Lesley Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Carl has just found a kestrel inside the polytunnel It must have followed a mouse under the door Carl told Jazz to 'leave' and she did, he crouched down and the kestrel flew out over his head - shame he didn't have a camera with him! We've been keeping an eye out to see what is leaving very large poops in there - I don't somehow think it was the kestrel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 They are such pretty birds, my dad used to keep one when we were little Not something he'd do now but at the time it needed a home and he took and cared for it. She was lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 What a shock Birds of prey are beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 What a lovely surprise Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Poor girl! - I wonder how she feels about that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I hope your unexpected guest is good at picking off any rats that might stray onto your property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Read this earlier Lesley - have finally managed to sit down and post a reply Last week a "bird man" came into school where I work - with a Kestrel, Merlin, Barn owl, Harris Hawk and Raven. He explained how they all hunt - apart from the scavenger at the end . The Kestrel sees everything as almost "Luminous" so the polytunnel would really stand out - also they "hunt" by follwing mouse urine, which shines out to them. Mice pee on the run as opposed to stopping - so the Kestrel follows the trail and swoops at the end . Barn Owls apparently wait in a tree - swivel their heads only through 180 (not 360) to stay silent, as moving in the tree to have a look behind would make a noise. They also have 6 ears all located on their face to locate prey - hence they turn heads to look/listen - as again long sighted and cannot really see much past their own beaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 9, 2009 Author Share Posted February 9, 2009 - even worse! Read this earlier Lesley - have finally managed to sit down and post a reply Last week a "bird man" came into school where I work - with a Kestrel, Merlin, Barn owl, Harris Hawk and Raven. He explained how they all hunt - apart from the scavenger at the end . The Kestrel sees everything as almost "Luminous" so the polytunnel would really stand out - also they "hunt" by follwing mouse urine, which shines out to them. Mice pee on the run as opposed to stopping - so the Kestrel follows the trail and swoops at the end . Barn Owls apparently wait in a tree - swivel their heads only through 180 (not 360) to stay silent, as moving in the tree to have a look behind would make a noise. They also have 6 ears all located on their face to locate prey - hence they turn heads to look/listen - as again long sighted and cannot really see much past their own beaks That's interesting Sarah - we thought it must have followed a mouse in but didn't realise how they could see mouse urine! We are hoping he stayed for a feast of baby rats Egluntine Luckily we'd been in the polytunnel the day before so at least we know it hadn't been trapped for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
