Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) (1 Viewer)

[JTweedie]

Thanks Chris. The Sparrowhawk always looks really mean and awesome. I remember they had one in the studio in Spring/Autumnwatch and I blown away by what an amazing bird it is.

 

[ChrisKten]

Thanks Chris. The Sparrowhawk always looks really mean and awesome. I remember they had one in the studio in Spring/Autumnwatch and I blown away by what an amazing bird it is.

They're great birds, that I'm fortunate to see hunt and kill often. When you see them close up, it's quite surprising how "dainty" they are, especially the males. The legs are quite skinny, and the bird isn't bulky at all. The eyes though, and the apparent lack of any emotion are striking to me.

In flight is a different matter, very fast, agile, and deathly silent. I had a female fly towards my head last year, when I was in the garden, she came back to finish off a Pigeon she'd killed earlier. At the last moment she avoided my head and flew into the tree just above my head. I never had time to duck, plenty of time to be scared though.|=)|

 

[JTweedie]

In flight is a different matter, very fast, agile, and deathly silent. I had a female fly towards my head last year, when I was in the garden, she came back to finish off a Pigeon she'd killed earlier. At the last moment she avoided my head and flew into the tree just above my head. I never had time to duck, plenty of time to be scared though.|=)|

Sizing you up for next time!

 

[Nature__lover]

Avian eye-candy I always think ...

LOL. some can be rather pretty. (ok don't call me crazy!) when their plumage catches the light and you see that lovely green sheen on their neck and breast.

 

[Nature__lover]

Quick question - would a Sparrowhawk prey upon Feral Pigeons? I was looking out the window a few days ago where there was an explosion of grey and blue feathers falling down from the roof - I didn't hear any sound on the roof so couldn't be sure if a bird had just been caught.
.

definitely. I saw a sparrowhawk kill a big fat woodpigeon once.

 

[Lmc3598]

today I saw a sparrowhawk flying alongside a flock of feral pigeons. Never went for any of them though.

 

[Nature__lover]

I heard that mesh put up to deter them from landing on roofs can also cause them injuries? Don't know if there's any evidence for this though.

yes this is true. on a wildlife programme i watch (wildlife SOS)
they are frequently finding pigeons hanging from their legs etc in these nets. if they are not unhooked quickly, they'll die a slow and painful death from starvation or cutting of the blood supply or hanging themselves. I'm sure there must be a better way of keeping them under control.