From my front porch I was taking bird pictures , by my woodstove, this cold snowy morning . As I was focusing on and framing a picture of several gold finches, BAM , birds went everywhere. Five or six came strait at me. Two hit the glass of the window I was shooting through. I jumped back and thought WOW. What is going on. Then I saw him. A red tail hawk came off the ground, just a couple of feet from my camera. I looked quickly to see if he had any luck at my bird smorgasbord. He was gone in an instant, so I couldn't tell. After that the feeders were vacant, except for a Downy Woodpecker. As he clung to a feeder in terror, he was motionless. It was about five minutes before I saw him move. It was another ten minutes before any of the birds came back to the feeding troughs. I guess the hawks have to eat also. Such is the circle of life. I have a friend that calls the red tails "killing machines". I tend to agree. I am curious If other birders have seen these predators in action, at their feeding areas.
David Anderson from Mcfarland Kansas. 2/7/2021