Hawks

[shaker143]

Has anyone had any bother with hawks this time of year ,as i have had 2 pigeons attact in the last 2 weeks. Race in Durham.

[davebuttle]

al the time round aycliffe area, there are about six breeding pairs in the area that i know of.

 

Dave

[ALF]

LOST 1 TO THE HAWK 3 WEEKS AGO > > > >

[THE FIFER]

YES THEY ARE NOT NESTING JUST NOW SO BOTH MALE AND FEMALE ARE ON THE PROWL, AND AS THEY ARE NOT FEEDING YOUNG LOOK FOR SOMETHING LARGER THAN MICE ETC, PIGEONS, WHEN FEEDING SMALL YOUNG THEY GO FOR SMALLER PRAY, AND NOW THEY ARE FREE HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO DOO BUT LOOK FOR TASTY PIGEONS

[me]

in comparison to the thousands upon thousands of birds thrown away in the last few months by pigeon fanciers liberating birds in poor weather conditions what does the hawk eating the odd one or two matter?

[THE FIFER]

THE HAWKS DON'T EAT ALL THE BIRDS WHICH ARE LOST BUT IT LEAVES THEM WITH A GOOD WINTER SUPPLY

[jimmy white]

yes ,,seen mr perigrine today,, birds all turning there heads to the side then they all took off, these birds went as high as ive seen in a while in the lovely blue sky, but luckily for me he had his mind on something else further on and passed over, but the birds took a while to land and were very jumpy, so i got them in at that point.

[THE FIFER]

YES JIMMY U CAN SEE THE HAWKS A BIT BETTER IN THE BLUE SKIES,

[me]

another plus to giving the birds decent weather to fly in then fifer. the point i was trying to make earlier is the biggest danger to racing pigeons is pigeon fanciers perhaps we should spend a few bob trying to persuade our MSPS to do something about it!!

[jimmy white]

maybe worth a look at hawk topic on racing pigeons post i,e songbird survival group

www.songbird-survival.org.uk

[rockinrick]

yes m8 i have had near misses with hawks   :( > >

[Guest]

It makes me wonder what to do now with the ammount of hawks about. I have now got to the point in my stock loft where I am housing retired birds that have done the winning for me and decided to move on my prisoner stock. I am very conscious that people say that stock birds go down hill when locked up. But at the same time I don't want to lose them to the hawks now they have retired and are breeding me excellent youngsters. Do I let them out and take my chances or keep them out of harms way. I have a 12 x 10 stock loft with an 18 x 8 aviary on it. I can't imagine keeping them in after all they have been free for their racing career seems mean to keep them in. Any thoughts anyone.

[rockinrick]

keep em out m8 i am  ,i share ure thoughts on them being free all there lives only to lock them up to keep them prisoners

[Guest]

Think thats the best thing, feel mean locking them up but I will be gutted if the hawk takes them. Bearing in mind during racing we have to get youngsters out each day, widowhood hens, widowhood cocks and naturals so stock birds are a low priority. How many times a week should stock birds be exercised to keep them healthy.

[Guest]

Actually will make that a question in the forum.

[gangster]

:o  THE PEREGRINE DOES NOT CATCH MICE 90% OF ITS DIET IS PIGEONS, I KNOW THERE NOT TO BLAME FOR ALL THAT ARE MISSING BUT THEY DO KILL A DAMN SITE MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK, MY BUDDY IN N-WALES IS HIT NEAR ON EVERY TIME HE LETS HIS BIRDS OUT, ITS THAT BAD HES SELLING UP AND MOVING,  WERE LUCKY HERE THE OCCASSIONAL SPARROWHAWK ATTACK, VERY RARELY A PEREGRINE, MY  HEART REALLY GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO LOSE THEM REGULARLY TO THE  PEREGRINE.  

[gangster]

BY THE WAY CAN ANYONE ANSWER THIS QUESTION   WHY WHEN ITS EASIER DO THEY NOT GO FOR FERALS/WOODYS???????? IS IT COZ THEY HAVE TO WORK TO CATCH A RACER/DO THEY TASTE BETTER????

[David Swain]

Here in Dorset we lost quite a few to sparrowhawks in the Spring - they seem to be in killing mood until about the end of April and then leave the birds alone - and recently we've been having problems with peregrines which nest on the electricity pylons and cliffs nearby. Keeping everything in at the moment while they're heavy in the moult with the exception of a kit of 15 latebreds which need to get plenty of exercise while they're still growing and learning. These are being attacked most days and we've already lost a couple to Percy, but we've decided to see if they become peregrine-savvy, as some fanciers have suggested they might, or if it will just be a case of slaughter of the innocents.  

[jimmy white]

to answer gangsters question,, in my opinion , the perigrine prefers the chase  of a batch the singling out of one then the kill, off course most of the batch are either dead or injured or that terrified they will go for cover,,,, the sparrow hawk is differant and will just appear low from nowhere , dive in , and very rarely misses its prey , mind you there are many other type of hawks as well,,,goshawk etc

[Guest]

I don't think that town ferals have much to fear from hawks or falcons; think that feral's poor diet alone would keep them off the menu, not to mention the possibility of carrying a couple of nasty infections, like canker.

 

Country might be different; feeding better so ferals taste better, and in better health too?

 

Also seems to be a lot of woodpigeons / collared doves. Often wondered if their markings help? Can't help thinking that those large white spots at each end of the collar might look like an extra pair of large eyes from above? The collared dove is also reckoned to be the natural reservoir for the pigeon roundworm. Another reason for it being left alone?

 

I notice that my birds constantly watch the skies above them and also take their cues from the wild birds around them. If they take off and go high or clear off, there's usually something on the go.

 

I also agree that they do become 'hawkwise'. Have seen mine and others' get above and stay above hawks, obviously they know they are then safe from attack.

 

But how long does it take to become hawkwise? Are pigeons born with it (instinct) or have they to learn it? Our bird's ancestor, the blue rock dove, lives side-by-side with the peregrine.

[jimmy white]

im sure they get hawk wise but definately not hawk proof ,my freind working on the forth bridge where a pair of perigrines were nesting , watched the perigrine kill every day. 2 years ago a white pigeon appeared there and bred, and at that time my freind said it wouldnt last 5 mins with this hawk. well the white bird managed to dodge it for two years, but mr perigrine nailed him in the end.

[Guest TAMMY_1]

to answer gangsters question,, in my opinion , the perigrine prefers the chase  of a batch the singling out of one then the kill, off course most of the batch are either dead or injured or that terrified they will go for cover,,,, the sparrow hawk is differant and will just appear low from nowhere , dive in , and very rarely misses its prey , mind you there are many other type of hawks as well,,,goshawk etc

 

WHAT ABOUT THE MOHAWKS JIMMY HOW MANY DO THEY KILL

[Guest ben]

hi Shaker,

                Most important,KNOW YOUR ENEMY,basically 2 main adversaries taking on racers this countrySPARROWHAWK FEMALE(HAWK)...PENEGRINE FALCON ...are you talking of Hawks(primary flights look like spread fingers at end of wing) or Falcon(wing end shaped back to a smooth point)...massive difference,in hunting,killing technique.

    Goshawk much raeaer here,so ... not your problem.

   You need have no fear of The Sparrowhawk racing or training....she`s a ambusher,takingbirds on the floor,or just coming in to land...unlike Perigrine,who will hunt singly,or in a small pack,hitting convoys time and time again,even for fun,when the young are learing to hunt.

   Bruno,the hawk takes ferals,for sure,ive seen enough of it.

 

[Guest]

Cheers Rose sound advice.

[jimmy white]

dont know where you are ben but , when i lived in kelso for a short time the goshawcks were rife, in all the big estates [killed many of my pigeons also my freinds 6mile away]

 

tammy  ;D ;D its not the mohawcks thats the trouble its the TOmohawcks, that the mohawcks use thats the trouble  ;D ;D ;D