HELP: Sparrow Hawk attacking aviary!

mobby-2554

We have a Sparrow hawk that keeps attacking our aviary it cannot get them to eat but has managed to catch a few with its claws & killed a few.
Also given a few canaries heart attacks.

We have bought a wind chime to see if that would put it off but it hasn't worked.

Really need help with this now losing one a day!

Any ideas please!

daska

Could you install a second layer of mesh. If the mesh is on the outside of the frame then put another layer inside, or vice versa. It would make it more difficult for the sparrowhawk to reach the canaries.

MaximumImpact

Hi Mobby

The best bet may be to get a decoy to place on the roof of your aviary. If you get a couple of different ones, you can then change them regularly to prevent familiarity....One of the best ones to get would be a peregrine falcon andthen perhaps an eagle owl or other large bird of prey.

Hope this helps!

Fern_Merkin

hi

You are not alone. Check out the links below

http://www.featheredflyer.net/index.php?showtopic=19920&st=0

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-5139.html

Best of luck

Fx

mum_of_4

one took three bantams from our garden one after the other all within minutes. Once the young had flown the nest we never had a problem. I'd like to see them try and pick up the large foul we have now.

peter_the_piper

I used to have this problem until I put a solid roof on the aviary. Now all it does is sit on the greenhouse and ogle them. Once had one fly into a greenhouse chasing another bird, was a devil of a job to get out, did not want to net it like normal as they fight back.

mardatha

My son used to get called out to deal with them often when he was a falconer. Short of buying a peregrine LOL I think a higher roof on the aviary maybe 12-18" higher _ a sheet of perspex will do it. The hawk is just doing what he has to do to feed his own wife and babies. We had a perspex roof on our owls and it worked fine.
Edited to add, to tackle them wrap them in a towel.. and wear welders gloves.

mobby-2554

Our aviary has a solid roof & we've now added a perpex roof to the flight.
She been getting to them at the side's.
She killed a lovely female Gouldian last week, Canary yesterday & male Bull Finch this morning.
My husband is well upset.

We've been told to try hanging some netting, she'll not like getting tangled up in it.
Which we have done & hope it works.

Thank you for all your advise.

Mobby

peter_the_piper

Netting sounds a good idea but for a permanent fix a an extra layer of mesh is a good idea. I have been doing this for a while since a rat/weasel bit the leg of a chick cockatiel when it was gripping the side.
Regarding the greenhouse I just took a large pane out and it flew to the draught and out. Didn't have welders gloves.