The chase is on
Collared Sparrowhawk
A little while ago I was outside in the garden attending to one of those mundane jobs around the house. Okay, I’ll admit I was checking the washing hanging out to dry. My attention was suddenly grabbed by a great uproar coming from the local resident honeyeaters. They were creating a terrible noise, so I knew that something was disturbing them big time.
As I looked around a Collared Sparrowhawk (see photo above) landed on the power line coming in towards the house. Next thing, it took off after its lunch – a Common Starling. Well, I’m not sure if it actually caught its prey. The last I saw of them was the starling zooming a full speed across the garden and then weaving through the mallee scrub behind our house, hotly pursued at full speed by the hawk. I was amazed at how fast they were going, but when you consider those sharp talons, one can hardly blame the starling for getting a move on.
I sent you an email the other day but not sure if you got it. We have two fledgling, I think Collared Sparrowhawks, hanging around our back garden. They squawk all day and there is a Mynah bird running itself ragged looking after them and feeding them. It is a very bizarre thing to watch…as the Mynah approaches the Sparrowhawks squawk louder and frantically until the Mynah regurgitates some food and then flys off again. As much as I dislike Mynah birds, I feel sorry for this one, as it is doing its best, but looking very skinny as it keeps up the supply and demand of these two ravenous creatures. The Sparrowhawks are able to fly, but they are hanging out in one tree mainly. At what stage do you think they will be able to care for themselves, as I am not sure the Mynah will survive this. And has anyone ever seen this sort of thing happen before?