The numbers of a predator will be governed by the availability of it's
prey. Goshawks are very skilled and active hunters preying on a large range and
size of species, no doubt including green woodpeckers, merlins and kestrels.
However it is folly to suggest that they might be responsible for the decline
of these birds. I would suggest that if they were having an influence on
populations of other species that this would be a result of habitat loss or
change of use, exposing already vulnerable species to goshawk predation.
Merlins live in close proximity to goshawks in many places, Scandinavia for
example, and species such as the hobby have increased in the presence of
goshawks in Wales; likewise great spotted woodpeckers have increased in the
shadow of sparrowhawks and goshawks. No, I think that we must look to our own
kind for the decline in other species, after all we are the only animal that has
been responsible for extinctions and massive loss of habitats, it is indeed
ironical that we are the only species that carries the description 'sapiens' in
our scientific name.
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| Goshawk in larch tree |
Alastair Proud, artist and environmentalist.
I was very pleased to receive the above from Alastair as I was hoping that someone would provide an argument, as he says "In Defence of Goshawks".
I completely agree with the views expressed, even though I, and I suspect many of us, don't like to think of predators taking our favourite birds, but that's the way of the world. Why don't they stick to delicious Woodpigeons, eh?