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Any keen bird feeders out there?
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The downside of a sparrowhawk is that it doesn't eat birdseed :eek:
Our garden used to be surrounded by massive Leylandii-sparrowhawks and kestrels used to perch on the sawn-off trunks and wait for dinner. Usually pigeons, which ate all the spilled food and got too tubby to take off in a hurry...
A kill was spectacular and distressing in equal measure...and raptor fledglings need to eat too...
A sparrowhawk flew over the garden a couple of days ago, but I don't suppose they'll hunt here again until the replacement trees mature.import this0 -
laurel7172 wrote: »The downside of a sparrowhawk is that it doesn't eat birdseed :eek:
Our garden used to be surrounded by massive Leylandii-sparrowhawks and kestrels used to perch on the sawn-off trunks and wait for dinner. Usually pigeons, which ate all the spilled food and got too tubby to take off in a hurry...
A kill was spectacular and distressing in equal measure...and raptor fledglings need to eat too...
A sparrowhawk flew over the garden a couple of days ago, but I don't suppose they'll hunt here again until the replacement trees mature.
A couple of times I've seen a bird of prey kill another bird in the back garden.
I can only describe it as horribly fascinating. You don't want to look as something is being killed, but on the other hand the bird of prey is so efficient, it's sort of impressive.Early retired - 18th December 2014
If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough0 -
yes that's very true! I would be quite distressed to see the small birds attacked, although I do know it's just the way it works in the bird world. A pigeon was attacked recently in our garden as I found its remains (not very much!) but I just presumed it was a neighbourhood cat. Maybe it was a sparrowhawk instead?
too many comps..not enough time!0 -
A sparrowhawk usually plucks its kill where it strikes-there's a distinctive circlet of feathers left on the ground. I wouldn't really know how to tell a kestrel and cat kill apart-no cat of mine has ever been keen on eating a catch, but I know some cats aren't so fussy. I've also seen magpies attack smaller birds, so there are potentially lots of suspects.import this0
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There is a tom cat that roams around here so I wondered if it was him that had killed it, but all that was left was a few feathers so perhaps it could've been another bird? I'm no fan of pigeons but that's a grizzly way to go.
too many comps..not enough time!0 -
When I've picked up kestrel kills, they've been, well, sort of hollowed out and pecked clean to the bone. Just a few feathers could mean something caught it and took it away, or a near miss-they often shed a few feathers in a getaway.import this0
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They are eating us out of house and home this year, lots of sparrows and their babies, I buy peanuts in h&b and they are get through them very quickly, they also share our chickens food. We have one little black bird family that eats the hedgehog food. I get bags of mini fat balls in home bargains, £2:99 in a yellow bag, they always go quickly too.
In the winter one thing they love porridge oats mixed with melted beef dripping and left to cool.
Worth every penny to help them out and see them in the garden0 -
I can hear an owl...hopefully the cat has left it a few miceimport this0
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laurel7172 wrote: »When I've picked up kestrel kills, they've been, well, sort of hollowed out and pecked clean to the bone. Just a few feathers could mean something caught it and took it away, or a near miss-they often shed a few feathers in a getaway.
definitely was a kill, there was blood and a bit of gore left
too many comps..not enough time!0 -
chickaroonee wrote: »Sorry I don't know! The fussy !!!!!!s in our garden probably wouldn't, they don't eat tomatoes/blackcurrants or bananas, only grapes..
How lovely eenymeeny. What are you feeding them, just seeds?
I also spotted a woodpecker a while ago... that explained the big hole gouged into the roof of our carefully positioned insect lodge!The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.
Thanks to everyone who contributes to this wonderful forum. I'm very grateful for the guidance and friendliness that I always receive from you.
:A:beer:
Please and Thank You are the magic words;)0
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