Learning how to spot a predator is much like playing where’s waldo but with raptors. Knowing just how loud my yard birds can be, I know they are drawing attention from all around. The latest is a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. I have now experienced this twice. Let me just say, out of all predators, this one is the most calculated.
It fears nothing and will stop at nothing. I can usually stand in the yard and these birds fly past. However, the Sharp-Shinned Hawk likes to show me he’s not intimidated. In a blink of an eye he’s now whipped past me twice practically running me down to crash my bird party. No time to react, literally! One minute he was perched up high creeping in my yard and a second later had flew past me. I have to say, this brought tears to my eyes. I have always told my birds that they are safe here and yet with this creeper, it’s not up to me.
All I can do is my best to keep my birds out of sight from predators and make sure these parties do not get out of control :).