I need some suggestions ...

I have a single bird feeder in my backyard. Just the one. I feed the birds in the hanging feeder and have 2 dishes on the ground to feed the ground feeding birds and the squirrels. I have a resident Red-shouldered Hawk (possibly a mating pair) that lives within a few residential lots from me. I hear and see a hawk flying the skies above me all the time. I have also photographed this bird sitting on the very top of my bird feeder. Well, today I walked outside to fill the feeder and dishes and saw the Hawk sitting on the top of my 6' privacy fence. I suspect this bird was waiting for squirrels.

I want to move the feeder away from the picket fence (see second post photo) as the squirrels jump from that fence into the upper bird feeder. Where would be the best place to relocate it in my backyard? My dh suggested we move it closer down the slope of the backyard to be more centered and away from the the picket and privacy fences. I want to protect the birds that come to the feeder and the squirrels as much as possible from being easy pickings for the hawk(s). I feel like I am setting them up for easy pickings for this Hawk to nab them where the feeder is currently located. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Here is a photo of the Hawk sitting on my fence just to the east of my bird feeder. This was taken earlier this morning. Beautiful bird, but I want to give the other birds and the squirrels a fighting chance of survival at the feeder.

This message was edited Nov 20, 2010 12:19 PM

Here is the feeder where it is currently located in my backyard. The hawk was sitting on the section of the privacy fence that you see in this photo. About 12-15 feet away.

This message was edited Nov 20, 2010 12:22 PM

Hi Becky, I would move it more towards the left back corner. Make sure it's not so close that the squirrels can jump from the tree onto the top feeder (more than 15 feet). It should be a nice area for the birds and they'll have more places to dive in for cover if a hawk comes around.

Thanks, Pelle! I was thinking the lower left side of the backyard (that you suggested) was the place to move it. I just need to make sure I am far enough away from trees/bushes that the squirrels aren't jumping into the hanging platform bird feeder. You'd think with the dishes below the feeder for them, that they would leave the bird feeder alone. Oh well! Such is nature...

I have seen the hawk in flight carrying a squirrel and a snake at different times in it's talons. I haven't seen any snakes at all this year in my yard. For years I had 3 nice sized snakes that hung around my yard. (Non-poisonous.) I rather liked having them around. I suspect that the hawk got them or perhaps the bobcat. We have a mother bobcat that had three cubs from what my neighbors told me. She was raising them in one of the vacant lots 3 properties down from my home on the densely wooded corner lot. Our neighborhood was getting too many fruit rats ... I had a lot coming into my yard and doing damage to my plants and the wood around my house. I haven't seen a rat in 3 months. I think the bobcats, owls, and the hawks got most of them. I know these predatory creatures will follow the food source. Unfortunately, I've also seen a pile of bird feathers in my yard several times this year also. They looked like dove feathers. So something got one of those birds from time to time. Likely the hawk.

At one point, I was ready to call an exterminator about the rats. But nature proved once again that there is a balance in all of this. :-) I have seen the mother bobcat a few times this year. But not lately. Her and her cubs may have moved on if the rats and snakes and other live food have all been eaten by her, her cubs, the screech owls, and the hawks. She may be on the move for new territory and live food. You'd never guess by my posts that I live in a typical residential neighborhood. We do have quite a few vacant, wooded lots in our area ... especially around my home. I am always amazed at the wildlife I see here. Quite a contrast to hearing the noisey traffic a block away and all the usual noises in a busy neighborhood. I haven't seen any raccoons in almost a year. I guess the bobcat ran them off, too! LOL! But the squirrels are still here along with all the different resident and migratory birds!