The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: Exploding jackdaw mystery

Twice over the last couple of months I've seen a jackdaw 'explode' as something has just taken it in mid air. It's literally a thud, an a shower of black feathers. It's so fast I've never had a clear view of what it is.

It's obviously a bird of prey, but I've only ever seen four here. I've already discounted the red kites and buzzards as aerial hunting really isn't their style. Twice in the last two years I've seen a male Montagu's harrier - could it be him? The only other raptor I've seen is a sparrowhawk and I think a jackdaw is probably too big for them.

Elsewhere I've seen the occasional Goshawk but never locally, but I think that would be about the right size to take a jackdaw

Should I be worried for my chickens?

jubilee · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 125 Location: nottinghamshire

i have seen a sparrowhawk take jackdaws in the same way, don't let their petit frame fool you! they are one of the best arial attackers. of course it could be anyone of the other birds of prey you mentioned, and i would watch my chickens too mate! but if there are plenty of other birds they might not bother with them, it's up to you, is there any way of putting your birds under cover? as they will be feeding chicks this time of year and any food source will be welcome. it also depends on what birds you have, i doubt that a sparrowhawk would tackle an orpington or a large breed, but if you have light, or bantams for example and they get hungry, they would try it. best of luck.xx

nigel · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

So it could be a sparrowhawk, I didn't seriously consider those. I think they are the most likely suspects then. I don't have any bantams right now, but I do have some on order. I'll have to think about some cover for those I think

Thanks for your help Jubilee

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1986 Location: norfolk

Seen a sparrowhawk take woodpigeon - that's a bit bigger and much chunkier than a jackdaw.

nigel · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

I would never have considered that a sparrowhawk could take something that big. We used to see them in the UK taking songbirds from our birdtable.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

A sparrowhawk landed a bird right in front of me this morning as I was sitting on the back step at my friends eating breakfast! Ignored the 9wk old chicken entirely.