"Roger Tonkin" wrote in message
...


I stopped feeding the birds due to this very thing - a very persistant
sparrowhawk who saw my bird table and hanging feeders as an ideal
opportunity. It felt like I was just setting up a trap for the small
bird's demise.
Unfortunately, the sparrowhawk nested in my garden hatching 6 chicks so
it
will be quite a while before I can feed the birds again.
Feeding the birds used to give me a lot of pleasure.

Then carry on doing so. Sparrowhawks deserve to feed, too, and each will
be satisfied by the equivalent of one starling per day. By having them
nest in your garden, they were taking up to 8 times that.during the
rearing period, so there's no logic in a different attitude during the
winter!

I agree, whilst it may seem upsetting at the time, they are a
wonderful bird in their own right and have to live!

I have found that, as I go away a bit, that as there are
periods of no food for either the garden birds, nor the sparrow
hawk, the latter seems to find sustenance in other pastures.
When I return, the garden birds are usually back within 24
hours, but the sparrow hawk takes a long time to reappear (last
returned on 8th Dec, no visit that I've seen yet!)

Positioning of the feeders can also be a factor. If way out in the open then
the hawk
will have a better chance of the upper hand. If positioned in an area with
much tree branch
adjacent cover - then the little birds can shelter amongst them in relative
safety.

I have had similar worries to Christine, but have never witnessed a strike,
helped I feel
by much nearby cover that the hawk seems unwilling to enter.

Pete