I've been lovingly attending to my garden birds and they have been so very hungry this year and was shocked just now when I heard one screech like they do when a cat has got them and when I looked it was some kind of bird that had one of my blackbirds pinned down on the ground. I can't describe it only that it wasn't as big as a pigeon but bigger than a blackbird. Whatever could it have been? Could it have been some kind of hawk? I frightened it away and the lawn is strewn with feathers. Don't know if the poor blackbird is Ok as he's gone under the fence into my neighbours but he's going to be bald poor thing.
Hi it sounds like a sparrowhawk, lovely birds, dont forget they need to eat to. Alan
always many sides to an argument
Probably a Sparrowhawk - they need to feed (like us, unless you are a vegetarian) and that means killing other birds. It is all perfectly natural. If we attract wildlife to our gardens, then we are likely to see all aspects of the cycle of life. Small birds in turn will catch and kill beautiful butterflies and dragonflies. It can be difficult to watch up close but it is simply nature at work...
p.s. Far from being 'horrible birds', they are actually quite beautiful - search for some of the photos that people have taken on the forum. This is one I took in my garden recently.
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Sparrowhawk maybe??? Killing machines
I agree and as Dave said they need to eat too. There's not much you can do except put feeders and tables where there is a bit more cover, like closer to a hedge etc, that helps a bit, but then you have to be aware of cats being able to take advantage of the cover, at least a Sparrowhawk kills for a good reason and only when it needs to. :-)
April & May can often be beset by the blasts of winter, when a cold wind sends temperatures falling. Since this coincides with the flowering of the Blackthorn, the cold snap is known as a 'Blackthorn Winter'.
Hi Rosemary, i'm afraid he could be in worse shape than just being bald as it does sound like you have scared off a wild bird of prey from it's next meal. Predation can be brutal and nobody likes seeing a favourite bird get taken in this way but it is a natural act between two wild creatures which humans should stay out of. By intervening it means the bird of prey now has to seek out another meal and the blackbird may not survive having possibly sustained injuries in the attack. For the blackbirds sake I hope this isn't the case but it is a real possibility.
As harsh as it may seem, it is best to let nature take it's course and allow the predator to finish what it started. As for the culprit, it was most likely to have been a sparrowhawk as this small bird of prey is very well adapted to hunting in gardens, it is the top predator in such habitats and an important indicator species. They can only exist where the species they prey on are doing well so if you look on the bright side, the mere presence of a sparrowhawk is a sign that you have a healthy bird population.
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Thanks for that. I'd say it was a sparrow hawk and I've never ever seen one in my life before. I know they have to eat too but it's hard when you have your own little family of birds visiting every day. Do they go out at night like owls? I'd rather they got rats and things I don't want to encourage.
Let's exterminate all the ugly creatures and only look after the soft cuddly ones , eh ?
For me the wonder of nature is how everything depends on something else for its' existence. Everything occupies a niche and without one thing another thing dies.
Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em. Little fleas have smaller fleas , and so ad infinitum.
I know nowt :)
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Recently I had the same experience in my garden and it sounds like a sparrowhawk. I can sympathies with you about your regular garden birds and it can feel awful to think that a wee friend has been taken from you. However, it is part of nature where we have predators and prey and those lovely birds (sparrowhawks) are following instinct and the need to feed. As an ecologist I understand food chains but can still struggle when I see a bird I have observed for some time being predated upon. Meanwhile I am thankful for diversity in species and these lovely sparrowhawks which are among my favorites and are a part of our natural world.
What a beautiful snap. We get both male and female coming into our "Mcdonalds", used to be pretty regularly, but the pigeons have pushed away many of the sparrows it seems, so they are not as active at the moment. Of course they take any of the smaller birds, and also have been known to take the doves.
Lot to learn
"Lovingly attending to all my garden birds". This is some strange use of the word "all" I wasn't previously aware of (Apologies to the late Douglas Adams).
When we feed garden birds we sustain them through hard times and get the reward of close quarter views. We also get glimpses of everyday natural processes which include, on occasion, predation by other garden birds. There's isn't a "horrible" molecule in a Sparrowhawk's body. It just does what nature designed it to to survive. It's also a beautiful creature. Once, perched up on Symonds Yat Rock I was privileged to get an eye level view of a female Sparrowhawk lazily drifting past in the sunshine. Every plumage detail with its intricate banding was visible. It was one of those "golden moments" that will stay with me for life.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
That's lovely, that is John, you should do a thread and call it what you said, "Golden Moments" Reckon everybody would want to reply to it and read it :-)
You might be on to something there Birdie Wild........ Leave it with me.
Yes< I was shocke last year when one day saw a sparrowhawk attaking my garden birds they were at the feeder, thanks God I have a tree just near the feeder so they all escaped.
I had one in my garden on Tuesday chasing a little bird round the bushes. I was thankful that it didn't get the bird as it nipped into a house I have on the floor in the corner but I was fascinated by the speed of the sparrowhawk twisting and turning round the bushes. It then sat on my water bath so I took a picture and then proudly showed it to everyone. It was a beautiful male . First time I have had on in the garden.
Sue