Hello Fellow birders,
I have been thrilled lately to have so many great birds at my feeders. My
favorites are the Red-breasted Nuthatches and I now have a small flock of
Pine Siskins and all the usual suspects, of course. I've set up a veritable
buffet for them and we were all enjoying it until a Sharp-shinned hawk
started coming around. A couple of days ago the sharpie grabbed a male
cardinal, and as much as I love birds (and he is a beautiful bird), I swear
I was ready to kill him. The poor cardinal was screaming its' head off as
the Sharpie flew away clutching it in its' talons. I have a lot of cover
right next to the feeders (Honeysuckle and Privet) but he dives right in and
grabs them. My resident crows and jays do their best to warn all the birds
and run the Sharpie off but I think he actually got a jay the other day as
well. Today there was very little activity at the feeders, because he was
around. I know there's probably no solution (except to remove the feeders)
but maybe someone out there has some insight. I'm just worried that he will
stay here all winter and pick off my birds one by one. I sure do worry about
the nuthatches being taken, as they are my favorites. And yes, I know.. It's
nature. But I am a softie and I feel terrible. It's as if I'm setting the
table for this Sharpie.
Any tips or insight would be helpful. I'm going to add even more cover this
weekend by sticking some thicket-type branch material in with what's already
there.
I started a small gallery of close ups of the birds at the feeders.. No pics
of the Sharpie, though. He's too quick for me.
http://www.pbase.com/tomlyn/closeups
Thanks and Happy birding
Lynda Blair
New Kent County
Thanks!
