Off Topic Vote for a National Bird (feathered variety)

I've noticed that, and I was somewhere recently where I spotted loads of sparrows, but I can't remember where. Might have been Berlin. Also remember when London used to be full of starlings, instead of just mutant pigeons.

 

Eagle owls are back now and they can take small lambs, poor lambs but what a sight !

Anyone on here remember this guy:

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Yep, there are thought to be a few breading pairs of Eagle Owls out there now, after a couple were released by people who shouldn't have tried to rear them in the first place.
Bad news, as they have no predators at all and will slowly drive all other birds away from their area.

They're very big, but they can't take lambs!!!
With a wingspan up to around 5.5' they will certainly take hares, rabbits, squirrels and rats, as well as other birds of prey and pretty much any other birds too.

It's the Golden Eagle that can take a small, injured lamb. These are absolutely huge with a wingspan of well over 7'!! Only found in Scotland in Britain.

 

No that I didn't believe Col, but I thought I'd look up the decline in Sparrows, or House Sparrows, and was intrigued to read this:

While the decline in numbers is worrying, a more worrying prospect is if the House Sparrow population falls below a certain critical size then the reproduction and survival rates decrease and the species "loses the will to breed" - this is called the Allee Effect.

Over to Uber.

 

They eat Hen Harriers too.

 

Yep, any bird of prey is under threat from an Eagle Owl, especially the ground nesting ones. The Owl may think twice about taking on something like a Goshawk though.

 

Is that the African or Fijian Goshawk?

 

Yes, I didn't know what it was called, but I knew it was a possibility.
The weird thing about the decline in House Sparrows is that it's mainly in urban areas and more so in the South East. Numbers in Wales have actually gone up.

 

British mate - Accipiter gentilis.

 

Who, sparrows?
I'm glad they're declining so, the bastards....

 

We haven't had this much chat about twitching since Harold left!

Who'd have thought there were so many closet birders on here!

 

My old man was a lifelong ornithologist and oologist Col.......a lot rubbed off on me, although I wouldn't call myself an expert or that it's even a hobby!!!! Do love the preys though.

 

I'm certainly not an expert, although I do have a reasonable knowledge of birds of prey.

Saw a Buzzard take a rabbit last week..........................quite a sight!

 

I used to play golf at Falconwood in Surrey and there were regularly hares being snared, the birds would literally ride the breeze, perfectly still, taking sight and then swoop and lift the poor bugger just like that.

Always remember a display of Peregrine's at one of the many English Heritage castles we've visited, truly a spectacular sight...

 

Many places do this, including Wimbledon to keep the pigeons away.
Harris hawks are awesome and one of the only birds of prey that can hunt as a pack.

 

Had to have been Buzzards mate.

 

Palace have an eagle (I think its quite cool having the beast fly around pre match), what would QPR's club bird be? Something flightless I'd guess. Or extinct. The dodo fits both criteria.

Sorry to mention QPR. You are right Col, we talk about the club far too much on here.

 

I bow to your greater knowledge Col. Mind you, that doesn't help when the ****ers keep me awake!!

Who would have thought that a football forum could educate on matters such as ornithology? Love it!

 

KES