Bird table relocation hawks

[oowee]

My bird table is under the apple trees close to my house but out of line of sight of any window. As a result I am unable to deter the many unwanted visitors that are gobbling the food so fast that I am having to refill the feeders every few hours.

If I move the feeders out into the open in line of sight I will be able manage the visitors better but I am concerned about sparrow hawks taking more of the song birds that I want to see. The Hawks try to catch them where they are but are they likely to be at more risk in the open or will they have more time to see the predators?

Edited June 25, 2016 by oowee

[Stonepark]

Put up a cage around it formed from 6 inch sheep mesh or 4 inch octagonal mesh, won't stop a determined hawk, but smaller birds will fly in and out unaffected.

[foxy bingo]

try 2inch mesh

[oowee]

I don't want to deter the wood peckers pheasant and duck that feed underneath. The hawk is about a fair bit as it is but was not sure if the song birds are safer in the cover of the apple trees or better in the open? In hindsight I should have had had an opening window put in during the rebuild.

[old man]

We have a pair of Sparrow Hawks as regular-ish raiders on the unwary birds using our feeders, all in the natural order of things.

 

The main problem here is cats, I think they take five time more birds from the garden than the Hawks, difficult to stomach some times along with their carp in the veg patch.

A menace!

[old'un]

My bird table is under the apple trees close to my house but out of line of sight of any window. As a result I am unable to deter the many unwanted visitors that are gobbling the food so fast that I am having to refill the feeders every few hours.

If I move the feeders out into the open in line of sight I will be able manage the visitors better but I am concerned about sparrow hawks taking more of the song birds that I want to see. The Hawks try to catch them where they are but are they likely to be at more risk in the open or will they have more time to see the predators?

 

Will make very little difference where you put your feeder, sparrow hawks (vermin) will attack.

 

For what its worth I find putting feeders out in the open but near cover seems to give the songbirds a little but of an edge.

[oowee]

 

Will make very little difference where you put your feeder, sparrow hawks (vermin) will attack.

 

For what its worth I find putting feeders out in the open but near cover seems to give the songbirds a little but of an edge.

I think I need to try it in the edge of the orchard where I can see it from the window, at least I can deter the squirrels, crows, rooks, and Jdaws. Hopefully provides some cover / escape routes.

[Velocette]

I use a 2" mesh cage,aprox 10" high, which all the smaller birds use with confidence. Its been good to see a pair of nuthatches trying to persuade 2 young ones to come inside and have a feast rather than cling to the outside looking hungry. They got there in the end !. Sparrow hawk strikes continue but there is some safety within the cage. Woodpeckers still feed boldly on the hanging peanut feeders outside.

Edited June 26, 2016 by Velocette