Am I Endangering My Feeder Birds?

I HAVE NOTICED a couple of time while walking in my yard clumps of feathers but no bird carcasses.  I was on the lookout for cats or any kind of evidence of tracks but could not find any. Until one day my wife and i pulled into our driveway and saw a falcon killing a dove in our back yard about 40 ft. from us. We sat in the car and watched the falcon wrestling with the bird and finally killing it. We then saw it pulling feathers and eating part of the bird before it flew off. This might explain the patches of feathers I am finding. I felt bad for the dove but I was really excited to see this happening. Since then I saw the falcon two more times perched in the tree above my shed. I also found a few more patches of feathers as the months have passed. The feeder I had at that time was located in a safe place for birds to eat, so I thought. I have looked into setting up bird feeders and placing them for safety and I can not see anything wrong. Am I creating a false feeding station for the falcon and also endangering the birds feeding? I guess i want to make sure I can feed the birds from my feeder with a clean conscience.

Mike Sturdevant

Comments

[Barbara R. Jones]

Although it's difficult sometimes, I suggest you try to take the broad view of nature when watching the birds in your backyard: there are species of birds, like the Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk, whose primary prey is small songbirds. They have evolved with all the characteristics needed to hunt in wooded areas with abundant songbird populations. They have relatively short wings and long tails, ideal for maneuvering through dense cover. And they are persistent, and relentless, in pursuit.

I have watched as a Sharp-shinned Hawk sits motionless in one of our pine trees, waiting until the small birds no longer recognize her presence. As soon as they become active again, she swoops in to the feeding area; often she misses, but often enough, she finds her prey.

Part of that broad view of nature requires us to consider that hawks have a place in nature, and part of it is population control. In the backyard environment, chickadees, for examaple, are apt to nest twice each year. With each nesting they lay 5 - 8 eggs. If all the young hatched each year were to reach maturity, it wouldn't take many generations before they overran the food sources, even including our personal largesse. The number of songbirds born each spring is determined, in part, by the fact of predators. Hawks are simply part of Nature's equation.

I have come to consider the occasional pile of feathers a badge of honor, proof that I have created/preserved a space that is natural enough, and complete enough, to allow this cycle of life to persist in my presence. I find the thought helps maintain my perspective when I have to face that pile of feathers.

[JT]

Well said, Barbara. I too consider the presence of raptors an honor. They only eat what they need, and most of your feeder birds get away safely over time.