Garden

[drizzellla]

Well it finally happened.

We have had lots of activity around our bird feeders for years. We go through lots of bird seed and everyone is welcome.

On occasion we have seen an occasional feather. But as a rule the birds, squirrels, rabbits and groundhog have enjoyed all the goodies.

Now the backyard is silent. A hawk went hunting in our backyard.  I feel bad but the hawk has to eat too. The hawk flew away with the remains of a squirrel, after it ate a bit. Wonder if it took the remains for little ons's if it has them.

Sad to see. 

[DSD2]

Yes, it is sad. Nature can be beautiful but cruel. 

As you noted, every living creature requires food.  Hopefully, your feathered friends will return soon. 

[Coastalcarolina]

I know how you feel.  I am a tender hearted person when it comes to animals.  A few years ago I too, was feeding the birds.  Scores of cardinals, jays, juncos and chickadees.  Some squirrels too.

I looked out my kitchen window and saw a bright red smallish ball.  I thought that was strange.  A hawk had beheaded a cardinal.  That did it for me.  I slowly backed away from feeding until that summer.  I no longer feed the birds 😞

[We rescue cats]

I too hate it but it is nature. It is one of the reasons I feed and care for the crows, they will often run the predators off.

[Neetgal2]

@We rescue cats 

Do you do anything special for the crows.  We have them, usually many, but very sporadic.

[sabatini]

@drizzellla, I remember feeling as you do when years ago, a Cooper's hawk swooped in & grabbed a lovebird who was at the feeder.

It was devastating, but then I started reading about raptors and did a total 180 in my thinking.

Birds of prey don't have access to a consistent form of food, & hunting is often unsuccessful. The majority (over 75%!) of juvenile raptors die of starvation, and others of malnutrition.

That changed my mind completely!

So I brought my feeders back out and said "The buffet is now open to everyone. Have at it!" 

[shoekitty]

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@Neetgal2 wrote:

@We rescue cats 

Do you do anything special for the crows.  We have them, usually many, but very sporadic.

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crows and jays are some of the most special birds to me. While the little ones, like finches, and the like give joy looking at.  Crows can actually give back a little love, lol so to speak.  I have had a crow and some of his family come for several years. I give him an egg everyday.  Hard boiled. lol. He comes to branch on walnut tree out front and yells for me.  When I whistle, he comes to attention and get excited. We go out front give him the egg, as I walk back inside he gives me this little chortle that says, thanks!,,  he has brought me green bottle glass, and part of a cigarette wrapper,  and a penny    Puts them on the bench where I leave the egg.  He is just to too sweet. Of course his friends come, and beg too.  They love old chicken and stuff, as they are carnivores and often eat carrion. Years ago, we only saw crows near Halloween when they came in a bunch. And stayed dot

r a couple months and left. These crows I have now were born in a cypress tree in back of me.  I have known him since he fledged. So we are tight. Call him Bucky because he picked up the BOK BOK. he repeats over and over sometimes. He got it from the chickens in the yard where he was born I am sure,,

[shoekitty]

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@We rescue cats wrote:

I too hate it but it is nature. It is one of the reasons I feed and care for the crows, they will often run the predators off.

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@We rescue cats   crows can be your friends lol. We have a pond, and our crows as I described in previous post, actually scare off the Heron that come into our yard and gaze at our pond. They have eaten some of out fish a few years  ago.  The crows not only scrape him off one of them chases him over a half mile in flight nipping at the herons tail.  True story. I saw this when I heard commotion and looked out from upstairs and saw the crow pecking at the heron near pond. Dive bombing him, over. The heron trying to get his wings going finally took off.  You could hear the crow squeaking forever in the sky. Poor heron trying to pick up speed.  It was a slight I will never forget.  The crow finally firmed atound, just a dot at that point he was so far.  Came back and rested in our walnut tree with his beak open.  lol. My hero

[Jk9]

I understand the feeling of hearing a little scream when you see a raptor diving for food.  We have a swing up in between the front pastures and like to sit there and enjoy the atmosphere.  Our property has a lot of woods and we are out in the country.  That means we have all kinds of critters and they all need to eat.  It is nature.......

[geezerette]

I keep my bird feeders close to my woods where the songbirds and squirrels can quickly duck for cover if a predator is close.  Hawks and other large birds tend to prefer an open area where they can have a clear flight path to grab their food.

Occasionally there is a lucky hawk that can manage to snatch a bird that isn't quite paying attention or may be older or injured, but it's rare.  Yes, it does bother me for a few minutes, but as you say, it's nature.  The hawks have to eat too.  By my feeding the songbirds, I'm changing the dynamics of their world.  And I appreciate the birds of prey's beauty and the job they have in the grand scheme of things keeping our environment balanced.  

The songbirds always come back to the feeders.😉