I'm a bit mystified by the "small, dainty" kestrel vs "the hefty weight" of a sparrowhawk, as they're about the same size and weight (though female sparrowhawks are a little larger & heavier)!
sparrowhawks!!! I hate them, I loathe them, I despise them. I can no longer let my doves & fantails out, as no sooner out the residant sparrowhawk has an easy meal, leaving me to clean her mess up & dispose of part eaten remains. yes I really do hate them.
mike as it was two Robins nest it ripped out if you get a christmas card with a robin on it wishing you a merry christmas it didnt come from my garden as they didnt have time to see the sun because of the magpie damage
grower, I would not have had your robins on my xmas cards as the bloody sparrowhawk would have seen to that. hopefully a good hard winter, plenty of freeze ups & we might thin out a few sparrowhawks. here's to wishfull thinking.
Just found this site, while trying to look up facts about sparrowhawks. I have aloft full of expensive racing pigeons, and the hawks are a ruddy pest! Also they are quite happy to eat their prey alive!! I know I've seen it! An article I sourced a few minutes ago estimated as many as one hundred and ten million song birds per year year could fall victim to sparrow hawks. So to say they have very little effect on song bird numbers is I think quite frankly laughable!!
sparrowhawks are a prime example of a supririor hunter, and if they dont take more than what they need, i think we should considor ourselves lucky to whitness their technique. You do feel for the victom but the victim but its a natrual cycle.
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yes I really do hate them.
hopefully a good hard winter, plenty of freeze ups & we might thin out a few sparrowhawks. here's to wishfull thinking.
I have aloft full of expensive racing pigeons, and the hawks are a ruddy pest! Also they are quite happy to eat their prey alive!! I know I've seen it! An article I sourced a few minutes ago estimated as many as one hundred and ten million song birds per year year could fall victim to sparrow hawks. So to say they have very little effect on song bird numbers is I think quite frankly laughable!!
Ive managed to one with my Nikon.
http://sycharthbandb.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/sparrowhawk/