Erie, Pennsylvania

"What Can I Do about Hawks in My Yard?"

Sharp-shinned Hawk, JuvenileHawk activity at backyard feeders often increases during the winter months.  Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks are our most common hawks to visit feeders at this time.  (Click here for tips on telling these two similar species apart.)  Young hawks experiencing their first winter are especially frequent visitors to birdfeeding stations as they try to cope with limited prey options during this time.  The diet of these hawks during winter consists primarily of birds, with a preference for large birds like doves and pigeons.

Red-tailed Hawk in FlightWe may also get the larger Red-tailed Hawks.  Red-tailed Hawks require larger prey for their diet (mice, squirrels, and rabbits) and generally leave backyard birds alone.

So, what can you do?

You can give your birds cover in the form of low-growing, dense shrubs (evergreens and hollies work well) and place the feeders near this cover so the birds can quickly dive to safety.  Don't have any shrubs near your feeders?  Create a brush pile out of fallen limbs, old Christmas trees, trimmed branches, etc.

Remember, hawks are following their natural instincts to hunt.  They carry out an important role in the ecosystem, culling out weak and sick birds and help control the populations of small rodents.  They will not "eat up all the birds' in your yard; adult Cooper's Hawks are successful only 1 out of every 26 attempts and young hawks fare much worse.

Sharp-shinned and Cooper's HawksAll hawks are protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty.  It is illegal to harass, attack, or kill them.

The next time a hawk visits your yard, take the time to observe and enjoy these amazing and beneficial birds of prey.