There's something odd going on outside my windows. The area off our kitchen counters, extending all the way around two sides of a room where we eat most of our meals has ten large windows. Seven of those windows face North. In the winter, during the day, those windows tend to reflect the outdoors, and a lot of birds bang into the windows, thinking they are flying toward a grove of trees.
I've noticed that we have a lot of hawks visiting this year. We have Cooper's Hawks and Red-Tailed Hawks in this area, and most likely other varieties that I haven't identified. Over the past ten years, we've had one or two visits a year, but this year, the hawks are regularly chasing the birds at my feeders.
I'm trying to decide if the feeder birds are using the windows to aid in their escape, or whether the hawks are using the reflections to confuse the smaller birds and bring them down.
I haven't SEEN what's happening. I've just heard it. We'll hear a bird glance hard off the windows, with a sharp thunk. We'll look up in time to see the flash of the hawk's wings, but not in time to see if it was the hawk who hit, or the smaller bird. We haven't seen a hawk catch a smaller bird, so we can't decide if the hawks are being bamboozled by the little birds, or if the hawks are driving the little birds into the windows to stun them, to make it easier to catch them.
Has anybody had any experience with this phenomena?
Comments (5)
Good morning girl! I havent noticed any chasing birds but we have a few eagles and we have a cat missing! We think one may have got her! I tried to come and see you yesterday and every time I clicked on your sight I would get Microsoft? I was useing FireFox I don't no what is going on I had a lot of trouble again this morning so I went bacd to IE! Have a good one stay worm!
Posted by Joe Smitherman | January 19, 2005 11:26 AM
Posted on January 19, 2005 11:26
Joe, I don't know enough about technical things to be able to tell you what went wrong. Im glad that IE allowed you into my site.
I hope the cat shows up! I supppose the eagles could have gotten it.
Posted by Buffy | January 19, 2005 11:58 AM
Posted on January 19, 2005 11:58
Hey Buff, me again! Thank you for your invite regarding Amber. I will sure keep it in mind. She does not want to come here because she knows we want put up with her attitude. I feel for her she has had a tuff life so far. You just don't go from bad to worse!
Posted by Joe Smitherman | January 19, 2005 2:01 PM
Posted on January 19, 2005 14:01
So, have the hawks made off with any birds Buffy?
I know someone who has bird feeders and that has attracted stray cats which have been feasting on the birds. They decided to buy a raccoon trap cage (ask me why livestock stores here would sell that? we have no raccoon here!) Anyway, they modified the trap slightly and so far have captured five stray cats in three weeks. The cats have been turned in to the JSPCA and cared for and suitable homes found for them.
P.S. They have two huge rottweilers who would have a feast with these cats if they got the chance!
Posted by Dr. D. | January 20, 2005 8:50 PM
Posted on January 20, 2005 20:50
I think they may have gotten one, Dr. D. I saw a few pin feathers on the windowsill. But, the birds could have lost them in the attempt to get away.
Our cat goes out and crouches at the edge of the herb garden, listening to see if he might catch a small bird now and then. We usually try to scare the birds off when we see him out there.
Posted by Buffy | January 21, 2005 12:49 PM
Posted on January 21, 2005 12:49