Feeder Foes

I wrote last time about a sharp-shinned hawk attack on cute little chickadees at the bird feeder. The battle for life often finds one kind of critter killing another for food. Songbirds—when they’re not gorging themselves on the sunflower seeds that I put out—will eat small spiders and other bugs. The insects’ death ensures the life of the bird. In turn, a hawk catches and kills a small bird (or rodent), which ensures the life of the raptor. We humans may rue the death of an adorable songbird, but care far less about the death of a yucky bug.

The chickadee needs lots of fuel in the winter (as does the hawk). Half of all the calories that the little bird eats goes solely into shivering, which generates heat in its tiny body (about a third of an ounce, or the equivalent of two nickels).

Nature has given the songbird an exquisite sense of sight. We humans need binoculars to begin to rival their ability to spot tiny crevices in tree bark, where a bug may be hiding. They can also see into the ultraviolet range—allowing them to spot numerous food items (bugs) that may be tinged with a little UV coloring. These enhanced abilities help keep them alive through a bitter winter. Even so, many of them starve. (That’s why I feel that my bird feeder helps—by offering sunflower seeds loaded with fat.)  

The songbird foe, the sharp-shinned hawk, also has his imposing skills. His eyesight is even better, though not as keen as his larger family members—such as eagles. The “sharpie” is the smallest hawk—about the size of a blue jay. Many people who feed birds hate this small hawk, because it will lurk in a tree or bush—watching “like a hawk”—and suddenly burst out to snatch a cute songbird. Mother Nature’s wisdom, however, exceeds ours. The sharpie is actually useful in culling less fit birds (thus keeping the remaining flock healthier), as well as training them to be alert and wary. Wolves serve a similar function for deer, antelope, and other browsers.

Like other fierce-looking members of the hawk and eagle family, the sharp-shinned hawk has a hooked beak, strong feet, and curved talons, for seizing and killing prey. Its crown and back are a dark, blue-gray color, while its undersides are a beautiful white-and-rufous barred pattern. Its wings are short and wide and its tail is long—giving it the ability to make quick turns in its dash after prey. It is a migrating bird that breeds up in Canada and winters around here and farther south.

I feel constantly torn between the success and well-being of these feeder foes; but the success of one comes at the sacrifice of the other. I can’t have it both ways, nor does it make sense for me to favor one over the other. Nature doesn’t. It’s a balance. Maybe I can come to accept nature’s way, without casting my lot with either?