Giving the bird
Post categories: Springwatch,Ìýbirds
| 14:20 UK time, Monday, 1 June 2009
Chris Watson has been down to the conifer woods recording the second goshawk pair we're currently watching for Springwatch.
The nesting birds featured in the actual programme are southerners, from down near Abergavenny, but this other pair are located here at Lake Vyrnwy. They were discovered too late in the day to feature in the live programme.
Jess, our camera assistant, has spent many hours sat in the hide down there watching and waiting and has recently captured some amazing footage, so keep an eye out for that in this week's episode...
In the meantime, here is what a goshawk sounds like when it's passing a bird on the wing to its mate. It's not a gentle chirp by any means - this is more blood curdling: the kind of noise that would turn a quiet evening stroll in the woods into a full blown run back to the car!
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The male begins with a gentle clucking noise to let the female know he's in the area and has a snack for her and the chicks.
If he failed to do this and gain permission to enter her air space, there's a strong chance that she'd kill him on sight and then, just to add insult to injury - eat him for good measure.
So you can understand why he's erring on the side of caution.
Once he's been acknowledged, you'll hear the female screech which sounds like some sort of biblical monster awakening - this is her demand for the food he's brought - There's no please and thank you here.
The male goshawk then hands over the kill, whilst 'on the wing' to the female and the transaction is completed.
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