Sparrow Hawk Attack

[frank-123]

let my youngbirds out this morning just left them to put the kettle on not more than 5 mins later walked out to see the sparrowhawk on top of my bird

one poorly aimed throw with my rigger boot managed to scare the hawk

my bird went straight onto the landing board back stripped and a hole in its side but still alive at the minute

hope the hawk return's my other rigger boot is waiting and i wont miss stamping on its neck

[frank-123]

.

[BLACK W F]

thats them on the go early this year usually middle to end of september

[sapper756]

sorry to hear this Frank, now you have a task to completehttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

[Guest Owen]

Unfortunately that devil will be back, once they start they usually keep coming. When they get the killing bug they are very persistent. They become totally fixated on there kill and it takes a lot to put them off. The fen trap is a good way of putting an end to the problem. Ireckon if it gets away with it now it will be back with even greater determination next spring. Sorry mate but a rugby boot will only make it more careful.

[geordie1234]

Frank i had a sparrowhawk hovering about here too my birds were only out ten minutes and they were bursting to get in the loft then i noticed it hovering about

[jonl6280]

most likely a kestral u seen geo.. sparrowhawks don't hover

[frank-123]

never showed all day but i will be up early tomorrow

[geordie1234]

a didny mean it like that just flying slowey over my house but my missus saw one sitting on my next door neighbours roof aswell need to get the gun loaded

[Roland]

I had the youngsters out this morning. they flew very well. They went right high in a 'Diamond' formation specks in the sky, just passing over from time to time. Highest I've seen incidently since the late fifties / early sixties.

Well later - when they were flying just a little over roof top hieght, I saw the Sparrow hawk. Birds flew under it and carried on circling. They must have passed under it 3 times at least and took no notice whatsoever.

The hawk was certainly hunting too as it swept away side ways and the 'Held' it's flight. - even the ferals on the cinema weren't preturbed

I was thinking 'baseball bat' is handy. I have the tabs ready for adorning it's feed if needs must.

The birds before going out tomorrow will be adorned.

Also I will be training them early morn.

 

If I am to lose one, I will be doing my darndest to ensure it is not lost in vain. That if it has to be, then'It's' the sacrifice must not be in vain! indeed it must, and will, serve to save many of it's loft mates and even future generations. The juice Of the Rhubard leaf is plentiful still here abouts.

[Fly_caster]

I had the youngsters out this morning. they flew very well. They went right high in a 'Diamond' formation specks in the sky, just passing over from time to time. Highest I've seen incidently since the late fifties / early sixties.

Well later - when they were flying just a little over roof top hieght, I saw the Sparrow hawk. Birds flew under it and carried on circling. They must have passed under it 3 times at least and took no notice whatsoever.

The hawk was certainly hunting too as it swept away side ways and the 'Held' it's flight. - even the ferals on the cinema weren't preturbed

I was thinking 'baseball bat' is handy. I have the tabs ready for adorning it's feed if needs must.

The birds before going out tomorrow will be adorned.

Also I will be training them early morn.

 

If I am to lose one, I will be doing my darndest to ensure it is not lost in vain. That if it has to be, then'It's' the sacrifice must not be in vain! indeed it must, and will, serve to save many of it's loft mates and even future generations. The juice Of the Rhubard leaf is plentiful still here abouts.

 

Penny to a pound it was a Kestrel ! Wish I had the same problem !!!

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Steve

[Guest bluemorning]

seen my birds fly very close to spars even climb high to be on same level as them they may be able to tell that no threat from male. good way of telling if theres a spar about listen to house martin and swallows you will soon learn the alarm call.shame these will soon be leaving our shores, best early warning system avalible from may to mid sept.

[Roland]

Fly caster don't be silly, there a good chappie! ...

Mind I have sent training in torrential rain this afternoon. Obviously wasn't intential, but caught out bad.

So the B.O.P. will be laying low. But then as soon as thare's a lull they will be out and hunting in earnest.

 

seen my birds fly very close to spars even climb high to be on same level as them they may be able to tell that no threat from male. good way of telling if theres a spar about listen to house martin and swallows you will soon learn the alarm call.shame these will soon be leaving our shores, best early warning system avalible from may to mid sept.

Ditto, good post.

[kev01293]

sorry to hear of your s/hawk attack frank-i hope u will b ready 4 it when it returns and good luck geo

[Guest mick bowler]

You will rarely see a spar hunting high, you will also rarely see them "hover". A spar is an oppurtunist and its best attack is surprise from low level, very effective where there are a lot of bushes or trees. But they will hunt lowlands, but in a slightly different way, flying for miles just hopping the fences and hedges just waiting for that one opportunity.

[Roland]

You will rarely see a spar hunting high, you will also rarely see them "hover". A spar is an oppurtunist and its best attack is surprise from low level, very effective where there are a lot of bushes or trees. But they will hunt lowlands, but in a slightly different way, flying for miles just hopping the fences and hedges just waiting for that one opportunity.

 

Agreed. This spar was about the hieght of the house again.

By the way, though they may, I have never seen a Kestrel in towns back gardens hovering etc. They may of course. But mostley seen over Verges, unless in fields etc. of course.

[Bluedoo]

Couple of points, sparrowhawks can and do hover. The male will take pigeons, Ive had one.

Sadly yes they seem to have started earlier this year. I've had 3 attacks in the last 7 days.

[Fly_caster]

Fly caster don't be silly, there a good chappie! ....

 

Que ?

 

 

Meant that I would bet a pound of mine to a penny of yours that it was a Kestrel.Secondly, I'd rather have a bunch of Kestrels around my loft rather than 1 Sparrowhawk.................nothing silly........chappie !

 

 

Good luck with it if it is a Sparrowhawk - they have a habit of "casing the joint" before earnestly hunting down, via ambush, their quarry.

 

 

Best,

 

 

Steve

[Guest mick bowler]

Couple of points, sparrowhawks can and do hover. The male will take pigeons, Ive had one.

Sadly yes they seem to have started earlier this year. I've had 3 attacks in the last 7 days.

 

 

Sparrowhawks do not hover like a kestrel, i said they rarely hover, which is true. They will only do it for a very short times, seconds in fact.

[greenlands]

Sparrow Hawks are one of the most cunning slyest but numbest of the lot and will return to their prey even after being chased away by an aggresive human.

Other birds such as magpies crows etc. are also a danger to garden birds.This is something I picked up off another site and can be use to trap the Maggies and take them some distance away from your garden.

If This pic offends please remove I am willing to email the same to anyone being troubled by magpies crows etc.

Lindsay

Thanks to bigda.

[Guest bluemorning]

male spars sometimes may take a pigeon,but its not the norm.a racing pigeon is twice the spars weight and a very difficulct catch to hold onto.spars do attack from high up its called quartering most bop can be seen in this mode of flight where it can turn to attack mode and stoop.always check for spars high up dont let your bids out till it clears.if a spar drifts in high up while your birds are out its of little danger the birds know its there and will fly higher.this takes away any advantage the spar had, and on level flight with no stoop my moneys on the pigeon.low level hedge hopping attacks depends on how much cover low bushes sheds fences etc which the spar will use to great advantage, spars use this to attack bird feeders as they soon learn what time you top it up. so if you let your birds out at nine in the morn every morn she will pick this up,try and vary the time and always be visable at your loft no loft sitting get them in.pot owls waste of money. share information try it feedback. example derby falcon cam.post,falcon eating pigeon wwwxxxxx have a look. what the post should read. hi guys just had my breakfast watching derby falcons feeding 2 feral pigeons to chicks which are quiet parents sat around nest, since i live close to the nest site i think ill let my birds out now at 9.15. now thats a good post.

Edited August 26, 2010 by bluemorning

[Roland]

Fly-caster where you were being silly is the stupid suggestion, inuendo that I wouldn't / don't know the difference between a Kestel and a Sparrow hawk. So that is why, and yes you were being silly. Full stop. End off. As for the preference of having a choice, well again that goes without saying of course.

[Fly_caster]

Fly-caster where you were being silly is the stupid suggestion, inuendo that I wouldn't / don't know the difference between a Kestel and a Sparrow hawk. So that is why, and yes you were being silly. Full stop. End off. As for the preference of having a choice, well again that goes without saying of course.

 

 

Roland, it is impossible to make out exactly what you are saying in the above paragraph. PM me if you wish.

 

 

Steve

[Roland]

Pm sent.