Pigeon rage

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randomsquid · #16 Post by **randomsquid** » Mon May 16, 2011 10:29 pm

HowardQ wrote: It should not be too long before they learn to take out pigeons/doves in your area!

I had what looked like a sparrow hawk take out one of those football shaped flying rats in my back garden.

Messy though, even more so than a cat repeatedly ramming the catflap until a pigeon will fit through.

D-Rider · #17 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon May 16, 2011 11:15 pm

randomsquid wrote:
Messy though, even more so than a cat repeatedly ramming the catflap until a pigeon will fit through.

ooooooooooooo ...... tears to my eyes .........

HowardQ · #18 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon May 16, 2011 11:50 pm

Evidently the bigger female Sparrowhawks often take pigeons, but the smaller males are less likely to do, (even though they are often more agile), but will still try.
The male that took out the blackbird had absolutely no problems taking off with it.

HowardQ · #19 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue May 17, 2011 12:21 am

This was the one that recently got the blackbird, had to take it quickly through two lots of glass so image not perfect -

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r164 ... F53711.jpg

This is the earlier one a few years ago, that went for all the birds on the bird table, got confused when they went in all different directions, then sat on the roof of next doors garage just above the bird table, wondering where they all went.
Again taken very quickly this time through a slightly misted up kitchen window.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r164 ... F00552.jpg

You just have to grab 'em with opportunities like this, the chances don't come very often.

Nooj · #20 Post by **Nooj** » Tue May 17, 2011 6:52 pm

We get a big Buzzard circling the old folk's home next door sometimes. I reckon it knows something

MartDude · #21 Post by **MartDude** » Tue May 17, 2011 7:34 pm

Lots of buzzards round here these days. When I moved here 22 years ago, they were quite a rare sight; now they're almost commonplace. Also some kites now, and a few peregrines and sparrow-hawks. My twitching friends tell me there've been reports of some sort of harrier, too. Quite an impressive come-back.

But they don't seem interested in my neighbour's pigeons.

#22 Post by **Kwackerz** » Tue May 17, 2011 7:46 pm

I must say we have hard as nails birds here in Cambridge. My Dad and Mum gave the kids a bird feeder for the Garden as well as my Son making a Bird Table whilst he stayed there a while back. Link those with a bird feeder house we already have and thats 3 sources of food for the birds in our garden (we use all 3 to feed the birds)
I have noticed over a few weeks to a month, that our resident Robin will tip up, strut amongst the pigeons on the lawn who're feeding on dropped feed, then slowly one by one as he passes them, they sod off!! He then flies up to the feeder and helps himself. He pitys his fellow sized birds as he ignores the Tits (blue and great) that turn up. It's pigeons he doesnt approve of!

I see your Peregines and raise you one hard as fek Robin Redbreast.

randomsquid · #23 Post by **randomsquid** » Tue May 17, 2011 9:10 pm

HowardQ wrote:
You just have to grab 'em with opportunities like this, the chances don't come very often.

That first one's a great shot.

I think the opportunities will increase because the country side is definitely encroaching on our towns. Last year I was working nights on an urban industrial estate. There was a canal behind the unit and the roads were locked off of a night.

We had the full compliment of water birds including herons.
Lots of hedgehogs and various small rodents and mammals.
Heard but never saw owls.
We used to get foxes wander in and sit down waiting to see if they'd get fed.
The surprise was badgers, I stayed well clear of those.

#24 Post by **mangocrazy** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:44 pm

I heard that there are a breeding pair of Peregrine falcons nesting in the heights of Derby Cathedral. I wish some of their offspring could make their way to Sheffield and set up camp there; they'd be spoiled for choice with all the pigeons in the City Centre.

It'd be good for them to realise there's a top predator in the area; might stop them strutting around the place so disdainfully.

I hate pigeons; rats with wings, IMHO.

#25 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:52 pm

There are two Peregrines nesting in the spire of the cathedral in Norwich too. It was on TV earlier. Not daft these predatorial birds. Why hunt for field mice when you have Pigeons on tap in the city centre.

MartDude · #26 Post by **MartDude** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:53 pm

Nearly lost it today.

While in the garden this tea-time, the pigeon-fancier began issuing his usual moronic calls - like a muezzin, but less tuneful - and I said, in a sort of a loud mutter, 'shut the f*** up !'

Not certain if he heard, but it did go quieter for a while

Aladinsaneuk · #27 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:56 pm

I can let you have a silenced 12 bore for a week end....

MartDude · #28 Post by **MartDude** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:07 pm

Hmmmm . . .

D-Rider · #29 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:20 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:I can let you have a silenced 12 bore for a week end....

They take a dim view of shooting Pigeon Owners .... even when they do have a stupid call

Nooj · #30 Post by **Nooj** » Wed May 18, 2011 10:00 pm

Bundle him into a whicker box, drive him bloody miles out into the country and see how long it is before he finds his way home.