"Derek wrote in message

((snip)) We got up to see a pigeon on the patio frantically heaving but
being firmly held down by what proved to a Sparrow Hawk. The force and
speed of the bird of prey hitting the window must with the pigeon must
ahve quite considerable
Upon seeing us at the window the Hawk took off, still holding the
pigeon, skimmimg down the garden a few yards to the shelter of a shrub.
There it continued to hold down the pigeon until all movement had
stopped. This took a few minuets, I guess the bird must have died from
either shock or asphyxiation. The Hawk then proceeded to eat until
just a few feathers remained. The whole event took about 45 mins or
so. We felt it hard luck for pigeon but also privildged to see
something so amazing.

We now notice less pigeons and doves in the garden than of old. So how
do you encourage Hawks into the natural course of things.

We live in surban Surrey but have quite a bit of open countruy around.


Having pigeons and collared doves around in numbers is enough encouragement.
There are usually lots around our allotment site due to locals feeding them
and easy pickings at the Swan Sanctuary but every few weeks they disappear
for a few days because the hawks have moved in. We even had a Goshawk around
our site last year.
I've actually had a hawk hit a pigeon right over my head, thought it was
snowing :-) the Hawk landed with it a few yards away but flew off
presumably when it realised I was so close, the pigeon eventually flew off
too.

--
Bob (in N. Surrey)

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.