Hi Chris
I think we all understand your meaning and what you say is correct, but at this time of year raptors are normally in fine fettle feeding on the starving small birds and animals so if the sparrow hawk is weak ?? should it survive under artificial condition.
When birders are out on the salt marshes and other splashes one of the most exiting experience for any birder is to see a Peregrine take a wader that is natural to me.
But artificially feeding garden bird, although very essential in my opinion is done as been said both for the enjoyment of the human that is putting out food and giving the sparrow hawk the opportunity to easily catch its food. Both to most naturists are perfectly acceptable but for the human who finds it upsetting to see small birds killed at their feeders. Please explain what is wrong with an armless shot of water if it deters the raptor and moves it on, I could understand if I had suggested a pole-trap an air-rifle or catapult.
The problem with most forum discussions we sometimes express our opinions as facts this is why when I discus cats I always back it up with links to trials by large societies or universities and not well known naturist personal opinions,but it still gets me into trouble:-O but if you were to see me and the neighbors ginger cat sharing the garden seat looking at the moon it may bring a smile to some.
Best regards
Rex.
Hi Rex,
TBH, I try not to link to too many trials, as I don't trust what I've not witnessed (I know, lots of problems with that).|=)|.
Apologies in advance to those that have read some of what I'm about to type before:
I'm fortunate to have seen very many Sparrowhawk kills in my garden over the years, and it's never "nice" to watch; in fact it's difficult to watch even now. The first time that I saw a Sparrowhawk kill a bird I was quite distressed, especially as the Collard Dove being eaten alive was one I gave a name to. Sometime later, I saw a female Sparrowhawk try to kill a sick Pigeon that I'd just taken to the Vets. The Pigeon was given Antibiotics, and it was a case of waiting to see if they'd work. The Pigeon could fly, so I didn't keep it indoors. Anyway, without thinking, I moved the curtain, which of course scared the Sparrowhawk away. A short time later, the same Sparrowhawk returned and killed a healthy Collard Dove. The sick Pigeon was dead the next day (no injuries from the Sparrowhawk).
So my choosing to interfere meant a healthy bird died, instead of the dying Pigeon. So scaring a Sparrowhawk away won't stop it killing, it will just stop you seeing the kill, which I guess is the point of this thread.
But here's where I have a problem:
I think we all understand your meaning and what you say is correct, but at this time of year raptors are normally in fine fettle feeding on the starving small birds and animals so if the sparrow hawk is weak ?? should it survive under artificial condition.
Couldn't you ask the same question about the other birds that we feed? Should we try to help the birds? And if so, isn't a Sparrowhawk just a bird? Which is what I was getting at about "Double standards".
I get that it's distressing to see a Sparrowhawk kill another bird, and if the choice is between stopping feeding altogether or scaring a Sparrowhawk away, then of course it's an easy decision. However, I think people should be aware that it's never as simple as that. Choosing to scare away a Sparrowhawk could result in it's death from starvation. It could also mean a sick bird surviving for another day, and a healthy one dying later.
So maybe sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing.
All the above is just my biased opinion, so don't believe a word of it.|=)|
