Project Feeder Watch

[malleefarmer]

Went to is it birds of prey centre in 17 thought it was cool.

In alberta somewere.

Loved the owls

[burnt]

Owls are the coolest, in my estimation.

Before our old bank barn burned in '08, we would have barn owls take residence in it's high, timber frame.

They were great for rodent control, which was sorely needed in that barn.

But I was very saddened one day to find a dead owl laying on the barn floor, likely a victim of rodent control poisoning after eating mice or rats that had taken on a feed of mouse bait.

They have occasionally taken up residence in our new barn, but quite infrequently.

[burnt]

Went to is it birds of prey centre in 17 thought it was cool.

In alberta somewere.

Loved the owls

There is an interesting intersection of "birds of prey" and "feeder watching":

On a couple of occasions, we had unwanted visitors preying on the intended guests at our bird feeders. And I'm not talking about the pesky barn cats...

One time I was walking to the house from the shop, our Blue Heeler/Collie cross dog alongside.

So quick that it was like a flash mirage, a somewhat larger bird, likely a Sharp-shinned hawk, did a super-sonic fly-by barely 50' in front of us and grabbed a smaller bird out of the air in a splash of feathers.

The dog lunged forward, but it was over before she got into her 2nd bound.

Another time there was a larger hawk took up a surveillance position in the spruces around the yard. it took only one or two dives and the feeders were deserted for about a week. Then they slowly returned after the predator left for better feeding grounds.

It's not always pretty watching nature at work.

[Blaithin]

I’ve only seen Merlins at work on the birds. Not enough trees around for the bigger species I think. Except the Red Tails, they periodically like my chickens.

As did an old Great Horned Owl. Smartest bird I’ve run into yet.

[Guest]

those sparrow hawks are something to see when they drop straight outta the sky at 125mph, and take a sparrow under the sprayer boom that is 17" above the crop and travelling 17 mph!