Guardians of the English Skies: Help England’s Birds of Prey
England has three types of birds of prey: owls (nocturnal birds with large round heads, small beaks and forward-facing eyes), falcons (fast hovering birds with tapered wings and tails and fairly small). And hawks or eagles (larger soaring birds with very large bills and broader wings).
- Sparrowhawks have mottled brown/blue/grey white colouring, and can be found in some gardens (take care as they are very predatory on small animals).
- Buzzards have brown feathers and broad wings, with short tails. They are often found in grasslands and woodlands and around farms.
- Red kites have reddish-brown feathers and black-tipped wings with white under patches and forked tails. They are often found in woods and farms, mostly in southeast England.
- Kestrels have small grey heads and tails with ginger backs and speckled bellies. They are common on grasslands and heathlands.
- Peregrine falcons have slate-grey colours with white throat/cheeks, a ‘black moustache’ and are often found in towns and by coastal cliffs. Common up north and in southwest England.
- Hobby is a small bird (again with a ‘black moustache’ and slate-grey feathers with black streaks and ‘red trousers!’ Common on heathlands and wetlands in the south.
- Merlin is blue-grey and cream (male) or grey-brown (females) and common on English moors and coastal marshes.
- Hen harriers are medium brown streaked (females) or blue-grey with black wingtips (male) and often found on heathland, farmland and by the coast (they occasionally breed on upland moors).
- Ospreys are England’s fish-eating birds of prey, now brought back from near extinction.
How to help our birds of prey
Good land management gives birds of prey a safe place to live and hunt. Hedgerows, wildflower margins and uncultivated patches all give shelter and food for their main prey, like mice and voles.
Farms and estates can keep old trees and create wildlife-friendly ponds, helping both the birds and their food web. If you work the land or visit it, choose to back those who use wildlife-friendly practices.
Report illegal activity
Sadly, birds of prey are sometimes poisoned or caught by traps. If you spot suspicious behaviour, like dead birds or people setting traps, contact the Wildlife Crime Unit (can be anonymous through Crimestoppers) and your local wildlife rescue.
Preserve nesting sites
Birds of prey return to the same nest sites year after year. Old trees, cliffs and even church towers may hide precious nests. When you find a nest, keep back and tell others to do the same.
If work or tree felling is planned nearby, wait until the young have left the nest or ask experts how to proceed. Even in your garden, leaving dead trees can help kestrels or owls find a home.
Garden and farm organically
Poisons like rodenticides can harm birds of prey that eat poisoned rats or mice. Where possible, use non-toxic methods to control rodents and always follow advice if you must use chemicals.
Encourage local schools and councils to avoid sprays and pellets that can work their way up the food chain. Every small change helps lower the risk to hawks and owls.
Support wildlife-friendly laws
Laws protect nests and ban the killing of birds of prey, but these rules need strong backing. Support campaigns or write to your MP if local or national rules come up for review.
Stay informed about issues like new developments, wind farms or farmland changes in your area that could affect raptor habitats.
How to help injured or orphaned birds of prey
Birds of prey are wild creatures, so should always be left alone, unless you know they are injured or in danger. Parents are usually nearby, so observe if concerned.
- If you need help, call your nearest wildlife rescue or Raptor Rescue.
- If you can’t find help, relocate the bird to a local vet (fees are covered).
- Wear gloves (or use a thick towel with no tassels), before placing them in ventilated boxes.
- Keep in a quiet area at room temperature, until help arrives.
- Do not give any food or water.
des beautiful sketches, photographs and paintings.
Ospreys: fish-eating birds of prey
Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey, who live in Africa, but migrate over 3000 miles to England each year. A few years ago, these beautiful birds (which look a bit like large brown-and-white gulls) were almost extinct.
Due to hunting in Victorian times, at one point there was just one breeding pair left, in Scotland.
This is a real conservation success story! Thanks to volunteers on Rutland Water, today numbers have returned. They are still pretty rare to see elsewhere, although they are around in parts of Cumbria.
Ospreys use their reversible toes (that turn 180 degrees) to hunt for slippery fish. They are such good ‘fishermen’ that around 70% of dives are successful. And if hungry, they usually catch a fish in around 12 minutes. Their eggs often hatch one-by-one, sometimes up to 5 days apart. The birds are possibly named after the Latin word ‘ossifragus’ (it means ‘bonebreaker).
The dangers of ‘farmers versus rewilding’
With Reform UK riding high in the polls, this is a good example of why farmers and rewilding experts need to work together (Reform policy is for all rewilding land to be given over to farmers).
This has happened previously in Cumbria, which led to England’s last golden eagle dying on the remote eastern fells.
Wild Fell is the wonderful story of local ecologists who worked with farmers, to keep them happy, while still protecting wild land for endangered species. This is how it’s done. Please note (MPs).
Why birds of prey so need our help
Birds of prey have eyesight that lets them spot prey from great distances, when soaring high above. Once in sight, they use their powerful talons to grasp and immobilise it. Their wings are built for speed and manoeuvrability, making them master hunters. Several birds of prey species face endangerment:
- Bald Eagle: Once facing extinction, it has shown recovery in some areas.
- Red Kite: Known for its reddish-brown body and forked tail, it has seen population declines due to poisoning and habitat loss.
- Peregrine Falcon: Famous for being the fastest bird, it has suffered from DDT pesticide exposure in the past.
Modern farming methods and deforestation has eroded natural habitats. Then birds of prey lose their nesting and hunting grounds. Also pollutants sand pesticides (like rat poison and DDT) build up in smaller animals, and affect food chains.
Shifting climates disrupt the breeding and eating habits, and warming temperatures and changing weather affect prey populations.
Laws such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act enforce penalties for harming these birds. Legal measures ensure that hunting, trapping, and trading are curtailed.
A true rescue story of a bird of prey
Queen of the Sky is the story of how artist Jackie Morris rescued a peregrine falcon from the sea, off the remote coast of West Wales. With her friend, they nursed it back to the wild, after developing a bond you would never think was possible between a human and a wild bird of prey.
How to protect pets from birds of prey
If you have pets on or near your farm, attacks from larger birds of prey are more likely in North America, due to different species. But keep dogs and rabbits safe, as wild birds are losing natural hunting habitats.
Keep dogs indoors at night (supervise while outside at night, as birds are less likely to attack if humans are nearby). Supervise small animals like rabbits/guinea pigs when outside, and keep them inside at night (hutches for rabbits and guinea pigs should be large but secure).
If you see a bird of prey circling or attacking a domestic pet, approach while yelling and making loud noises (if attacked, immediately visit the vet, as wounds could become infected).
Learn more on how to make your garden safe for pets. It’s better to encourage birds of prey to stay in the wild, to keep pets safe (birds of prey need open farmland over domestic gardens).
