A hawk attack at my feeder in Cincinnati made me rethink everything

I was watching a bunch of goldfinches at my tube feeder yesterday morning when a sharp-shinned hawk slammed into the window trying to catch one. It didn't get the bird, but it left a smudge and scared the whole flock away for hours. Now I'm moving that feeder at least ten feet from any windows and looking into those window decals. Has anyone found a good way to keep the birds safe from predators without scaring them off completely?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul_stone293mo ago

Man, that's rough. Honestly, the hawk smudge is a good reminder that feeders can make birds easy targets, so maybe also think about placing it near some thick bushes for quick cover.

williamt443mo ago

Actually hawks need open space to hunt.

rivera.jesse22d ago

Solidarity with that, @williamt44. A lot of folks don't realize how vulnerable birds can be even with the best setup. It's good you pointed that out, it's a reminder we all gotta think about the full picture.