Moral problem

[Nikola]

HELP im in a bit of a fix. I have several feeders in my garden and attract a lot of different birds which is great. I now have one male and one female sparrow hawk in residence in the wood across the road. We have lost a blackbird to the female (i found her plucking it on the lawn and had quite a mess to clean up afterwards).l Yestarday i was out in the garden when the male came at me at eye leval, as he went past his wing brushed my face. so i know they are pretty bold. What do i do. i respect all creatures have the right to live, but i dont know if i should keep my feeders and encourage these hunters. Or do i stop feeding the small birds for a while. Then again i could put out some rabbit or turkey mince for the hawks any ideas:confused:

[gazza]

I would try and put the feeders in the open so the birds can see wots coming. Or put food on the bird table i use to get a sparrow hawk but it soon went. I just keep my feeders in the open and food on the table. I would not feed the hawk or it would keep coming bk for more and it would scear the birds.

[Emma]

If there's a Sparrowhawk in the area, it's better to put the feeders nearer to some cover.

Sparrowhawks almost always catch garden birds from the ground. Put the feeders near trees or bushes so the birds have somewhere to dart to quickly; the Sparrowhawk will have difficulty navigating the trees/bushes to get to it's prey. It's not a fool proof method, though!

Don't stop feeding your birds, Nikola. Think how many birds you are helping compared to the few which will be taken by the Sparrowhawks.

[Nikola]

Thankyou all for all the advise. my feeders are spread throughout the garden some near cover some in the open. the shed which the hawks use as a rest spot is in a quite an open area. i will see about moving my feeders to another spot.Though i dont know if the mice will be to happy.

[oasisjack]

I would say just let things roll. Think how many lives youve saved over the winter, and how many parents your helping now.
If some are now being taken by a natural predetor then its a good thing because the hawk has been attracted by a strong and healthy population of songbirds.
Besides if its a pair of hawks your probably helping another family raise their chicks.
Dont stop feeding the birds.

[Nikola]

Cheers again i think the brids are out to get me i keep on having them fly past me so close there wings brush my face it nutts im sure i dont look like a penut treat! the hawks have not been back for a few days and a new family of blackbirds have moved in.:D