I ve seen a hawk hanging around my feeder. Is that why I have fewer birds right now?
It really is a good question. Birds do decrease their activity at feeder stations in the fall and early winter each year and we generally attribute this to the boom in natural food that occurs then. Hawks may play a larger role than I have really ever given them credit. The fall and early winter period is also the time that hawks are migrating into our area. Sharp-shinned Hawks in particular can be here in impressive numbers and can t resist a visit to a target rich environment like a bird feeder station. Birds are smart animals and learn quickly to avoid hawks. The best thing that you can do to protect your birds is to make sure they have escape cover.
