Sparrowhawks attacking caged finches

[741HCR]

A friend keeps finches outside in an aviary. It is regularly visited by wild Spars which sit and watch the finches then hang on the sides of the aviary spread eagled trying to grab a passing finch, which they do manage to do. Smaller mesh will obviously solve the grabbing problem, but it won't keep them away.

Now while I love birds of prey and have been a falconer in the past, I can see this is a problem for my friend. Any ideas how to deter Spars?

[HawkMan69UK]

obviously dont put net ting on top and get yourself a passage spar :lol: :wink: i had it years ago i did catch it and released it miles away only about a week or so later another one appeared i moved not long after that ...thats a bit drastic though

[Shaun Byrne]

Put a mirror up on the side of the aviary.

[RabbitHawker]

You could try one of those plastic owls, but they will need to be moved around regularly of they will get wise. Solid roof offers better protection against disease from wild birds.

[Falconry Equipment International]

getb vrid of the finches as per RSPB ADVICE :rolleyes: :yawinkle: :yawinkle:

[ColdZero]

i'd go with the owl idea, make sure its the big one ;)

[741HCR]

Ok thanks....but why an Owl and a big one at that? Do Spars have a phobia about Owls?

[ColdZero]

they will fear other birds of prey, as it is their territory. However, a spar tried scaring my FHH out of a tree quite a few times because we were in his territory.
A big one cos they are scarier :), it is less likely to pick a fight.

[OhMyGod]

you could try and get a plastic gos. I have seen lifesized plastic peregrines before so you may find a plastic gos somwhere. I'm sure a gos would work better as they do eat many spars.

[Varmint]

It's a bit unfair though dont you think?

Why set the dinner table then get annoyed when someone arrives to dine?

My mate double netted his Budgie flight fatsening wire to both the inside of the framework, then to the outside.

He connected a solar powered electric fence jobbie to the outside running hot wires over the lot and hasnt had spar problems since, plus it's great fun watching his wife trying to change the water, she always forgets it's on??

[Bubo]

:lol: :lol: :lol: i agree i would just protect them better and enjoy the spar hehehe
bubs

[741HCR]

Why set the dinner table then get annoyed when someone arrives to dine?

I know what you mean. I am very envious that my friend can sit in his kitchen and watch wild Sparrowhawks just 20 feet away and they won't fly off when they see him. He has to open the door then they reluctantly fly off and circle................then come back when he goes inside. I was wondering about getting some finches myself so I can watch Sparrowhawks in my garden but then that is probably not in the spirit of things and not too great for the finches.

Current plan is 1) double wire mesh 2) Plastic Owl or Gos has potential 3) Solar powered wire mesh the ultimate

Thanks for all the great ideas.

[Falconry Equipment International]

they will fear other birds of prey, as it is their territory. However, a spar tried scaring my FHH out of a tree quite a few times because we were in his territory.
A big one cos they are scarier :), it is less likely to pick a fight.

******** ! las year i had 3 Perergrines ( all females) blocked out on a lawn ( about 12' apart) + a haris nearby, I was inside at my desk,& heard the bells going as one was bating looked out side & there in the middle of the peregrines was a wild spar , plucking a collared dove no more than 6 ' from a female pere! in the past I have seen similar with eagle owls , evn seen a spar on a blackie, right by a Veareaux's Eagle many years ago at PG's place in newent! so I don't thinks some how a bit of badly presed and painted plastic is gointg to stop Mr Musket or Mrs Spar!!!!!!

[Bubo]

would tying a cd to the cage do the trick? it turns with the wind making it flash. it would not work with my owl cos he loves anything that sparkles (god he's a magpie in disguise http://yelims3.free.fr/Hein/Hein26.gif)

[Falconry Equipment International]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :butthead: :butthead: :rolleyes:

[LeighJauncey]

My aviary (rosellas, parakeets & budgies) gets regular visits from a local spar, despite being in the middle of a residential area - it also usually goes to have a close look at my peregrine. It allows my wife and daughterto get within a few feet before being scared off. Unfortunately I've only been able to photograph it from inside the house. The aviary birds were at first completely traumatised but have become a bit more blase and they ignore cats completely - even on the roof.

[Tim Laycock]

She will probably give up when she gets a bit older and wizer :D

[Falconry Equipment International]

Nothing lefty on the swing perch thoough leigh! :twisted: :rolleyes: :lol:

[Bubo]

lovely bird just a nice size for a spar hehehe

[741HCR]

What a fantastic photo of a wild Spar.

[Tim Laycock]

I will try and dig some of my old photos out.
I have some of a wild pair on the nest turning eggs and some of the Musket brooding.

[ColdZero]

if you keep moving the owl (or other BOP) around it should work, otherwuise it will realise it doesn't move/can't get them and catch collar doves next to it :)

[Sparrow Hawker]

Very nice Spar pic,

I would love to have spars in my garden - but I can see where your friend's coming from if he's having problems with them taking his finches.

Bubo
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:08 am Post subject:

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would tying a cd to the cage do the trick? it turns with the wind making it flash.

Good idea Bubo - They use Cd's often near pheasant poult pens, to ward off bop as far as I know it seems to have some success.

Regards,

HH

[Tim Laycock]

Good idea Bubo - They use Cd's often near pheasant poult pens, to ward off bop as far as I know it seems to have some success.

My father has a dove cot (dont ask!) and is experiencing problems with a pair of spars.
He has hung a load of CDs up, but to no avail.
The female spar just weaves her way through the CDs and goes straight
for the doves.
I love to watch this but he dont seem to like it at all???
Its strange what 3rd marrige can do to a die hard falconer :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Bubo]

lovely bird just a nice size for a spar hehehe

what a load of twaddle what i meant to say was a lovely bird and the aviary is just a nice size for the :P spar!!

[Gaz]

I think the sensible thing to do,as this must be causing so much stress and heartache to your birds and family is for you to trap it(for its own sake as well,its feet could suffer from the wire cuts),dont worry about anything,bring it down to me and ill let it go for you :twisted: would be happy to do you a favour and save you anymore grief,no thanks needed,...when you bringing it down.. :?: :mrgreen: :finga:

[Tim Laycock]

:lol:

[Wightwings]

:lol: :supz:

[741HCR]

I think the sensible thing to do,as this must be causing so much stress and heartache to your birds and family is for you to trap it

Well that had never gone through my mind even when the person with the Sparrowhawk problem said how easy it would be to catch!

[Falconry Equipment International]

I think the sensible thing to do,as this must be causing so much stress and heartache to your birds and family is for you to trap it

Well that had never gone through my mind even when the person with the Sparrowhawk problem said how easy it would be to catch! yeah but will you get a DEFRA permit 1st :!: :!: :!:

[741HCR]

but will you get a DEFRA permit 1st

Fear not Screamin Jay. I would not have posted my original question on here about detering Sparrowhawks if my plan was to catch it. Easy as it would be and tempting as it is, I would not do that since I understand that permits are not easy to get and even if they were, I don't think my falconry skills after two Kestrels and one Harris are quite upto those required to train and hunt with a Spar. Pity, as I have always liked the little power-house Spar.

[Falconry Equipment International]

but will you get a DEFRA permit 1st

Fear not Screamin Jay. I would not have posted my original question on here about detering Sparrowhawks if my plan was to catch it. Easy as it would be and tempting as it is, I would not do that since I understand that permits are not easy to get and even if they were, I don't think my falconry skills after two Kestrels and one Harris are quite upto those required to train and hunt with a Spar. Pity, as I have always liked the little power-house Spar.
beleive my I don't have fears about this. Just thopught I would post it to a) be devil's advocate :twisted: & b) thought it was a fairly dangerous suggestion in the 1st place as it would be illegal and who know's who is lurking on these lists :!: :yawinkle:

[741HCR]

I hope Sparrowhawks won't attack the small birds that are coming to feed at the biggest wild bird feeder I could find that is now hung on a tree in my garden. On the lookout for a big bird table now.

[Wightwings]

I have aviaries in my garden with BOP in them. I Spar that comes and sits on the wall near the birdtable on a regular basis..........AND
THE busiest garden for songbirds you can imagine.

dont worry about the Spar even if it manages to take one or two song birds they will always be there if you have food out

[Falconry Equipment International]

I have aviaries in my garden with BOP in them. I Spar that comes and sits on the wall near the birdtable on a regular basis..........AND
THE busiest garden for songbirds you can imagine.

dont worry about the Spar even if it manages to take one or two song birds they will always be there if you have food out
well said Wightwings :wink:

[741HCR]

My Spar environment is coming along well. The bird feeders now have a healthy collection of little birds on them all the time and the lawn has juicy pigeons & blackbirds. Just a matter of time now.

Need to phone my friend too for an update of the finch and Spar problem/resolution.