FLYING AROUND THE FARLEIGHS WITH RAY MORRIS
BIRDS OF PREY
This is one bird that is generally instantly identifiable when seen soaring above The Farleighs at this time of year. In Scotland it’s known as the tourists’ eagle because of its size and because most people in the UK - some ninety percent of whom live in towns - assume that any large brown bird with a hooked beak is just that.
It’s partly because the Victorian obsession with shooting game birds led to the virtual extinction of most birds of prey to preserve the game species, although populations recovered slightly during the two world wars when gamekeepers were sent off to shoot at targets that could shoot back. As birds of prey numbers declined, so did the public’s knowledge of them, to the point where any southerner holidaying north of the border would instantly proclaim this one to be a golden eagle when spotted perched on a roadside telegraph pole waiting to swoop down to pick up roadkill.
All birds of prey are now protected by law, but sadly that doesn’t protect them from people still harbouring the Victorian idea that anything with a hooked bill is vermin. Worse are those who make money from shooting birds for ’sport’ and view these magnificent creatures as damaging to their fun or profits.
Ironically, when not clearing animal corpses from tarmac, this ‘eagle’ specialises in mice, frogs and worms. But they can still fall victim to illegal persecution by indiscriminate poisoning in some parts of the country by people who see them as a threat to their business interests.
Attitudes to these and similar species are becoming generally more civilised and informed, and the birds are gradually becoming part of our everyday experience. Peregrine falcons can now be found nesting in most large towns – London, Canterbury and Eastbourne for example boast breeding pairs that prey on the plentiful pigeons - taking advantage of the city lights that permit them to hunt twenty-four seven!
Red kites too are fast regaining their centuries old foothold by clearing up our edible rubbish. This was once offal and bones discarded in medieval streets but is now being replaced by discarded ‘fast food’.
A Kent red kite by Darren Nicholls
As our attitudes to these magnificent creatures continue to improve, with luck we’ll see more of them flying around The Farleighs.
And the tourists’ eagle perched on the Farleigh fence? It’s a buzzard, now the UK’s commonest raptor.