Solutions to keep hawk away from feeder?

[Raven11:11]

Our winter feeder is up and a huge red tailed hawk has shown up , again, and this senior is brazen and not shy. at all. We had a younger 2 hawks take a few fat doves last winter and so on but what can we do as all out birds are now in the witness protection program hiding in the humber.

[Rob'in'To]

Solutions?

Take down your bird feeders is the easiest, even for a week or so, and hopefully the Hawk will move on.  A big Red-tail won't have much interest in your song birds but Mourning Doves and Pigeons (if you get those) would be on the menu.

I try to have some feeders in sheltered spots or with quick exits.  But a hungry Hawk can be a determined one.

Red-tails circle my yard and I've only ever seen them take Pigeons and a few Rats (and wiped out that rodent situation fast).  Coopers hit the yard when the snow is on the ground and Pigeons and Starlings are their choice snacks.  A bold Sharp-shin is around semi-regularly and he's feasted on Mourning Dove, Starling, Chickadee, Sparrow, Gold Finch.  I'm not at a point where I want to take the feeders down.  A Hawk has to eat too.  And he's facing the challenges of being one set of eyes against a hundred sets most days.  First sight of him and everyone is gone.  But he is stealth like at times and does succeed.  If it was a daily massacre, then I would consider halting the bird feeding for a brief amount of time.

[Raven11:11]

Thanks for all of your advice and I tried to remove the feeder but this NEW hawk showed up. I have a great eye for them and he def is a wise and successful predator indeed. All of your comments are 100% on point ... we will try to remove the feeder for 2-3 days again ..
They do have a corner in our yard, closest / along the wall, and we have a sundeck roof where the grapevines are, all the 10+ Mourning Doves and now smaller birds you mentioned are doing their best to take cover but I see this hawk circling the park in our backyard and he is strategic, indeed. Can u believe 1 of our oldest doves who was in the clutches of a younger smaller hawk last winter (he had 1 in each claw) , and survived is still scarred (ruffled feathers + limp) !!! yup. We r happy she made it as it was tough watching the other dove be eaten 15 feet from our window. he was FAT and overfed. We spoil all wildlife & I know everyone needs to eat but we have named them and I even held a Cardinal in my hands 2 winters ago after he flew into our glass door and .. i posted the story.

Cheers.

[Bill & Jaye]

Unfortunatly we have the same problem.  We had plenty of finches, sparrows, Blue Jayes and a few doves on a daily bais.  We now have hardly any on those birds as a small merlin has been seen.  We see the remains of 3 sparrows.  So sad as the sparrows have spent the last winter and early part of this winter in bird houses.  Now now they have dissappeared.  Just a few finches come round to eat for a few minutes each day, then go in hiding.  I know the preditors must eat to.  But its sad.

[Raven11:11]

We now have 2 adult Red Tailed Hawks and boy r they ever brazen... wow.  Life.

[Raven11:11]

Ok, now a osprey and an new VERy young Red tailed hawk are here, we took the feeder down 4 days & the osprey was seen by me chasing a fully grown cat some 3o feet from our front door. wow.. The cat did not back down and lept up a solid 2-3 feet and scared it ... what is this osprey thinking, he is half the weight.

official.