Like Hitchcok's 'Birds'

[Guest 67ghirl]

As usual on a Sunday the pigeons were enjoying a free day, open loft, bath etc. We had to nip out for a short time and on return noticed all the young birds were flying around which immediately brought an 'oh no' to mind sure enough a few minutes later the screeching was heard and Percy, complete with pigeon in claws and partner on his tail flew over our heads heading for the Church steeple where they live.

You would think that was it for the day but less than 3 minutes later at least a hundred crows and jackdaws flew at the pigeons and totally surrounded them, flew with them and that's when we noticed a Sparrowhawk desperately trying to get through to the pigeons - thankfully it didn't succeed!

It is so frustrating that the pigeons can't even enjoy a well deserved 'day off' in their own garden .

We have witnessed this before and as we always through out food to encourage the crows to the garden we like to think this is their way of saying 'Thank You'. Unfortunately it only seems to be the seagulls who will bother Percy.

Unfortunately it seems to be Kieran's first ever YB race winner that is missing

 

[just ask me]

that the way it happens had a few winner taken on me  there are severall way to solve problem but not all potically correct lol

[Novice]

Most frustrating I agree.

 

Pigeons which have just had a bath can be very vulnerable.

[Guest IB]

The unfortunate thing is that you cannot risk leaving birds out and unattended nowadays. Your presence is the birds' best safeguard.

 

While crows and gulls will mob buzzards and sparrowhawks (happens here all the time) and shepherd them harmlessly right across the skies, I've not witnessed the same with peregrines and have to admit I've never seen one in flight / do not even know what they look like in the sky.

 

I do know that they are there, though, because although I cannot see them, my birds can and they alert me to 'something' present when on the loft roof they cock their head to one side and using monocular vision, fix on a spot in the sky far above.

 

Pigeons need to be alive to their surroundings at all times. If they aren't they are easy prey.

[Guest strapper]

peregrines come that low and close to my rooftop that u can make out the black mask on their face.

once every 2 days theres a one about the sky when the birds are out.

3 seasons ago one went through after my m8s birds and drove them through the pylons...13 dead as they hit the pylon and wires...there were 50 in all.

[german owls rock]

hey 67 ghirl

same happend to me so i boild ssome eggs that attracts seagulls and dont tend to get botherd by  sparrow hawks as their is always a seagull in the garden hope this helps

...jack