by Vern Norbury

June 9, 2000

First of all today an update on Project Feederwatch. I have just received the latest bulletin. Birdwatch Canada, Spring 2000. All memberships are now $25.00.

This morning we had another first for this feeder site-a female Yellow-Headed Blackbird.

Last week we had our first attack by a hawk, an American Kestrel, which took a Pine Siskin from our feeder. Since hawks and cats can be major problems I will try to deal with the subject now.

The elimination of underbrush and/or anything that will give cats the cover they need to stalk or ambush birds at feeders is, unfortunately, not the best scenario for protection from hawk attacks.

Our birds need trees and thickets etc in which to hide or to escape to when a hawk attacks. So we must try and strike a balance {not always possible} Our present feed area between two mobile homes is ideal in denying cats any cover but the very opposite as far as aerial predators are concerned.

At our previous site, hawks were not an uncommon occurrence. On one occasion there were two almost simultaneous crashes against our window. Looking out I saw a female Merlin {Pigeon Hawk} stagger up to the feeder cross bar. After a few seconds it flew very unsteadily away into the trees.

Meanwhile, on the ground was a female Redwinged Blackbird either dead or stunned. I recovered the bird and put it in the box. Half an hour later I took the box outside and removed the lid and the bird flew off, evidently o.k.

I wondered about the Merlin for it had hit very hard and was obviously in trouble when last seen. Then the next day there was another crash against the window and I looked out to see another blackbird, a male, on the ground. When I picked it up I checked the area but saw no sign of a hawk. So the bird went into the box but in a few minutes it began struggling. Thinking it had not been badly injured I took it outside and opened the box.

Unfortunately it was far from recovered and could not stay aloft for more than a few metres. As I was trying to decide whether to try and recapture it a male Merlin suddenly swooped down and carried the hapless blackbird away. One of the small tragedies that are a part of nature.

There is a tendency to feel one should unlimber the shotgun and blast the predator at the first opportunity but I believe that the best thing to do is let the problem solve itself.

Birds are geared to survival. When the danger of attack exceeds hunger they will stop coming to your feeders. Then, with the chance of a successful foray diminished, the hawk will be unable to waste time waiting and will leave to hunt elsewhere and your birds will return. At least I have found that to be the way things work out.

There are, in the main, three species of hawk that prey on birds at feeder sites. The smallest, the American Kestrel or sparrow hawk is not of great concern since its prey consists to a great degree of insects such as grasshoppers and of small animals like mice and voles. A bird the size of a Robin is a little too large for them. They are, however, more apt to be found in an urban habitat which explains my present situation.

The other two we have to deal with are the Merlin and the Sharp-shinned hawks. The Merlin, like the Kestrel, is a falcon with long pointed wings and, like all falcons, is very fast and its attack is usually over before we, or the victim, is aware of the presence of a predator.

The Sharp-shinned has shorter, rounded wings and is a woodland hawk, which is very maneuverable. I have seen a Sharp-shinned which, having missed its first strike, turn and make a second attempt before its intended victim really had time to react.

It is all a part of feeding birds and a part which we who are no longer mobile, can observe and use to add to our knowledge.

Happy Birding,
Vern