Sunday morning at about 10am I started my count for my Project Feeder Watch and things were going good; Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Red and White Breasted Nuthatch, Juncos, House and Goldfinch...etc and then at about 10:15am all the birds left the count area very quickly except for eight Goldfinch at our finch feeders. About thirty seconds later a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into our maple (about half way up - 25' or so) and sat and watched. The Goldfinch were still (the finch feeders are about 30' from the maple hanging in a cherry tree) even the squirrels had scattered into the trees. The Sharpie sat for about two minutes and then left. All the Goldfinch scattered. In about five minutes birding activity started a Downy Woodpecker and Red-breasted Nuthatch each came for a peanut and left and then one Goldfinch returned and started to feed and then very quickly stopped. The biridng activity stopped, I scanned the surrounding trees and there on the opprosite side of the yard from the original sighting sat the Sharpie in a neighbours tree, probably about 30' up and and about and 70' from our finch feeders. The Sharpie looked around lifted a wing and did a little preening, he (she?) seemed very relaxed. The Goldfinch didn't move for minutes and then it turned its head, the Sharpie immediately swooped down from its perch, went around the Cherry tree, flipped sideways as it came by the feeder, extended his legs and plucked the Goldfinich right off the perch. The Sharpie landed on top of our fence, manipulated its prey a little and then took off with the Goldfinch in its talons. Exciting, fascinating and little bit sad (too bad for our goldfinch). I would assume it was the same Sharp-shin that appeared each time, which kind of makes me wonder if it was all part of a hunting technique - scare them and then wait and see if a bird returns - a weaker bird might return quicker to an easy food source because of need versus strong healthy birds would move onto safer feeding areas. Or was it two different birds? We live near West Deane Park and I know there is more than one Sharpie in the park. Either way it was very interesting and it is one of the things I like about Project Feeder Watch, you schedule and set aside some time specific to watching what takes place in your habitat and fascinating events do occur.
