majuka Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Just after some advice really, I came back from work yesterday, went to let the hens out of their run and on my way back up through the garden I noticed some feathers (mostly body feathers but a few wing feathers with blood on) on the lawn near the bird feeder. We have a variety of birds, little ones and big ones feeding and I think it might have been a sparrow. I was just a bit concerned as to how it happened and am wondering if it was a cat or a sparrowhawk. I found no head or body, just a few feathers We have one of the metal feeding poles and it is in the open, in the middle of the lawn so I find it hard to believe that a cat snuck up on the bird. I love feeding the birds but if it was a cat I would be reluctant to carry on as I don't want to be offering an all you can eat buffet for the cat. If it was a sparrowhawk I guess that there is no way to prevent it? It is the first time that it has happened and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I would guess a sparrowhawk or bird of prey, if you found feathers and nothing else .. I believe they pluck their prey before eating It could have been a cat, but my guess would be that a cat would remove it somewhere else for consumption (usually in their owner's house in my experience *sigh*). It's nature - the sparrowhawk also has to eat. I don't think that by setting up a bird-table you are encouraging this to happen, it will take an opportunity where it finds it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted July 1, 2011 Author Share Posted July 1, 2011 Thank you for your reply Olly. The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to think sparrowhawk / bird of prey. Usually if we have had a cat in the garden my dog will sniff around manically where it has been and he didn't do that. It puts my mind at ease as I can cope with an attack from another bird. The poor little bird is just as dead but, like you say, they have to eat too, whereas most cats around here look in good condition and, presumably, have an owner feeding them so they don't need my birds. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 We've had a sparrow hawk visiting our garden this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 This is our resident bird sheltering from a storm on the veranda just one foot away from a window Look at those talons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
