LIFE OF THE SPARROWHAWK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 25 November 1922, Page 8

LIFE OF THE SPARROWHAWK

BIRD TRAGEDIES OF THE WOODS

After a few weeks of observation, p.erchcd among the branches of a tree in a Kentish wood, Captain C. W. B. Knight, of Sovenoaks, the naturalistproducer of the “Wild Life in the Tree, tops” scries of kincmatograph films, has just completed the filming of the life of the sparrow-hawk. The achievement marks a further stage in a successful attempt to record in detail the character and habits of British birds.

“Few people’ have, any idea what a fieroe-looking creature the spanowhawk is,” Captain Knight told a newspaper reporter. “Ho has the most devilish eyes imaginable; they arc bright yellow, with overhanging brows ~a .perfect devil of a bird.

“To get near the pair I have filmed I made an observation post out of old sacks and carpets camouflaged with leaves and twigs. Day after day 1 was concealed aloft in (his, ; entering and leaving by a rope. Early in the picture I managed to catch (lie female bird making a meal on the side of the nest off i sparrow caught by the male.

“From (Im time of the laying of her eggs io Llm moment dial the young birds' made Hieir first flight from the nest 1 followed closely their daily grmvdi, and photographed (hem in the act of receiving from the mother’s bill their first piece of meat. At nnhd lime i( was as happy and orderly a family parly as one could wish to see. The youngsters gathered round their parents in a ring, and each waited quietly and patiently to l)e fed.

“One clay I was lucky enough to film a very exciting incident. In a cherry orchard a flock of starlings was feeding on the fruit, when suddenly the male sparrowhawk flew among them like a dart. In an instant the orchard was empty of the starlings—with the exception of one. Hurtling through the air, the sparrowhawk struck this unfortunate one with its (alons, felling it to the .ground, where he followed it and killed it. lie then flew with it hack to the nest, and there was another family feast.”

The film ends with tragedy. Left alone in (he nest one day, the female sparrowhawk was shot dead by a game keeper. ‘TI is lamentable.” said Capfain Knight, “(hat just because a. sparrowhawk will occasionally kill n young game bird, gamekeepers should look on the species with such hatred. It is one of the most remarkable of the imds of (jlrcat Britain.”