Natural instinct

[Andy]

Yesterday evening I had my youngsters out. They were flying high. When I spotted a hawk flying in their direction. Not sure if it was a sparrow hawk or a peregrine as it was quite some way away. Instinctively the youngsters tightened up a bit as a batch and headed at the hawk. The hawk seemed to do a bit of a wiggle to avoid getting hit. As the youngsters passed it they done a tight turn before flying back towards it again heading it away from home. After a third go the hawk disappeared and the youngsters came back towards the loft. This is obviously something that can’t be taught and just natural instincts. I have seen it happen on a few occasions now around here. I think providing the hawk doesn’t have the element of surprise, either hitting them on the ground or loft as the sparrow hawk does, or from a diving peregrine, the pigeons seem to have the upper hand.

[worm]

it was a sparrowhawk they will not do that to a peregrine

[Murray]

Here in Australia we have a species called the Australian magpie. They are not related to the European magpie.
They are quite fearless and territorial. They will form a gang and chase Peregrine falcons away.
I've seen falcons twisting and turning as one magpie after another fly at them from all directions.
Back in Bendigo we had a resident family of magpies who were quite happy sharing the place with the pigeons. If the pigeons were out and a falcon appeared they would be up chasing it way. Like they were protecting the pigeons.