levels u get put the red lazer up to there nest in the dark it gives them a fright, or so they tell me as i have never done that, i read it some place!!!!

[jimmy white]

THERE ARE A FEW EAGLE OWLS LIVING FREE IN BRITTAIN, SOME ARE BEING RELEASED IN YORKSHIRE,,,,,WATCH BBC 2  NOV. 16 8PM

THE EAGLE OWL IS COMMONLY KNOWN TO TACKLE, QUITE SUCCESSFULLY, RAPTORS AS LARGE AND SWIFT AS THE PERIGRINE FALCON.

THE EAGLE OWL  IS A VERY LARGE POWERFULL BIRD, ONLY SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE GOLDEN EAGLE, IT HAS A WING SPANOF UP TO 200CM. THE ADULTS CAN WEIGH IN EXCESS OF 4KG. IN COMPARISONTHE COMMON BARN OWL WEIGHS ABOUT 500G.IT FEEDS MAINLY ON SMALL MAMALS BUT WILL TAKE PREY UP TO THE SIZE OF FOXES AND YOUNG DEER,,,,,,IT WILL ALSO TAKE MANY OTHER BIRDS INCLUDING OTHER BIRDS OF PREY

 

ALTHOUGH THEY WILL KILL AND EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN GET THEIR TALONS ON. I HAVE HEARD THERE HAS BEEN OCCASIONS WHEN,,,,PERIGRINES HAVE BEEN SWIPED FROM THEIR NESTS OR ROOST SPOTS BY EAGLE OWLS, AS BOTH THESE BIRDS TEND TO PREFER ROCKY CLIFFS TO NESTS,,,,,,,AN EAGLE OWL WILL MAKE A SWIFT SNACK OUT OF A PERIGRINE.

QOUTE I KNOW THERE IS SOME DOUBT OVER WHETHER THEY ARE NATIVE  ,,BUT WOULD SAY THEY ARE A FANTASTIC ADDITION TO OUR BIRDLIFE,,,,,ASSUMING THE IMPACT ON OTHER BIRDS OF PREY IS NOT TOO GREAT,,,,UNQOUTE

 " LICENCED REGISTERED KEEPERS"WAS FAZED OUT IN THE 90S. ITDID HAVE STRICT CONTROLS ON WHO COULD KEEP CERTAIN BIRDS OF PREY. NOW     ANYONE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE CAN GET HOLD OF BIRD OF PREY NO LICENCE IS REQUIRED AND EAGLE OWLS VERY OFTEN COME UP IN ADVERTS    FREE TO GOOD HOME,,,,,,,PEOPLE OFTEN GET THEM ON A WHIM AND WHEN THEY FIND THEM AGGRESIVE THEY ARE OFTEN RELEASED.

 

S,E   I CANT SEE THEM HAVING MORE THAN A VERY LOCAL EFFECT ON BIRDS OF PREY

YES, THE LOCAL EFFECT IS SOMETIMES THE ERADICATION OF ALL OTHER COMPETITORS

SO, HOW MANY PAIRS DO YOU THINK ARE OUT THERE

SOUNDS LIKE 2 OR 3 PAIRS PLUS THEIR OFFSPRING, PLUS THE ONES THEY ARE RELEASING AND POTENTIALY DOZENS OF OTHER SINGLE ESCAPEES, GIVEN THE SEEMINGLY HIGH REPRODUCTIVE RATE AND SURVIVAL OF THE YOUNG, IT WOULD APPEAR THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF ESTABLISHING A VIABLE POPULATION.

 

 

 

SNIPPETS IVE PICKED UP HERE AND THERE,,,,,,ANY OPINIONS    JIMMY WHITE

[Guest]

Picked up the same story on BBC1 Lunchtime news, Jimmy.  

 

One pair breeding on Yorkshire Moors since 1993, 23 offspring!!! Doesn't make sense to me, only one pair, and I think you will be correct that there are a few pairs... but are they all related and if so will this colony survive without an outcross?

 

Couldn't believe my ears though. 'Not RSPB' spokesperson (don't know who he was, said to be a bird expert / consultant) warned that we may not want THIS bird in our gardens. Er.. class of predator distinction?

 

Wednesday's programme a must to see, methinks.  ;D

[Guest]

Fifer, again displaying my lack of bird knowledge.  ;D

 

I've always described what 'lives' across the road from me as a rookery. Chequered history, when I first moved here 10/11 years ago, plenty nests in clump of half-a-dozen trees. Later, families with cats moved into the flats and the rookery moved out. Around 2/3 years ago, families with cats moved out, 'crows' moved back in - just went out to check now that there's leaf fall - not a nest in sight.

 

Same with all the other 'bordering' trees - there's not a nest in sight. Your last post made me wonder just what I have here ...crows or rooks?  I know I've got Jays too, used to call these hoody-crows in my youth.

 

How do I tell the difference between a crow and a rook? Some of them are in pretty poor shape ... mange I think, first 'pied' crows I've seen in my life... and they make a habit of standing in the lum reek in the winter ... obviously polluted with lice too.