A note from Patricia, the person with the troublesome redtail near her feeder

2/10/05 A note from Patricia, the person with the troublesome redtail near her feeder
&
A note from a reader offering more advice about the problem:


Hi Marie,
I just read your posting of my letter to John on your website and would like to correct your impression of my letter. I was not trying to drive the RT or any other Hawk away from the area permanately, just not to have it as a long term resident in the area.
Thanks,
Patti

Here is a copy of an e-mail I sent to John regarding what has transpired here.

Hi John,
I tried your advice about going out when I observed the RT in the tree and as I approached it would take flight. This was continued for 2 days and on the third day no RT was seen all day. On the 4th day the RT returned but did not stay for over an hour and the activity has markedley increased by the ground dwellers. I dont wish to drive the RT off entirely and can live with ocassional visits which seem to be the case now. As a side note on the second day a Sharped Shinned hawk was observed hunting in the area but left after about an hour and I assume it made a catch. I will keep monitoring the situation and keep you informed. Thanks again for your help and I hope the RT and other hawks and I can all enjoy the area as it greens up.
Yours,
Patti

And more advice

Marie,

Patricia may also find the following advice from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology useful (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/OtherVisitors.htm):

"At some point you can expect a visit from a hawk, usually a Sharp-shinned Hawk or a Cooper's Hawk. At first you'll probably welcome the close-up view but if your hawk stays around and scares your feeder birds away, what can you do? The best solution is to take your feeders down for a few days. The hawk will get hungry and move on. "

The Lab's Project FeederWatch site has lots of information about birds and birdfeeding: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/abtbirds_index.html.

And their "All About Birds" site can't be beat for identification, birding how-to, attracting birds, etc.: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds

Liz