Update - A series of events

I was going to entitle this (The Sarger) but as it amounts to the same as the former title, I’ll let it stand. Still, it does make for a more interesting post, (at least I like to think so) especially as its sprinkled with a touch of satire.



However, I don’t know if you have ever sat inside camouflaged netting for any amount of time but its distinctly uncomfortable so much so I’m decided to build something permanent. In this case a brick / wooden hide complete with mains power, storage cupboards, shelving, and sleeping accommodation should I feel the need for a short nap.



My little owls don’t seem to mind my discomfort in fact they are most endearing to watch unlike sparrow hawks who are all knowing, fearing every one of your footsteps within their territory, almost as if they have a sixth sense of foreboding. However, it will be some time yet before the juvenile little owls leave, most probably September, in the meantime they are all rather amusing as only little owls can be.





As an experiment I decided to help the larger birds out only to continue when food becomes difficult to find, - harsh weather periods for example.



Nonetheless, I’ve placed some roadkill out in meadow; the family of common buzzards turned up first followed by carrion crows and magpies. The latter don’t seem to mind one little bit but the common buzzards are not so happy. In point of fact, they seem to know something is not quite right although I’m within the hide wearing a camouflaged face mask. Looking my way their alarm call is quite unnerving, a sort of short, muted, high pitched, growl, along with body posturing also pointing in my direction. Since this appears to have created a problem, I moved the road kill further away solving the issue.





On reading this you may think a lot happens here but you would wrong, in point of fact I very often have long periods when nothing happens, and episodes of much interest as is the normal state of affairs. But these blank periods do give one time to ponder, for instance what have I learned looking back over the years. Yes well, quite a lot much like everyone else but couldn’t possibly say; moving swiftly on. For one thing everything I’ve ever read points out animal behaviour is based on a set of rigorous rules, for the sake of argument lest call it generalisations when in reality nothing could be further from the truth.



On the other hand, I do have my own set rules to live by concerning nesting birds. For example, I never used nest cameras, much preferring to watch by the use of binoculars. Besides little owl behaviour outside of the nest box is much more varied and interesting. As for sparrow hawks forget it, these being nervy at the best of times, so for the wellbeing of the bird concerned I leave well alone. In my experience these just like Common buzzards know when something isn’t quite right.



Still, at this moment in time I’m on the top floor of the house. In the clearing at the bottom of the garden lies a sparrow hawks nest containing a two-egg clutch that’s failed to hatch. I know this as I can clearly see the dirty eggs through the scope.



This isn’t the first-time sparrow hawks have nested in this same conifer by any means, but this time both male and female were young, perhaps even first year from what I’ve seen. The fact these eggs failed to hatch points to desertion on the part of the hen having given up on the state of affairs. An indicating the hen was underweight i.e., underfed by the male; the small clutch going further to prove the point.





In point of fact, I found this same state of affairs during the 1960s, 1970s and beyond in some areas, along with cracked and broken eggs, I’m not suggesting for any moment its due to pesticides in this case because it couldn’t possibly be the case. I could have had this investigated earlier whilst the hen was still brooding since the hatch was well over due. But as I implied earlier it’s not in my nature to interfere with a bird’s wellbeing.



Besides sparrow hawks can appear to be quite happy to sit tight, but nothing could further from the truth. In point of fact hens are very lethargic around the time of egg laying, (a hormone driven response,) as opposed to misunderstanding the situation on the part of the person present at the nest site. Still, the other pair nesting here produced four fledglings now successfully dispersed.



Now I think about it I now know why flying sparrow hawks has never posed any interest to me whatsoever. In point of fact the history of flying sparrow hawks is peppered with tales of woe, e.g., back in the day falconers use to take the young from the nest (mostly females at ten days old.) However, its unwise to take young under this age, for reasons I won’t bother to mention as its only relevant to a falconer. But at the same token if left too late the falconer would be faced with an explosion of young birds scurrying across the woodland floor not yet enable to fly properly, plus feathery down and feathers; not a best practise I would suggest.



Speaking of feathers there are a fair amount of fresh plucked wood pigeon feathers lying around the meadows edge’s, sparrow hawk victims no doubt. I estimate at least two wood pigeons a week was taken which make sense to me, most probably does to the executioner of the deed too as it saves chasing smaller victims to fill its needs for the week.



Nonetheless, if you want to know all about sparrow hawks then you could ask a gamekeeper, hush my filthy mouth. No listen, did I ever tell you a family member is a gamekeeper. In fact, it runs deep within my family. Meaning I could even trace it back decades if I wished since the job was passed on down through the family.



All the same a great aunt of mine lived in Ireland, known by the pseudonym Irish Kate, but bear with me as it’s all relative to this wandering piece. Lying around the edge of the meadow I also found plucked cock pheasant feathers along with its body remains including sparrow hawk breast feathers. Proving the point female sparrow hawks are very capable of taking cock pheasants, also confirmed by my gamekeeper family member. If you doubt this is possible then you may like to read the following account that a close relative sent me, thinking the story plus humour within this article would also match mine perfectly.



Being in a privileged position I’ve also seen bird behaviour that would take your breath away other than mentioned in the previous paragraph contrary to the ridged rules. The reason being I’ve spent vast amounts of time from a very early age doing so, especially where Sparrow hawks are concerned. Time that most don’t have unfortunately, due to their full-time work commitments.



In the meantime, everything concerning the great outdoors has gone fairly quiet again, the juvenile sparrow hawks having dispersed. All the same I’ll miss their cries reverberating within the woods. As for next year I’m hoping everything will be repeated. Nonetheless, as I implied previously, I don’t like to interfere with nesting sparrow hawks fearing further repercussions e.g., the hawks leaving only trying to find another territory to occupy the following year. Others may well fill the gap its true, but it’s a gamble I’m not prepaid to take.



www.nationalbirdofpreycentre.ie/articless/alice-a-female-sparrowhawk.html#https://www.russborough.ie/