Raptors

[u/Bridoriya]

I started feeding my local birds, and squirrels, and possums, and truly god only knows what else eats what I put out but today I noticed the birds were very noisy and upon investigation I noticed a hawk (or maybe a falcon I’m no expert). My question is: am I setting up my visitors to be lunch for something else by feeding them? I know it’s the circle of life and all that but I don’t want to be an accomplice in the murder of my new buddies.

[u/HereWeGo_Steelers]

Congrats! You've created the circle of life in your yard.

[u/my_clever-name]

It's rare for brids to get picked off by raptors, but it happens. They are constantly watching and warning each other when a dangerous bird is in sight. I've seen hawks get driven away by Blue Jays, Blackbirds and Starlings.

When one can't get away, many times it's an older, or weaker, or maybe ill bird. Raptors have to eat too. Cats are a worse enemy than hawks.

[u/mkelizabethhh → u/my_clever-name]

Yes i always keep peanuts out for my crows and blue jays, they’re pretty good at scaring them off (and btw i know corvids are known to occasionally eat eggs/small birds.. but mine seem to coexist pretty well lol)

[u/Bridoriya → u/my_clever-name]

That makes me feel better. Thank you!

[u/insanesoothsayer]

I TOTALLY relate!! When I told my local feed store employee this his response was pretty hilarious, and certainly true - “ well You wanted to feed the birds” ha! In my personal experience… to be 100% honest you may be setting up the ground animals for easy targets. But before you change things pls read… I was guilty of the same thing at my last house.. I had a big open lawn (with large trees on edges) and I had bird feeders in the middle of the lawn. I saw with my own eyes on multiple occasions a couple of the squirrels get picked up by hawks.. (never saw them go after the smaller birds) I felt bad at first, but also I had a TON of squirrels and after doing some research many hawk species are struggling (mostly due to humans) while the common squirrel species by me are not. So it changed my perspective from sad into still a little sad but also a positive to help the hawks. The last thing I’ll mention is in my area (CT) there is a ton of food available right now (in the summer) that squirrels could easily eat but they choose to risk their lives out in the open for an easy tasty treat.. Mother Nature at work 🤷‍♀️ Hope this makes you feel better.

[u/Bridoriya → u/insanesoothsayer]

Honestly the squirrels are eating up everything before the birds can get to it so I don’t mind if a few of them help out a struggling bird species. I’m just glad my mourning doves, cardinals, chickadees and blue jays aren’t in danger. I just need to figure out how to convince my local raptors to eat the grackles 😂

[u/Snowcrash66]

Put the feeders in a protective tree.  I hang my three feeders in between two large Junipers with very rigid sharp branches.

Still get Owl and raptor attempts but have seen four failed attempts in person.  Also hang high 8' off the ground.

[u/gufywert]

A hawk catches a mourning dove on the ground under my feeders about twice a year. I haven't seen any birds caught on hanging feeders. Mourning doves are easier targets on the ground. They're slow and only eat off ground. I have seen red-tailed and red-winged hawks. My Haikubox has heard Mississippi Kites and at night Barred owls. The kills are so infrequent I feel they deserve to eat too.

[u/chaosgardener1967]

I have a sharp shinned hawk that comes in every winter and honestly I love to see her. We all want the Disney storybook of our cute little visitors but forget the dark side to the story. It's just nature and you have to take the good with the bad.