Farewell To The Little Songbirds?

[flicrat]

A pair of sparrow hawks, plus another female (last year's youngster?) spend a lot of time on the trees outside my second floor window. And guess what? All the tits and the goldcrests and chaffinches have disappeared!I don't think they are all eaten, but have sensibly relocated. As the trees are so slow to get their leaves, I have a marvellous view and am spending hours watching.The male has mated twice with a female. Not sure if it is the same one or with both of them. Are they bigamists?? I also spent half an hour watching the female preening.I have never seen a bird pay so much attention to legs and talons when preening. My nature diary is turning into "the sparrowhawks' blog"!! (And I am getting nothing done!) I only saw a male and a female briefly today.
The female will surely be tied to the nest - wherever it is - soon?

[Lillymoon]

How amazing for you! I think you're spot on in thinking the smaller birds have relocated. They will have thier own chicks to protect too.

Its possible the second female sparrowhawk is last years female offspring, I know some raptors let the females stay on to help hunt for the new generation. If you find out please let us know.

And who cares about getting things done when you have such special goings on outside your window.......;-)