A death trap for Goldfinches? (1 Viewer)

[Tricia R]

Having got really excited observing a masked weaver (in Surry England), I was also excited recently having spotted a honey buzzard - first time visitor to my garden.

I have many bird feeders, of which 5 are nijer seed attracting up to 18 goldfinches in one hit and about a dozen siskins in the spring.

This morning however, the honey buzzard did what all birds of prey do and swooped down to the feeders and flew off with a goldfinch. I suspect this is not the first! Every single bird in the garden instantly disappeared (including 8 ringed-neck parakeets) all re-appearing after a decent interval.

I know I'm being sentimental but I felt I'd created a death trap. I will watch and wait.

Am I being a big softie!

TR :C

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Hi Tricia,

Very much doubt it's a Honey Buzzard!

And whatever B.o.P it was was only doing what they do!

Enjoy the spectacle.

Regards

 

[pduxon]

Hi Tricia

I know its not nice to watch but its just nature in action.

 

[Nightranger]

This morning however, the honey buzzard did what all birds of prey do and swooped down to the feeders and flew off with a goldfinch. I suspect this is not the first! Every single bird in the garden instantly disappeared (including 8 ringed-neck parakeets) all re-appearing after a decent interval.

I know I'm being sentimental but I felt I'd created a death trap. I will watch and wait.

Am I being a big softie!

TR :C

Hi Tricia,

This is a standard reply I give to people and may give you a few ideas (and any additional ideas will be welcome) - as others have said, a BoP is actually flattering because it means your garden is as natural as it can be.

It is an interesting point that many people try to change the conditions when they see predation occurring around feeding stations. I once took a call from a lady who stated that she had ceased feeding at high level because of sparrowhawks. However, this may not have been the best idea because that removes some sets of eyes and makes it unlikely that birds would detect an approaching hawk in enough time. Predators are a natural fact of life and the best idea is to give the smaller birds the best possible chance of detecting an approach. A string of old CDs or half-filled plastic drinks bottles are a useful visual distraction to control the success rate of the hawk. No deterrent has a 100% guarantee but it is sometimes possible to lower the success rate enough to move the predator away. Sparrowhawks (particularly, juveniles) can be confiding or at least, tolerant of humans especially in late summer when they are moving out to new territories. The key is to have the CDs in a prominent position but not so high that the hawk can see them before it reaches the garden. Hawks must lock-on to individual birds to make a kill and the CDs draw the eye at a vital moment. Unfortunately, it would be too much to expect 100% success because some small birds will always miss the warnings but it should reduce the rate of success. There is also a commercial product called Guard ‘N’ Eyes balloons available from Dazer International (Tel: 01733 315888), which exploits the fact that predators do not like the feeling of being watched.

Ian

 

[John Marshall]

Tricia,

Happens in my garden most days, Sparrowhawk now having a liking for Collared doves, however we have plenty for them to go at, I have had goldfinches, greenfinches and house sparrows taken most days recently. As Pete Duxon states "nature in action".

Regards

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

We have a few feeders Tricia, and I reckon I wouldnt actually like to watch the killing as I too am a sentimental softie! However I'd very much like to see the BOP come into the garden! We have a Sparrowhawk that comes now and then, and it is great to see, but nature is extremely callous, and best left alone in my humble opinion.

 

[Eagle]

However I'd very much like to see the BOP come into the garden! ..but nature is extremely callous,

Tricia its a fact of birding life! If you enjoy watching raptors they have to eat!
Nature is natural....but is it callous?



Eagle

 

[Tricia R]

Darren

thanks for the comments. Whilst I'm not disputing what you say, why do you doubt it's a honey buzzard? It had the distinctive apricot/honey coloured throat. What would be your suggestions?

I've also seen one in another (more rural) garden in Sussex.

Tricia

Hi Tricia,

Very much doubt it's a Honey Buzzard!

And whatever B.o.P it was was only doing what they do!

Enjoy the spectacle.

Regards

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Hi Tricia,

Erm, well it COULD be a Honey Buzzard but as they winter in Equatorial Africa, with most leaving UK in August/ September, it would be an unusual record!

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Tricia its a fact of birding life! If you enjoy watching raptors they have to eat!
Nature is natural....but is it callous?



Eagle

Well said, Eagle.

 

[pduxon]

Well said, Eagle.

I suspect that won't be what you'll be saying if a certain Sparrowhawk is around your nest boxes next Spring!!

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Blue tit chicks make a crunchy little snack for Sparrowhawks!

I suspect that won't be what you'll be saying if a certain Sparrowhawk is around your nest boxes next Spring!!

 

[pauco]

I suspect that won't be what you'll be saying if a certain Sparrowhawk is around your nest boxes next Spring!!

Me thinks the air would be blue as well as the tits.

 

[Andrew Rowlands]

Hi Tricia,

I don't think a Honey Buzzard is likely in any garden at any time of year.

They rarely take birds (occasionally young Woodpigeons). You would need a very large, wooded Garden, in a forest and have several wasp nests or a good supply of frogs to have any chance of seeing them, even in Summer. All fit Honey Buzzards should now be in Africa.

Young Sparrowhawks, on the other hand, are now starting to follow the woodland birds into gardens, if they aren't lucky enough to catch enough birds (one or two small ones per day) they won't survive the Winter (most don't). Sparrowhawks are the most common bird of prey to visit gardens.

What field guide do you have?

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

Nature is natural....but is it callous?



Eagle

Well, from the birds point of view I wouldnt have a clue if it is callous or not, and neither would anybody else, saving for specualtion. But from my own point of view of course it is callous, if I were to treat my fellow humans in that way I would be callous, ergo, I speak as I feel as a human. Anything else would require me to imagine or speculate in order to ascertain if there exists callousness in creatures other than humans, and that wasnt really the point.

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Do we have a Sartre or a Wittgenstein on the Forum?

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I suspect that won't be what you'll be saying if a certain Sparrowhawk is around your nest boxes next Spring!!

Pete - last year the male in Box 2 vanished when the chicks were close to fledging, then 3 of the chicks were taken by a great spotted woodpecker. Fortunately the remaining 2 chicks survived, and we watched them feeding with the female on the peanuts right outside the kitchen window.

This year, the female in Box 1 disappeared when she had completed her nest, and having seen how attentive her mate was, we were expecting to see some eggs quite soon.

Early this year, we found a circle of feathers on the lawn, and realised that the song thrush which had been visiting daily had become food for the sparrowhawk that visits on a fairly regular basis.

We had to accept that all these were nature, but although we were not very happy, we certainly could not term this behaviour callous.

 

[pduxon]

My point my dear EB is that when said Sparrowhawk appeared on your feeder you were not a happy bunny - and understandably so!!

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

My point my dear EB is that when said Sparrowhawk appeared on your feeder you were not a happy bunny - and understandably so!!

My dear darling Pete - how condescending can you get???? :'D o |=(| |:S| |!| || |;| |=o| |=o| |=o|

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Don't think thats understandable at all Pete, stop crawling.