|
Sparrowhawks
Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning!
Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Someone told me that the way to deter the sparrowhawk is to get a model owl into the garden - anyone tried this, and does it work! -- Roger T 700 ft up in Mid-Wales |
Sparrowhawks
On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:09:56 +0100, Roger Tonkin
wrote: Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Someone told me that the way to deter the sparrowhawk is to get a model owl into the garden - anyone tried this, and does it work! A large model owl could perhaps work as the sparrowhawk may perceive it as a threat to its own safety. The problem is that it would probably have the same or a more marked effect on the smaller birds that you wish to attract to your garden. Various deterrents have been tried at game bird rearing pens such as dangling CDs or similar to produce flashing reflections, flashing lights and particularly for sparrowhawks, tall canes that will interfere with their fast low-level approach. These sort of measures are however undoubtedly OTT for a domestic garden. It is worth bearing in mind that the supply of small birds is, as a rule, more than enough to keep pace with predation by raptors and that losses through other causes are far more significant. Having watched our local male sparrowhawk leisurely dismember a fledgling blackbird on our rear lawn on Wednesday I appreciate that the evidence of a raptor strike is more remarkable than the frequent disappearances due to cats, magpies, disease, starvation etc.. rbel |
Sparrowhawks
On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:18:20 +0100, rbel wrote:
On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 10:09:56 +0100, Roger Tonkin wrote: Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Someone told me that the way to deter the sparrowhawk is to get a model owl into the garden - anyone tried this, and does it work! A large model owl could perhaps work as the sparrowhawk may perceive it as a threat to its own safety. The problem is that it would probably have the same or a more marked effect on the smaller birds that you wish to attract to your garden. Various deterrents have been tried at game bird rearing pens such as dangling CDs or similar to produce flashing reflections, flashing lights and particularly for sparrowhawks, tall canes that will interfere with their fast low-level approach. These sort of measures are however undoubtedly OTT for a domestic garden. It is worth bearing in mind that the supply of small birds is, as a rule, more than enough to keep pace with predation by raptors and that losses through other causes are far more significant. Having watched our local male sparrowhawk leisurely dismember a fledgling blackbird on our rear lawn on Wednesday I appreciate that the evidence of a raptor strike is more remarkable than the frequent disappearances due to cats, magpies, disease, starvation etc.. rbel If we put food out for birds, and birds come and eat it, arguably we are providing an "artificial" food source, without which, natural selection would presumably mean that numbers of birds would match the available "natural" food source. So we help to increase bird numbers. Indirectly we provide an "artificial" food source for the raptors as, without our feeding, there would not be a "natural" gathering of birds in such numbers. But the raptors would still feed and the impact would be that much greater for the "food birds" who would not exist in such large numbers were it not for our help. So don't feel guilty. You are helping both the little birds and the raptors to maintain their population. This is what nature is - cruel in many ways. But raptors kill to eat, not for sport (unlike humans!). I would accept nature as it is. That said, I have bird feeders hanging in the middle of a large pyracantha. The little birds seem to get in and out easily but cats find it more difficult (I'm more "urban" than you in mid-Wales) and the local sparrow hawk similarly has more difficulty getting at them, though he does still take a fair few. Filling the feeders is also fun given the size of the thorns on the shrub! Cheers Jake ============================================== Gardening at the dry end (east) of Swansea Bay in between reading anything by JRR Tolkien. www.rivendell.org.uk |
Sparrow hawks
"Roger Tonkin" wrote in message ... Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Many years ago (N.London) a sparrow hawk attack was thwarted by the squirrel-proof bars on our peanut feeder and the BTs lived to fly another day. Last week (now E.Cornwall) a sparrow was not so lucky. As I emerged from the kitchen door a SH pounced. On seeing me, it was unable to perform an instant kill, so flew off carrying the hapless sparrow ....... alive!! |
Sparrow hawks
"Sacha" wrote in message
... On 2011-07-30 22:34:24 +0100, "Bertie Doe" said: "Roger Tonkin" wrote in message ... Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Many years ago (N.London) a sparrow hawk attack was thwarted by the squirrel-proof bars on our peanut feeder and the BTs lived to fly another day. Last week (now E.Cornwall) a sparrow was not so lucky. As I emerged from the kitchen door a SH pounced. On seeing me, it was unable to perform an instant kill, so flew off carrying the hapless sparrow ....... alive!! I'm told that they don't actually kill. They eat their prey alive. Fluffy-wuffy Naturekins doesn't exist, I'm afraid! I was once told that the reason cats play with their catches is to see if it's fit to eat! Apparently, if it dies too quick, there may be something wrong with it, and make them ill. Don't know if there is any truth in this, but it might explain why sometimes I am confronted with an unmarked corpse and at others an unidentifiable heap of innards. -- Kathy |
Sparrow hawks
On 31/07/2011 13:54, Kathy wrote:
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 2011-07-30 22:34:24 +0100, "Bertie Doe" said: "Roger Tonkin" wrote in message ... Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Many years ago (N.London) a sparrow hawk attack was thwarted by the squirrel-proof bars on our peanut feeder and the BTs lived to fly another day. Last week (now E.Cornwall) a sparrow was not so lucky. As I emerged from the kitchen door a SH pounced. On seeing me, it was unable to perform an instant kill, so flew off carrying the hapless sparrow ....... alive!! I'm told that they don't actually kill. They eat their prey alive. Fluffy-wuffy Naturekins doesn't exist, I'm afraid! I was once told that the reason cats play with their catches is to see if it's fit to eat! Apparently, if it dies too quick, there may be something wrong with it, and make them ill. Don't know if there is any truth in this, but it might explain why sometimes I am confronted with an unmarked corpse and at others an unidentifiable heap of innards. There may very well be some truth in this, but cats 'play' with birds as a training technique. A mother cat will deliver a healthy (or slightly wounded bird) to her kittens in order to train them how to kill/hunt. A female (neutered) cat of mine rarely killed birds, but held them captive between her paws until I rescued them. *I* was supposed to be the kitten, of course, but I 'failed' to learn the killing technique (usually a neck bite) and released the bird instead. Cats are efficient. Owners who understand their cats may be more so. I have lost track of the number of birds and mice I have mercifully released unharmed. Unmarked corpses and unidentifiable innards often simply denote hunting for food v hunting by inexperienced and ineffective kits. Cats rarely hunt for sport. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Sparrow hawks
"Spider" wrote in message
... On 31/07/2011 13:54, Kathy wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message ... On 2011-07-30 22:34:24 +0100, "Bertie Doe" said: "Roger Tonkin" wrote in message ... Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Many years ago (N.London) a sparrow hawk attack was thwarted by the squirrel-proof bars on our peanut feeder and the BTs lived to fly another day. Last week (now E.Cornwall) a sparrow was not so lucky. As I emerged from the kitchen door a SH pounced. On seeing me, it was unable to perform an instant kill, so flew off carrying the hapless sparrow ....... alive!! I'm told that they don't actually kill. They eat their prey alive. Fluffy-wuffy Naturekins doesn't exist, I'm afraid! I was once told that the reason cats play with their catches is to see if it's fit to eat! Apparently, if it dies too quick, there may be something wrong with it, and make them ill. Don't know if there is any truth in this, but it might explain why sometimes I am confronted with an unmarked corpse and at others an unidentifiable heap of innards. There may very well be some truth in this, but cats 'play' with birds as a training technique. A mother cat will deliver a healthy (or slightly wounded bird) to her kittens in order to train them how to kill/hunt. A female (neutered) cat of mine rarely killed birds, but held them captive between her paws until I rescued them. *I* was supposed to be the kitten, of course, but I 'failed' to learn the killing technique (usually a neck bite) and released the bird instead. Cats are efficient. Owners who understand their cats may be more so. I have lost track of the number of birds and mice I have mercifully released unharmed. Unmarked corpses and unidentifiable innards often simply denote hunting for food v hunting by inexperienced and ineffective kits. Cats rarely hunt for sport. My two are no longer kits, though one is fairly thick. Alfie is the main hunter, and usually kills quickly and efficiently. He is also the one who leaves me the icky presents. Charlie brings everything in alive and lets it go. If I can get to it before Alfie, it's safe. Mind you, bending down to change their water one morning and finding a very large, ****ed off frog residing in it was a bit of a shock :-} -- Kathy |
Sparrow hawks
On 02/08/2011 13:39, Kathy wrote:
"Spider" wrote in message ... On 31/07/2011 13:54, Kathy wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message ... On 2011-07-30 22:34:24 +0100, "Bertie Doe" said: "Roger Tonkin" wrote in message ... Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Many years ago (N.London) a sparrow hawk attack was thwarted by the squirrel-proof bars on our peanut feeder and the BTs lived to fly another day. Last week (now E.Cornwall) a sparrow was not so lucky. As I emerged from the kitchen door a SH pounced. On seeing me, it was unable to perform an instant kill, so flew off carrying the hapless sparrow ....... alive!! I'm told that they don't actually kill. They eat their prey alive. Fluffy-wuffy Naturekins doesn't exist, I'm afraid! I was once told that the reason cats play with their catches is to see if it's fit to eat! Apparently, if it dies too quick, there may be something wrong with it, and make them ill. Don't know if there is any truth in this, but it might explain why sometimes I am confronted with an unmarked corpse and at others an unidentifiable heap of innards. There may very well be some truth in this, but cats 'play' with birds as a training technique. A mother cat will deliver a healthy (or slightly wounded bird) to her kittens in order to train them how to kill/hunt. A female (neutered) cat of mine rarely killed birds, but held them captive between her paws until I rescued them. *I* was supposed to be the kitten, of course, but I 'failed' to learn the killing technique (usually a neck bite) and released the bird instead. Cats are efficient. Owners who understand their cats may be more so. I have lost track of the number of birds and mice I have mercifully released unharmed. Unmarked corpses and unidentifiable innards often simply denote hunting for food v hunting by inexperienced and ineffective kits. Cats rarely hunt for sport. My two are no longer kits, though one is fairly thick. Alfie is the main hunter, and usually kills quickly and efficiently. He is also the one who leaves me the icky presents. Charlie brings everything in alive and lets it go. If I can get to it before Alfie, it's safe. Mind you, bending down to change their water one morning and finding a very large, ****ed off frog residing in it was a bit of a shock :-} :~) Oh yes, I've rescued a few frogs in the past. Unfortunately, Panther returns straight to the pond to fish for it again. Haven't seen any frogs for about three years, and I don't think it's all Panther's fault. We have seen lots of crows/ravens here (still can't tell the difference!), so maybe they've been picking off the poor little critters :~(. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Sparrow hawks
|
Sparrow hawks
On 04/08/2011 16:58, Kay wrote:
On 02/08/2011 19:39, in article , "Spider" wrote: :~) Oh yes, I've rescued a few frogs in the past. Unfortunately, Panther returns straight to the pond to fish for it again. Haven't seen any frogs for about three years, and I don't think it's all Panther's fault. We have seen lots of crows/ravens here (still can't tell the difference!), so maybe they've been picking off the poor little critters :~(. Ravens are a size bigger than rooks and crows. We have a blackbird who we caught in the act of lifting a newt from the centre of the pond. Apparently not at all unusual. I hope you told it that newts are protected by law ;~). -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Sparrow hawks
On 04/08/2011 16:58, Kay wrote:
On 02/08/2011 19:39, in article , "Spider" wrote: We have seen lots of crows/ravens here (still can't tell the difference!), so maybe they've been picking off the poor little critters :~(. Ravens are a size bigger than rooks and crows. Ravens go cronk and crows caw. Also ravens have far more attitude, comes with the size I guess. Sizewise from big to small: ravens, rooks, crows, jackdaws. -- Phil Cook |
Sparrow hawks
On 04/08/2011 22:51, Phil Cook wrote:
On 04/08/2011 16:58, Kay wrote: On 02/08/2011 19:39, in article , "Spider" wrote: We have seen lots of crows/ravens here (still can't tell the difference!), so maybe they've been picking off the poor little critters :~(. Ravens are a size bigger than rooks and crows. Ravens go cronk and crows caw. Also ravens have far more attitude, comes with the size I guess. Sizewise from big to small: ravens, rooks, crows, jackdaws. Thanks. I'm very familiar with Jackdaws and love their blue beady-eye. Your remaining corvid size scale is useful for comparison, but I rarely see them side by side to make that kind of judgement. I've also been told to look out for feathered or shaggy 'trousers' or bare beak, but they *all* seem to have that! :~( Most frustrating. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Sparrow hawks
On 05/08/2011 13:16, Spider wrote:
On 04/08/2011 22:51, Phil Cook wrote: On 04/08/2011 16:58, Kay wrote: Ravens are a size bigger than rooks and crows. Ravens go cronk and crows caw. Also ravens have far more attitude, comes with the size I guess. Sizewise from big to small: ravens, rooks, crows, jackdaws. Thanks. I'm very familiar with Jackdaws and love their blue beady-eye. Your remaining corvid size scale is useful for comparison, but I rarely see them side by side to make that kind of judgement. I've also been told to look out for feathered or shaggy 'trousers' or bare beak, but they *all* seem to have that! :~( Most frustrating. Shaggy trousers and a bare beak (actually a patch of bare skin at the base of the beak) is a description of a rook. They also go caw. Ravens have more angular heads than the others. -- Phil Cook |
Sparrowhawks
On 30/07/2011 10:09, Roger Tonkin wrote:
Another pile of bluetit feathers this morning! Whilst I accept that sparrowhawks need to eat and survive, I feel that by feeding the tits, I am encouraging them and giving the sparrowhawk an easy meal. Never mind that, how about feeding the plants? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-14416809 -- Phil Cook |
Sparrow hawks
On 05/08/2011 15:21, Phil Cook wrote:
On 05/08/2011 13:16, Spider wrote: On 04/08/2011 22:51, Phil Cook wrote: On 04/08/2011 16:58, Kay wrote: Ravens are a size bigger than rooks and crows. Ravens go cronk and crows caw. Also ravens have far more attitude, comes with the size I guess. Sizewise from big to small: ravens, rooks, crows, jackdaws. Thanks. I'm very familiar with Jackdaws and love their blue beady-eye. Your remaining corvid size scale is useful for comparison, but I rarely see them side by side to make that kind of judgement. I've also been told to look out for feathered or shaggy 'trousers' or bare beak, but they *all* seem to have that! :~( Most frustrating. Shaggy trousers and a bare beak (actually a patch of bare skin at the base of the beak) is a description of a rook. They also go caw. Ravens have more angular heads than the others. Thanks for that, Phil. I'll try and apply that when next I see a large-ish black corvid. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:52 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter