My experience with them (all these birds)
is it is impossible to sneak up on a goshawk or sparrowhawk. That is over generalizing
of course but if you try it, they will always see you and be looking at you as
you progress.
-----Original Message-----
From: Alison and Peter
[]
Sent: Sunday, 22 February 2009 9:00 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Goshawks
I was out for my weekly run this
morning on Majura/Ainslie and had a real treat. Just below the summit of
Ainslie I disturbed an adult Brown Goshawk who watched me disdainfully
from a new perch.
Then, coming through the bush down
from the water tank that sits at the entrance to "the pines" at the
southern end of Majura I heard what I thought was a begging call of young bird
of prey. It moved away rapidly up the southern slope but was followed shortly
be loud scolding of Kookaburras and Crimsons. I investigated and watched
for about 5 minutes as a Collared sparrowhawk repeadtedly divebombed 2
Kookaburras and then a Currawong. I was puzzled by the Red Wattlebird
that was following thorugh the tree tops watching the show just as I was -
perhaps thinking that if it could see the Sparrowhawk it wouldn't feature on
the menu? The Sparrowhawk was heavily barred so relatively young, I would
have described it's behaviour as aggresive as if defending territory or young
so I suspect that there was another even younger bird around that it was
protecting but I'm open to other intrepretations.
Best for last; I was almost home and
thinking, "I can remember when I last saw both species of accipter
on the same day",when I disturbed a White Morph Grey Goshawk that landed
about 15 metres away and gave me the "I can't eat you look" for about
10 seconds before flying off through the trees in a southerly direction.
This last Goshawk was just above the narrow track that runs immediately above
the powerlines (parrallel to the upper bit of Rivett St.) along the western
slope of Majura above Hackett.
All in all, I had a very lucky,
beautiful morning.
