The backyard nemisis

Have you noticed that the birds are staying away from the BirdCam feeders? I surely have… and this guy is one of the reasons why. You might think that I’d get used to this predator v. prey thing that goes on in the backyard every winter. I just haven’t been able to. Now, I am fascinated by the hawks. I grab my camera every time I see one swoop through the yard. It’s incredible to see them. What isn’t incredible is the hours-long absence of any other birds after the hawk has made a pass through the area. And when the birds do finally start popping out of the bushes, they’re so skittish that they disappear again with each leaf that falls. I miss the birds! I miss having them at the feeders. I miss having to fill the feeders several times each day because the birds are so busy. I miss having birds to look at on the BirdCams! There’s nothing I can do. And of course, there’s nothing I would do. This is the way it’s supposed to be. But I don’t like it!

I participate each year in Project Feeder Watch, a citizen science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. From November to April, I watch the backyard and on certain days, I count the birds. I’m sure it’s an “ego” thing, but I’d really like to have some high bird count numbers. It just doesn’t happen with the backyard being a part of the hawks’ territory. Somehow I need to accept this and just relax and wait for the birds to return. Somehow this doesn’t seem to be easy for me to do!

Here’s hoping for some birds at the feeders!