Lack of Songbirds

[Napper]

Over the last few weeks since putting up a bird feeder I've noticed fewer and fewer birds around. I only have two Chickadee's visiting. I think I know why, over the last few weeks I spotted a Coopers hawk in and around the neighbourhood. My wife spotted one as it flew threw the yard last week. Yesterday while looking out the back sliding door another flew past the feeder and kept going. I believe this large Coopers Hawk has a daily routine that involves checking all the feeders on the street.  In late December we had Cardinals, Bluejays both species of Nuthaches and Junco's. The only interesting birds of late were the 7 Robins in a tree across the street yesterday and 5 Crows harassing a Red Tail Hawk today above the house.
Napper 

[Ally]

I will trade with everything I have for that.

[Shortsighted]

I have also noticed a substantial decrease in the number of birds visiting the backyard feeder when compared to previous years. Moreover, even when a few birds visit they will depart after a feeding for only a few minutes. Nothing may return for an hour, or more. Considering the variety of seed on offer and that the temperature is quite low it seems especially odd. Let's face it, when it's cold the birds need all the calories they can get.
Also, I will often see a bird "freeze" in position on the feeder, or on a perch for quite a long time. This generally suggests that there is a predator nearby so the bird chooses to remain motionless as if inanimate. I've been unable to detect a predator in the area. In fact, I have not seen a hawk or falcon in a very long time, despite all the perches offered by the street-side woodlot that a bird of prey could use as a look-out. Right now the snow is too deep for cats, so I know it's not the perceived threat. It's also too deep for squirrels and that part is great.

[Axeman]

I've been reading about this....I've only been operating my feeders up at cottage but have noticed only chickadees...with odd hairy / downy....no Jays at all....and that seems to be the consensus around the lake...no Jays.

[Shortsighted]

I used to have jays visit the backyard in November and December but they have since disappeared. No visits in all of January. Even cardinals have now been absent for about a week. No goldfinch and no more House finch either. At the beginning of January there might be a dozen chickadees at the same time and now I might see one, or two during the whole day. All I have are the same three amigo juncos and a Downy WP maybe once every other day. The Hairy is gone and the RBWP has been gone for a long time. The only thing of interest was an entire squadron on Ivory-billed Woodpeckers that blocked out the sun as they headed northward. The wing flaps sounded like crashing surf. They would all glide in unison in between flaps. I even considered that they might RC decoys made in China and sent to collect INTEL.