Goshawk's New Forest home nearly fell through (From Bournemouth Echo)

Goshawk's New Forest home nearly fell through

11:30am Saturday 5th June 2010 in

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HUMAN intervention saved the day for the family of goshawks featured on the Daily Echo’s Date with Nature website.

Forestry Commission head keeper Andy Page found the bottom of the nest, located at a secret site in the New Forest, was in a very bad state when he went to ring the two remaining three-week-old goshawk chicks on Thursday.

“It was very lucky I went up when I did as the nest was in an extremely bad state,” he said.

“The centre had pretty much fallen right through.

“It wouldn’t have been long before the chicks would almost certainly have fallen out the bottom.”

Emergency repairs were made using large sticks which were used to support the nest.

New material was also placed on the top of the nest and pine used to provide a bed. The chicks were ringed and identified as females which are heavier and have longer legs than males.

Project officer Therasa Paul said: “After losing one of the chicks, it’s a relief to know that we have two healthy females.

“They have certainly got huge appetites and we saw one swallowing an entire bird’s leg this week.”

The chicks will soon begin stretching their wings in preparation for flight.

Check out the chicks for yourself by clicking here