Allotments 4 All

Was in the kitchen today, looking out of the window, and a sparrow hawk flew in and landed on a garden spade in the garden.

It was obvious that the bird's right leg was damaged.

The conundrum is, the bird is not going to be able to catch its prey with a damaged claw, so its days are roughly numbered.

Being a protected species, if we managed to catch it, and put it out of its misery, would we be breaking the law.

Discuss.

valmarg

I'd be impressed if you could catch it, even with a damaged claw...  :-[

It has not been unknown in the past.

valmarg

Nature can be cruel and I can understand why you want to end its suffering but capturing it may cause even more distress.

I would take it somewhere - are there any Bird of Prey organisations near you.  That way you are covered - they will do the deed or get a vet to do it if needs be.  It might be worth phoning them to get them to come and deal with it anyway.

First catch your sparrowhawk. The fact that it's still flying about suggests that it may be coping with the injury. A sick or injured bird usually dies pretty soon.

A Sparrowhawk is easily spooked unless its eating something.  Good luck in trying to catch it. 

:o :o

Sounds like you have a good aerobic exercise program 8)

Whilst I don't like the sparrow hawk family using the garden as a 'fly-through takeaway', it was a sad sight.

It looked distressed.

It is a beautiful bird.

I hope I don't have to see it again.

valmarg

I agree with you Valmark.

I had a sparrowhawk experience this morning when one flew into my conservatory (inside) and crashed against the window stunning itself.   I went for a big towel in case it needed help to get back out again.  It scuttled over to the other side of room and was on its back with tallons up, them yellow eyes felt like they were looking into my sole.  It righted itself and flew out.  Thank goodness.  Handsome birds. 

With big bird handling I should think safety glasses and leather gloves would be wise.
Maybe steel-toed shoes if he looks into your sole 8)

I think you may need to google rapture rescue, or bird of prey centres around your area.  Someone may be able to advice.  It may be a female (brown), as opposed to the male (paler and greyer).  If so, then the male may be feeding it, whilst it's leg gets better.  Sparrowhawks have a longer middle toe/claw naturally.

If the bird came down into your garden it is looking for easy pickings like scrap food, if you could be bothered to build a ample sized cage and bait and be perpared to sit there forever and a day you could trap it, or better still phone up the R.S.P.B they rake in enough money from the public and see what they have to say, :)

Raptor rescue. We have a rehabilited bird here that wouldnt survivein wild but does have a decent existence here.

From a purely legal point of view you cant legally touch it without a licence.
However in this case that clearly flys in the face of common sense.
The RSPCA or RSPB may be your best port of call.
I'm fairly happy that even with one foot the sparrow hawk is more than a match for most of its prey.
They hunt with guile rather than brute force.
If you were to find it unconscious or in an immediate life threatening situation that would be a totally different matter.

If it's flying around, claw and all, it has to be capable of catching its prey. Birds are small animals which easily run out of energy and die. It's probably nothing to worry about.

Yes, you'd likely be breaking the law.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, S1(1) makes it an offence to kill any wild bird, S1(4) makes it an especially serious offence if it's a bird on Schedule 1, which the sparrow hawk is.  S4(2) allows for mercy killing if there's no reasonable chance of the bird recovering, but that's not the case here.  It's a serious offence to catch the bird too, so if you're worried call the RSPCA because they'll know what's best.

Until replies showed up recently, I't forgotten about this thread/posting.

Sadly I've never seen the bird again, so it must have 'gone the way of all flesh'.

One of it's relatives that did impress me was one that 'took out' a collared dove, judging by the feathers scattered all over the lawn.

It never ceases to puzzle me why the sparrowhawk bothers with little birds like blue tits,  sparrows, chaffinches, blackbirds, etc, when it can have an enormous feast for all the family with a collared dove/woodpidgeon. ??? ;D

valmarg

The small birds are possibly easier to catch. It didn't necessarily die, it may well have just moved on. I see them occsionally round the site, but they never stay.