Aalscholvers Phalacrocorax carbo en ander grote vogels als prooi van Haviken Accipiter gentilis in De Wieden

In 2007, six depredated Cormorants were found in De Wieden, a marsh in the central Netherlands with a colony of Cormorants. Of two adults and one juvenile closely inspected, two were partly eaten on the dorsal side. As removed feathers were not bitten but pulled, an avian predator is thought to have been responsible. The only species capable of catching – apparently healthy – Cormorants of 2000-2500 g, and occurring in the study area, is the (female) Goshawk Accipter gentilis. Goshawks have been breeding in De Wieden since the early 1970s, peaking with 25-30 pairs in 1994, then declining to presently 16-17 pairs. Avian predation on Cormorants has not been previously recorded in De Wieden. In April 2007, also five adult Grey Herons Ardea cinerea were found depredated by an avian predator, presumably Goshawk. Predation on Grey Herons had been noted before, i.e. of three birds in 1994. In the same region, the attack and kill of an adult White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons by a Goshawk was witnessed, riding on top of the bird before being able to subdue the prey. This prey was kleptoparasitized by two Buzzards Buteo buteo.