Sparrows Hawk Advice

Last year a Sparrowhawk appeared in my garden. It attacked the small birds and even the Starlings. This year it has returned and is doing the same. I do not want it here. I've never liked birds of prey and this one has no fear of me at all. It will swoop down behind or in front of me chasing some little bird to its doom. I hate hearing them screaming when they are killed. Yesterday it happened again. I was standing in garden and it pursued a bird behind me into hedge and flew right in front of me, approximately 3 feet from me.. Not sure what it killed, it might have been a Swallow as they were flying above me and were very agitated. Any ideas how to get rid of it??

 

Sadly there is not a lot to be done, it`s nature at it`s finest/worst, every fur and feather is part of somethings food chain.
I had one a few years ago as a regular visitor, and I would chase it away for the same reasons.
They are magnificent up close.

 

I don't think there is a lot you can do. I doubt if it caught a Swallow, they are fast but not that fast, only a Hobby can catch a Swallow or Swift.

 

I've seen one in my garden on occasions, and the feathers all over after a kill.
Mostly its doves that get it in my garden.

I've found them to be very touchy regarding myself in the garden and have known them leave a kill behind if they see me around.
Guess I'm a bit more scary than you

 

I caught it trying to get Sparrows out of the hedge not so long ago. It flew down and landed on the ground and just sat there staring me out. I got to within 3-4 feet before it took off. And even then it wasn't particularly hurried or panicked.

I realise that inadvertently I have attracted it here by providing foot, water and shelter for the smaller.birds. I am reluctant to remove the food at this time of year. Someone suggested a well aimed water pistol but it would have to be stationary for me to be able to hit it.

 

A shotgun works!

 

It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to control any birds except under very particular licences so you cannot, "get rid of it", as you say. Sparrowhawks are part of nature and it is their nature to kill and eat smaller birds (including feral pigeons). They are magnificent birds; they fly fast and can change direction in an instant. Their numbers are determined by the numbers of smaller prey species and not the other way around. If you see them regularly, it means that in general small birds are doing well.

 

I don't think there's much you can do. It's Mother Nature doing her thing I'm afraid as birds of prey have to eat too.

 

luciusmaximus : why do you disagree with my above post. The only subjective statement I made is, "They are magnificent birds". Everything else is fact. Look it up.

 

I disagree that they are magnificent. I do not think so. You are entitled to your opinion and I to mine.

 

Personally I find all birds of prey magnificent and can watch them for ages, even vultures, one particular memory was seeing a peregrine falcon plunge down into a flock of seagulls one day while walking on the cliffs locally.
I would love to have a resident raptor in the garden it might keep the pigeon numbers down and see off the seagulls, that think they own the local area.

 

I've studied birds of prey for decades and used to be a falconer, they are merely part of the world of nature. By feeding birds you create your own "watering hole" like the ones Lions hunt at in Africa. If you wish the hawk to leave, then you will have to stop encouraging their food into a confined area. When we feed birds, we take on a collective responsibility for the outcome of that(which are many). My neighbour was over feeding and encouraged rats into their garden, just another example of nature taking advantage.

 

If anyone has been watching Springwatch this week will have seen the male Sparrowhawk on the plucking post with a Swallow in its talons and the Swallow that was sitting on its nest in the barn has been missing for 48 hours

Chris Packham was saying that usually Swallows don't get eaten by Sparrowhawks because they are so fast but he reckons the Sparrowhawk must have been sitting n top of the barn after seeing the Swallows arriving and leaving the barn so was able to drop down onto the poor swallow as it left the barn or else caught the swallow when it landed on the ground for some reason.Sad to say he reckons the nest will have failed because the bird has been off of the nest for too long and the bird left can't incubate eggs and feed the young chicks on its own

I feed the birds all year round in my garden and despite it being quiet a small garden I often have a visit from a Sparrowhawk either passing through looking for a meal or else I find the feathers of the meal it has eaten.I have to look on it that the Sparrowhawk has got to live and probably has a nest of chicks to feed.It is a pity though he can't target the Magpie,Crow and Jackdaw that has taken to eating all the bird seed and fat balls I keep putting out for the smaller birds