Post by accipiter on Nov 29, 2022 16:09:09 GMT
Modus operandi
The sparrowhawk mentioned in a previous post returned yesterday at approx. 11 am taking a feral pigeon from the top of our house. After landing in the garden below it relieved the head from the body only to fly off with its prize (the head.) To cut a long story short the hawk returned this morning at 8. 45 to feast on the breast as expected.
On further investigation I found the lawn littered with feral pigeon carcases, funnily enough I thought the flock had been reduced in size. So, it would seem this particular sparrowhawk has been systematically focusing on feral pigeons; falconers have a word for this – wedded. On the other hand, feral pigeon make an easy target, plus the fact prey of this size will last the hawk up to two days or so.
Note
Sparrowhawk devotees such as myself will find the following film most interesting…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra6I6svXQPg
Likewise, you may find the following also most interesting.
Those with long memories I (don’t have a long memory,) so I keep detailed notes. However, members may remember I mentioned one particular sparrowhawk expert saying sparrowhawks don’t take starlings as he had never seen it, having spent a considerable time doing so, years in fact. Having also spent years studying sparrowhawk behaviour I have to admit I’d never seen such a thing taking place either; even though it’s been recorded by others and filmed.
Funnily enough I’ve since seen it take place but on each occasion the sparrowhawks in question have always been young inexperienced birds. Apparently, starling meat is tough and low in quality so do adult sparrowhawks know something we don’t?
Note the sparrowhawk filmed here with a starling is a juvenile…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNN9EZ2FvuI
Interestingly enough country folks from days of yore use to make rook pie hence the old nursery rhyme four and twenty black birds baked in a pie. Buts here’s the “most interesting part”. Only young rooks would be eaten as the meat from adult rooks were considered unpalatable.
www.thefield.co.uk/shooting/rook-shooting-rook-32075
The sparrowhawk mentioned in a previous post returned yesterday at approx. 11 am taking a feral pigeon from the top of our house. After landing in the garden below it relieved the head from the body only to fly off with its prize (the head.) To cut a long story short the hawk returned this morning at 8. 45 to feast on the breast as expected.
On further investigation I found the lawn littered with feral pigeon carcases, funnily enough I thought the flock had been reduced in size. So, it would seem this particular sparrowhawk has been systematically focusing on feral pigeons; falconers have a word for this – wedded. On the other hand, feral pigeon make an easy target, plus the fact prey of this size will last the hawk up to two days or so.
Note
Sparrowhawk devotees such as myself will find the following film most interesting…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra6I6svXQPg
Likewise, you may find the following also most interesting.
Those with long memories I (don’t have a long memory,) so I keep detailed notes. However, members may remember I mentioned one particular sparrowhawk expert saying sparrowhawks don’t take starlings as he had never seen it, having spent a considerable time doing so, years in fact. Having also spent years studying sparrowhawk behaviour I have to admit I’d never seen such a thing taking place either; even though it’s been recorded by others and filmed.
Funnily enough I’ve since seen it take place but on each occasion the sparrowhawks in question have always been young inexperienced birds. Apparently, starling meat is tough and low in quality so do adult sparrowhawks know something we don’t?
Note the sparrowhawk filmed here with a starling is a juvenile…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNN9EZ2FvuI
Interestingly enough country folks from days of yore use to make rook pie hence the old nursery rhyme four and twenty black birds baked in a pie. Buts here’s the “most interesting part”. Only young rooks would be eaten as the meat from adult rooks were considered unpalatable.
www.thefield.co.uk/shooting/rook-shooting-rook-32075