In March the hawks pair--and the pairs visit and examine all sorts
of old nests. The nest of a kestrel is usually found in the heart
of a wood--though it may be recognised as a kestrel's only by the
sight of the birds flying off, for they rear their young in old
sparrow-hawks' nests, or in a magpie's, a crow's, or in a squirrel's
abandoned drey. The sparrow-hawk builds its own nest, as a rule, of
rough sticks, with twigs as lining, usually placed near the tree's
trunk. It will return to the same nest year after year. But at times
the nest of a wood-pigeon is adopted, or of a carrion crow. The cock
sparrow-hawk is a polite mate, perhaps of necessity, being so inferior
to the hen bird in size and strength. He is energetic in inspecting
nest-sites, in advance of his mate. This habit has proved fatal to
many, for it is a favourite plan with some keepers to place a circular
gin in likely nests--a cruel trick, and illegal, for the law which
prohibits the use of the pole-traps forbids also that traps shall be
set in nests. Faithful as are hawks and magpies to each other, it is
strange how swiftly a new mate is secured should an old one suffer
a fatal accident. In the earlier part of the breeding season, a hen
sparrow-hawk may lose her mate time after time; yet a new mate is
quickly at her side, though no other hawks are to be seen about the
country, except those in pairs.
* * * * *