Hawks at Your Bird Feeder

If you put out bird food in the winter, you will be fortunate to attract a wide variety of birds. Sometimes, the birds you feed will, themselves, attract predators, such as hawks or foxes.

You may enjoy the added visitors, especially if they appear only occasionally. But if they move in and hang around the feeder, the predators will scare away the feeder birds.

If you want to discourage the predators, the most effective way is to put away the feeders for a few days until the predator moves on.

Predators tend to become less of a chronic problem at feeders if there is nearby cover for the feeder birds.  Shrubs, evergreens brush, piles and bramble patches all serve as great places for birds to hide when they scatter.  At the same time, make sure that there are no nearby places for foxes or house cats to hide and stalk ground-feeding birds.