Shark Man

Recently, some feejit nearby bought some white doves. I assume this as one day about a year ago, ten of them suddenly appeared perched on the aerial of the house opposite, none were ringed.

And there they stayed perching on the roofs of the houses opposite, flying round in circles and sh**ting on my car. Lovely

If one thought that was a problem, then what happened after some months was worse. They bred, and bred. The result of which is now 30odd cross-bred half-white pigeons.

So now I have 30 pigeons circling round and round sh*tting everywhere. I cleaned the car yesturday and today there is eleven bird turds on it. Marvelous.

Anyhoo, only today, we've had conversations on what to do about it - they don't perch on my roof, somehow they instinctly know I have an air rifle, so keep at bay.

Well, in all this, today I noted a cloud of white feathers blow past the window and thought, "ahh good, a car has just hit one of the flying rats...one down, 29 to go". However a few mins later my mum's partner who had popped round shouted to me that there was a "ruddy great crow" attacking one of the pigeons.

So I look out the window...It was only a Kestrel that had plucked one of the doves off the Aerial and was tucking in to a nice Satuday lunch in my garden

Living on the edge of an urban sprawl, birds of prey round here are very rare, all we get usually the odd barn owl (if we're lucky). So it was lovely sight and nature's perfect solution at helping control these flying rats.

Having said that, he might not be a kestrel - right shape and colours, but he did seem a bit bigger, and had no problem at carrying the dove when he flew off (with dove in tow) after seeing me through the window getting my camera out - before I had the chance to grab a picture (typical), so maybe a Falcon of some sort.

He was ringed, so maybe an escapee from the local falconry centre. Either way, I hope he sticks round for a while


Big Crow!?!...indeed! :lol1

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Well at least you know what to buy to solve the problem

Birds of prey are fiercely protected. So if you can find a legal means to buy one, then I suspect your poo on car problems are at an end

RUDDY

i doubt a kestral would go for a dove but i might be wrong! good stuff though

Simon C

More likely a female sparrowhawk.

noobyscooby

Could be a kite if it was a really big bird but they usuaslly feed on carrion - dead animals and birds so Simon C is probably right with the sparrowhawk. Now its found a source of food it sholud be back for more expecially if it has young to feed.

Simon C

Kites are more redish all over than either Kestral or Sparrowhawk, not to mention the distinctive forked tail.

However kite is possible if he's in the right area, but yes, Kites are more carrion feeders than hunters.


Knew my parents forcing me to go birdwatching with them would come in usefull for something.

Gordo

sparrowhawk would be my guess. you'll know when it's meaty stool lands on your car

James Neill

iTrader: (1)

We got zillions of these Red Kites round our way. They've done really well in the last few years. Massive great things and really beutiful. Was it one of these?

nooobyscooby

Nice photo. We've got a flock of about 14 and we are watching two pairs building nests nearby.

Its just a shame they don't deal with our rabbit problem!

Leslie

They say that more birds of prey are now living in towns etc because of the easy stock of birds to eat such as pigeons.

Les

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sparrowhawks do prey on pigeons. They will eat smaller birds, but obviously will kill and eat a pigeon if they can.

To see one actually hit the prey is amazing: they go in with talons extended at a hell of a speed, and the prey gets stabbed with 6 or more needle sharp talons each about an inch long. If they are hit right, most, even pigeons, are dead before they hit the floor.

Having said that, there was a sparrowhawk on the neighbours' front lawn before Christmas, sitting on top of a LIVE starling, plucking it and eating it, while the starling screamed. I went out 'cos I though a cat had got it, but the hawk flew off with it still screaming.

Alcazar

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Just get yourself a nice pre-charged air rifle with decent scope and silencer and pick them off at long range

Tidgy

if its had luck with you, it will be back, so give it a few months and no more pigeons i should think, they'll either be lunch or will move on

Shark Man

Already have one (although using the silencer at the range involved, the pellets would prabably bounce off them ). There is always my poacher's rifle, I suppose Problem is I don't think my neighbours would like me with having to pick up 30 odd dead pigeons off their back lawns.

Now, if they landed on my roof, different story - however it seems they instinctly know not to perch anywhere near my roof

Did a head count today, and it seems there is 28 or 29 now, there was defintely more than 30 at one point

Alg

Get the latest "must have"

Shark Man

Another dead dove on the front lawn when I went out this morning

Appears to have spooked the rest, as there's only 8 perched on the roof opposite

Now to address the other problem; I wonder if Sparrowhawks go for cats

nooobyscoooby

Glad to read your visitor is enjoying lunch still!

As for the cats - get a dog!

nooobyscoooby

Here's a great set of pixs of nature in the raw with a sparrow hawk doing its thing:

Sparrowhawk's swift kill caught on camera - Telegraph

If you are a member of the RSPB, be warned - the sparrow dies!

j4ckos mate

we had one dying in the garden a few months ago, they are the dodge viper of the bird world. even on deaths door this thing looked pure evil

worley

Living in rural Oxfordshire, the local Sparrowhawk sorted out our Dove / Pigeon problem

Off to the village one day and outside the house, there it was tucking into a tasty treat. The bl00dy things were cr4pping everywhere and waking me up in the morning. All four dissappeared over the next three weeks - sorted