Sparrow hawk

[Meg]

A sparrow hawk is terrorising my garden birds. Yesterday it killed a feral pigeon. The results were quite distressing. I've a geriatric border collie and am concerned it may attack her. My husband says I'm being silly but is there any chance it could go for her? Thanks for any advice.

[B00]

I'm no expert, but I really really doubt it will attack a dog. Unless your dog goes for it first of course.

[snags]

''A sparrow hawk is terrorising my garden birds''

^ It's nature.

Your dog will be fine. As long as it doesn't dress up as a Thrush ;-p

[carmalee]

you have a geriatric border collie - of course you are concerned for her. I doubt very much a sparrow hawk will harrass you dog -she will not be perceived as natural prey to the bird. If it makes you feel any better, just compare the size, shape and movement of the pigeon to that of your dog - completely different - if you normally preyed upon pigeons, would you go for a collie dog? I think not! If you can, why not go out in the garden with your dog for a while, I'm sure it's not necessary but it will at least, make you feel better. Don't worry.

[tamborine]

sparrow-hawks are getting rare & are protected. If their nesting territory is threatened they will attack or try and distract predators.

If your dog nears the nest it may receive a peck.....that's enough to deter most pets.

[mike11111]

When Queen Victoria visited the opening of the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851, she was alarmed by the amount of damage caused by the number of pigeons and asked the Duke of Wellington what could be done about it. His reply, as succinct as ever, was, "Try sparrowhawks, Ma'am".

[Meg]

Thanks all for replying so fast. Snags, I have yet to see the old girl in fancy dress.
Carmalee, I am watching her like a hawk (excuse the pun)
tamborine, no idea where it nests, certainly not in my garden.
Boo, (good luck with the hamster) she just watches it through the window, I won't let her out if I know it's about.
Thank you allxx Feel more reassured now.

[tamborine]

same nesting pattern as pigeons

http://www.garden-bir...birds/sparrowhawk.htm

[Meg]

Thanks mike, that's very interesting. If I hadn't seen what happened and come home to a lot of blood, guts and feathers and a half mangled bird I would have thought a fox had been about.

[Mr Veritas]

Haws are the most intelligent of any bird species.
A Hawk will never attach anything bigger than it is,because it knows it cannot eat it,and because it knows that it would come off worst!
I am sorry to say that I agree with other posters,it's nature,it's not nice but that is how nature is.
BTW Hwks are a protected species.so don't think about trapping or shooting it.(I am sure you hadn't,but I just had to point that out.)

[madmaggot]

There is a product available that is a sort of mirrored dome that you place over your bird table or feeder and the idea is that the reflection causes the preditor to think that another of it's kind is coming up at it! They are quite expensive so I don't know if you think it's worthwhile? Or, you could get a model of a large owl to sit in your garden, this will keep all the birds away though, including the songbirds.
Regarding the dog; a sparrowhawk is so tiny (hence the name) that I wouldn't think for a minute it would attack a dog. Why would it? Certainly not for food.

[Meg]

Mr Veritas, I do not have a shotgun and if I did I would be incapable of bringing myself to kill anything!!
madmaggot, good idea but surely a mirrored thingey would confuse all the birds? The offending hawk was here yesterday obviously looking for the remains of the pigeon (which the other half bagged and put in the bin) it looked quite perplexed when it couldn't find it.
Not seen the little blighter today.
Thanksxx