Raptors

homerhop

Has anyone noticed the increase in numbers of birds or prey and buzzards this year?
In the last month I have seen numerous Peregrines, Sparrow Hawks and buzzards. There is a buzzard using the top of the garden here as a perch during the day and it really is a sight to behold, fabulous looking creature and what a wing span. Then today driving home I noticed 3 of them together, swooping and turning not 10 yards from the side of the road about 6 miles from where I live. About a month ago I was standing at the back door looking at a pigeon perched in the tree when out of no where Sparrow hawk came like lightening and swept it from its roost.
Personally I like to see an increase in them, they are fabulous to watch as they hover and then swoop. I just hope there is no trigger happy fool about come November.

johnner1

plenty of buzzards around dublin north wicklow region for the last few years great to see.
i also came accross a carcase of a sparrow hawk a few weeks back beside stubbles might have been a mistaken ID by the looks of it:mad: left it where it was as i did not want to be seen near it and getting blamed in the wrong still some wxxxxxs out there.

killalanerr

about 10 years ago a number of pairs a buzzers were introduced into an area where i shoot and they have done very well to the point that they are now a common sight, we have been assured that the buzzers are carrion eaters and will not take game my experience on the ground has been some what different
i have to agree they are a fantastic bird to watch and definitely add to a days walk

mac80

I agree its great to see them back and add to the enjoyment of goin for a days walking/shooting.

Although the Peregrines up our way had their nests destroyed for a few years running now and have abandoned the site.
The group believed to be responsible are known and surveillance equipment was talked about being placed to catch them.
I know if I saw someone at them i'd be taking photos and passing them on to the authorities.

Mac

EPointer=Birdss

Had a sparrow hawk kill 3 poults within an hour in my open top release run!
They were as big as the hawk! He'd swoop down & grap their heads & open them like a bean can!
Fired a shot when I saw him & hung a few cds & seems to have done the trick!

Question though, when or if their numbers explode like foxes will they be classed as vermin? Could see a hovering raptor clean out a clutch of pheasants quite easily!
We don't have enough to be a problem but their does seem to me more around for some reason.
Maybe because theirs no foxes so more game for them to eat!:rolleyes:

Whoever said raptors don't eat game was talking through their a**e btw!

foxshooter243

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Had a sparrow hawk kill 3 poults within an hour in my open top release run!
They were as big as the hawk! He'd swoop down & grap their heads & open them like a bean can!
Fired a shot when I saw him & hung a few cds & seems to have done the trick!

Question though, when or if their numbers explode like foxes will they be classed as vermin? Could see a hovering raptor clean out a clutch of pheasants quite easily!
We don't have enough to be a problem but their does seem to me more around for some reason.
Maybe because theirs no foxes so more game for them to eat!:rolleyes:

Whoever said raptors don't eat game was talking through their a**e btw!

There was a raptor cull recently in Austria I think, feel free to correct my post anyone, but 200 were culled because they were starting to get too sore on a certain species of small lizard..

foxhunter

I was at the midlands game fair in shropshire lately and over heard a guy asking one of the lads in the Basc tent what shot size is most suitable for Buzzard :eek::D

greenpeter

Out with the dog yesterday and came across a buzzard ripping lumps from a hen pheasant, dont know if he killed her but my guess was he did as she was still warm. Not nice to see

mac80

I dont think Buzzards or birds of prey are a serious threat to game and if we start going down the road of culling them then it will just make the shooting community look bad.
A small percentage of poults get lost to them every year, we will just have to accept this and learn to co exist, we cant kill everything that attacks game


MAC