Increasing raptors (1 Viewer)

Over the last year, i seem to have a lot of activity in my garden. Mainly through the disturbance of raptors. Raptors do seem to be getting more and more common in peoples gardens, is this because people are feeding small garden birds more, and this therefore does mean there is more food going for raptors.
Is this true?

mooskibaby said:

Over the last year, i seem to have a lot of activity in my garden. Mainly through the disturbance of raptors. Raptors do seem to be getting more and more common in peoples gardens, is this because people are feeding small garden birds more, and this therefore does mean there is more food going for raptors.
Is this true?

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I suppose it could also mean that there is less food in the places they want to live and are therefore forced into gardens etc. However, I don't really believe that this is the case.

By raptors, I assume that you mean mainly Sparrowhawks and occasionally Kestrels?

It's very difficult to draw any conclusions when we're talking about such a small area as your garden. It might be as simple as a pair has started nesting somewhere nearby for the first time.

However, I think that raptors generally are increasing. 15 years ago a Buzzard would have been a rarity in my area, but these days you are more likely to see one (in the countryside) than either Sparrowhawk or Kestrel, and I get the occasional bird over my town centre house.

I've heard from a few people in San Francisco that every spring their bird feeders are prime targets of Cooper's and sharpies.

Thanks!
I do think though that the increase of people feeding birds has helped raptors an awful lot.