Sparrowhawk

[tequilaskylark]

Hi

Im Beth and i am a University student. I am in my 3rd (final) year, and i have decided to write my dissertation on the 'threats and opportunities for Sparrowhawks'

I hope you don't mind me joining this forum, however any advice you can give me about Sparrowhawks is greatly appreciated.What you think of them, and how they affect you and your birds... I have also created a questionnaire about Sparrowhawks hunting. I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to fill it out. Also if you know anyone else who has seen a Sparrowhawk hunting, please pass on my request.

Any help is massively appreciated!

Many Thanks

Beth

[Daisymay]

Hi

Im Beth and i am a University student. I am in my 3rd (final) year, and i have decided to write my dissertation on the 'threats and opportunities for Sparrowhawks'

I hope you don't mind me joining this forum, however any advice you can give me about Sparrowhawks is greatly appreciated.What you think of them, and how they affect you and your birds... I have also created a questionnaire about Sparrowhawks hunting. I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to fill it out. Also if you know anyone else who has seen a Sparrowhawk hunting, please pass on my request.

Any help is massively appreciated!

Many Thanks

Beth

 

what's your degree when your dissertation is on Sparrowhawks and where is your questionnaire.

[OLDYELLOW]

R.S.P.B Survey perhaps ?????

[just ask me]

we had the same last year lads and it was from a college student i read the report it was online

 

could be the same again you never know

[airdrie2]

please be responsible with the replys you give on the forum lads and lassies

[Guest Tooshy Boy]

HATE THEM AND YOU WILL BE GETTING NO HELP OF ME ..NAW NAW NAW .../

[PATTY BHOY]

be careful of this post folks.

[Guest Owen]

What a cheek! "Be responsible what replies we give". Unless I were to have a lot more evidence that this is a genuine request, I certainly will not co-operate with this guy.

He is probably a RSPB clown at it again. Why does he not ask his mates for the information or, if he is genuine, I am sure that the RPRA can help him.

Then again why does he not look at the actions of the RSPB in regard to the release of more and more birds of prey into the environment? It is not a question of the what the Sparrow Hawks do or do not do, it more about the idiots who have tried to saturate the environment with them, regardless of the affects they may have on the rest of the bird life. After all a Sparrowhawk will always do what it's nature tells it to do. It is not it's fault that it does such damage, it is the fault of the fools who suport it in such numbers.

[Daisymay]

Still awaiting your answer tequilaskylark 2 and a bit hours from your initial post

[Guest Tooshy Boy]

CANNY GET THEM OOT THE BETTING SHOP .

[pjc]

shoot as many as we can get the sites on, a bit harder to hit when they are hunting while they are flying faster, but same result!

[Daisymay]

Still awaiting your answer tequilaskylark 2 and a bit hours from your initial post

 

 

Have any of your fellow students done a study on how the song bird population has CRASHED,and what the cause might be.

[alec guinness]

Hi

Im Beth and i am a University student. I am in my 3rd (final) year, and i have decided to write my dissertation on the 'threats and opportunities for Sparrowhawks'

I hope you don't mind me joining this forum, however any advice you can give me about Sparrowhawks is greatly appreciated.What you think of them, and how they affect you and your birds... I have also created a questionnaire about Sparrowhawks hunting. I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to fill it out. Also if you know anyone else who has seen a Sparrowhawk hunting, please pass on my request.

Any help is massively appreciated!

Many Thanks

Beth

 

TEQUILA/SKYLARK,in the second part of your name when and if ever have you seen a skylark?,raptors have decimated these lovely wee birds. <_<

[VAGIN]

Why dont you write to the RSPCA. They seem too have all the answers about all birds of pray

[Daisymay]

You write asking for us to post the threats and opportunities for Sparrow Hawks,well I know the threats, I await the opportunities.

[Guest spin cycle]

ERM....i know i'm a bit of a softy....but we've not really given this newbie a chance. ok it might be a rspb 'plant'....but it might be genuine...in which case we've lost a potential ally. so here is my take. today i saw a sparrowhawk take a woodpigeon in flight...something that i thought they couldn't do. my theory is that with the abundance of 'woodies' the sparrowhawk will get bigger through natural selection enabling them to make more use of the woodie. as far as my own pigeons are concerned i have had sparrowhawks since i started in 2005. at that time i had a large population of collard doves in and around ( 50+) this population dwindled away to about 6 now. it seems likely that the hawk had been taking these as early spring 2009 i started to loose pigeons.in all about a quarter of my team. at the time i was letting the pigeons have free roam morning 'til night. it seems feb to april is a danger time as some migrant birds have gone and there are no fledgling birds to be had...thus there is less prey for the female hawk as she prepares to nest. in response to this i now vary the times of letting my pigeons out. but mainly let out about 1pm in the hope the hawk has already killed that day. the other danger time is when our ybs are first let out as they need to be out all day learning to fly around ,getting used to home suroundings. in this case the fancier has little defence although some of my friends use a flashing amber beacon as a detterent. a common sympton of a yb kit that has been terrorised by a hawk is to take to trees and be reluctant to fly. this year i've observed 'my' hawk eating woodie squeakers on about 4 occasions. i've had one pigeon found dead with hawk wounds and another stock cock awol. the presence of woodie squeakers is no doubt helping me as they are easier prey. i also find that having nesting jackdaws around helps as they are good watchdogs and don't seem to be suffering. i am a law abiding person and would not harm a hawk...though i find they are cruel and wasteful feeders...sometimes only eating the head and neck. my priority is to preserve my birds by not giving the hawk an easy meal. however if the hawk doesn't eat my pigeon he's going to eat something else and thats going to be a wild bird. IMO those who claim to 'champion' wild birds whilst not recognising the problem of raptor predation are in 'denial'. blimey just about written the 'thesis' for you

[oldguy]

a few links re the same posting

 

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-birds/76476-sparrowhawk-hunting.html#post682999

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:jmvFfyWAgfcJ:community.rspb.org.uk/people/Profile.aspx%3FUserID%3D180972+tequilaskylark&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

 

http://community.rspb.org.uk/forums/p/22109/167718.aspx

[Guest challengerlofts]

I don't get it, RSPB's knows about it. That every single day, all helpless small birds been slaughtered and killed by the Sparrowhawks.

 

The Watchdog or RSCPA can do anything about it.

[tequilaskylark]

what's your degree when your dissertation is on Sparrowhawks and where is your questionnaire.

 

 

Hi

 

Thanks for your reply. My Course is, BA (Hons) Marine and Natural History Photography.

 

Here is the online questionnaire:

 

http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx?id=8fcdcd23-3112-4c4a-b569-3bead914e1df

 

Please fill it in, if you have seen a Sparrowhawk hunting successfully or unseccessfully.

 

If there are any problems with the questionnaire let me know

 

Many thanks

 

Beth

[tequilaskylark]

ERM....i know i'm a bit of a softy....but we've not really given this newbie a chance. ok it might be a rspb 'plant'....but it might be genuine...in which case we've lost a potential ally. so here is my take. today i saw a sparrowhawk take a woodpigeon in flight...something that i thought they couldn't do. my theory is that with the abundance of 'woodies' the sparrowhawk will get bigger through natural selection enabling them to make more use of the woodie. as far as my own pigeons are concerned i have had sparrowhawks since i started in 2005. at that time i had a large population of collard doves in and around ( 50+) this population dwindled away to about 6 now. it seems likely that the hawk had been taking these as early spring 2009 i started to loose pigeons.in all about a quarter of my team. at the time i was letting the pigeons have free roam morning 'til night. it seems feb to april is a danger time as some migrant birds have gone and there are no fledgling birds to be had...thus there is less prey for the female hawk as she prepares to nest. in response to this i now vary the times of letting my pigeons out. but mainly let out about 1pm in the hope the hawk has already killed that day. the other danger time is when our ybs are first let out as they need to be out all day learning to fly around ,getting used to home suroundings. in this case the fancier has little defence although some of my friends use a flashing amber beacon as a detterent. a common sympton of a yb kit that has been terrorised by a hawk is to take to trees and be reluctant to fly. this year i've observed 'my' hawk eating woodie squeakers on about 4 occasions. i've had one pigeon found dead with hawk wounds and another stock cock awol. the presence of woodie squeakers is no doubt helping me as they are easier prey. i also find that having nesting jackdaws around helps as they are good watchdogs and don't seem to be suffering. i am a law abiding person and would not harm a hawk...though i find they are cruel and wasteful feeders...sometimes only eating the head and neck. my priority is to preserve my birds by not giving the hawk an easy meal. however if the hawk doesn't eat my pigeon he's going to eat something else and thats going to be a wild bird. IMO those who claim to 'champion' wild birds whilst not recognising the problem of raptor predation are in 'denial'. blimey just about written the 'thesis' for you

 

Hi

 

Thank you for your reply. Its really helpful.

 

Sorry it seems my post hasn't gone done too well. Im sorry about that, i didn't mean to course any upset or suspician. I am a student, just researching Sparrowhawks. I do not at the moment have enough information to make an informed decision on their 'methods' I hope to include both sides of the arguement of Sparrowhawks hunting, in my dissertation, and it seems you all have very strong views on them and their hunting habits. Please i am a genuine student, just trying to get as many responses to my questionnaire as possible. i have had doubts on one of the other forums i joined too, but they asked me some questions and it seems were happy with my answers. The reasons i joined all those forums is to simply get as many people to fill out my questionnaire as i possibly can.

 

I am really sorry to cause such problems, however i really hope you can see that i am genuine and will help me out.

 

Many thanks

 

Beth

[tequilaskylark]

TEQUILA/SKYLARK,in the second part of your name when and if ever have you seen a skylark?,raptors have decimated these lovely wee birds. <_<

 

 

Hi

 

Yes the tale of the name tequilaskylark is its my dogs name. Well Tequila 'Quila' is, and the breeder gave her an official name which is Skylark, so tequilaskylark. And yes i have seen Skylark's in Cornwall, quite a few times, especially on fieldtrips for uni work. Im doing a marine and natural history photography course, so have photographed them a few times. Everytime i go to Godrevy, i see them there. They are one of the more common birds i see surprisingly.

 

Many thanks

 

Beth

[Guest IB]

Hi

 

Thank you for your reply. Its really helpful.

 

Sorry it seems my post hasn't gone done too well. Im sorry about that, i didn't mean to course any upset or suspician. I am a student, just researching Sparrowhawks. I do not at the moment have enough information to make an informed decision on their 'methods' I hope to include both sides of the arguement of Sparrowhawks hunting, in my dissertation, and it seems you all have very strong views on them and their hunting habits. Please i am a genuine student, just trying to get as many responses to my questionnaire as possible. i have had doubts on one of the other forums i joined too, but they asked me some questions and it seems were happy with my answers. The reasons i joined all those forums is to simply get as many people to fill out my questionnaire as i possibly can.

 

I am really sorry to cause such problems, however i really hope you can see that i am genuine and will help me out.

 

Many thanks

 

Beth

 

I don't think you caused any problems - but it is perhaps wise to do a bit of prior research before asking specific groups for comment, so you have some idea how your approach may be viewed - what causes problems for the likes of us is Sparrowhawk attacks on our birds at their own lofts.

 

Despite representations to Parliament, we are not yet allowed to protect our own birds from these attacks. This has been going on for many years, hence the hostile reaction you received initially.

[blaz]

i think one or two of us jump the gun on the subject of B.O.P. hear is a intellectual lass studying at collage doing a wright up on sparrowhawks asking a bit advice form pigeon fanciers.the more information we can give regarding the devastation sparrowhawks cause to our birds the better it is lets more people know what we are up against.

[frank-123]

i think one or two of us jump the gun on the subject of B.O.P. hear is a intellectual lass studying at collage doing a wright up on sparrowhawks asking a bit advice form pigeon fanciers.the more information we can give regarding the devastation sparrowhawks cause to our birds the better it is lets more people know what we are up against.

 

is a college stutdent going to change the law to protect our birds no why would we not jump the gun?

the rspb lovers have shown there ugly heads on here time and time again

Beth i completed your survey.

The sparrowhawk and peregrine have ruined our hobby along with thousands of small birds due to lie's and mismanagement and introduction of mass breeding programmes which one day will haunt the rspb

 

look up the red danger list of uk bird poulation

[PATTY BHOY]

be warey of this thread.