Uninvited visitor to the aviary

[Learner]

I just nipped outside to see a very attractive looking something or other with feathers sitting on the wire-mesh near the top of the aviary looking in.

Then it dawned on me: A sparrow-hawk - taking a great deal of interest in the budgies looking out!!

It fled rapidly when I clapped my hands but, to be on the safe side, I've closed the birds in for the rest of the day at least and left a window open for ventilation.

Anyone else had this problem with visiting raptors?

[phoebe]

My birds are indoors but I have crows lurking around outside. Charlie screams really loudly when he sees them fly by. Hawks would really scare me though. The worst I've seen in Quebec is a raccoon that climbed up to a third floor balcony for some strange reason. I have to wonder if the lady didn't leave garbage out.

With a hawk hanging around you won't get mice but what it really wants is the budgies. Do you think it can access the aviary?

[Deleted]

Yes i used to get them before i started hanging old cd's around the aviary the reflection they give off from the sun spooks them.

Mind you it took the budgies a few days to get used to them as well.

[stace]

It's unsettling isn't it. I get birds of prey checking out my pet bird when I've got him out sunning on the balcony.

Corie's CD idea sounds good.

[Learner]

No sign of the little flighter today... hopefully I scared him off. I think it was a juvenile so out looking for an easy lunch.

The CD idea sounds good... I may well have a go at that.

My aviary flight is single mesh and occasionally my daft lot decide to hang around on the wire rather than sit on perches. Although a bird of prey would not be able to pull a budgie through the mesh it may well be able to stick its talons through the mesh and do a huge amount of damage attempting to get its dinner.

When I have time and cash I will double the mesh on the highest part of the flight along the back hedge. Not so keen on doing this all the way around as it would make it harder for us to see the birds.

[Gaile]

sorry to say but a hawk can pull a budgie through the mesh if its NOT doubled mesh. I also had a young sparrow hawk visit it come on 3 days in a row, but thankfully realised that it could not get the budgies xxx

[Hezz]

I know our butcher birds can do the same thing ...... luckily not something I have had happen, but know others who have.

[Learner]

So the next thing on the list of "needs doing pretty D Q" will be:

• Find the roll of green debris netting and heavy duty stapler
• Measure the rear and end aviary panels
• Cover the high panels at the back and the single end panel with debris netting

                                                         (I have many metres of it as I use it on the allotment)

• Order a new roll of wire mesh ready to double mesh the front of the aviary

The debris netting is tough stuff and will also help as a wind break through the winter. A sparrow hawk would need quite a bit of time and a decent pair of snips to chunk through the stuff.

[Hezz]

Good for you. We can't have those nasty raptors doing to our budgies that which comes naturally to them. Sorry, guys, but go and find another feed!

[Nicola]

We had a chicken hawk 1 near the aviary- scared the life out of me. Apologies if this makes u paranoid, but my Nan has a galah in an inside cage and she wheeled the cage out for the day and a CROW came by and somehow managed to rip one of the galahs feet off! I'm on the look out 24/7 now!