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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ChrisKten" data-source="post: 1280883" data-attributes="member: 69033"><p>Only a couple of hours ago I was talking to my Son about how many Starlings and Sparrows were still alive then suddenly there's one Starling less. I got to the window just in time to see the female Sparrow Hawk pinning down a Starling. She saw me and flew off, with the Starling still struggling in her talons. I think I know what's happening, but I don't know if I can, or should, change anything. The Starlings and Sparrows are more vulnerable after washing in the Bird Baths, and the Sparrow Hawks seem to know. I watch the Starlings trying gradually to get higher and higher, until they get back in the tree. For instance, first try they might get to the top of a small fence, then jump off and try to get a bit higher next time so they are on the post. Sometimes it can take more than 10 minutes to get back in the tree, these 10 minutes are when they are most vulnerable. There is cover in the garden, but they don't all use it. I have a piece of old solid mesh fence propped against the wall (it's very thick wire, nothing has ever got caught in it) that the Squirrel hides behind to eat nuts out of the reach of the Pigeons. Sometimes wet Starlings hide there also. I find it easier to deal with when the prey is already dead, I don't like to see them struggling. With Starlings it's not just the struggling, it's the noise. In my experience they never go down without putting up one hell of a fight.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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