I suspect there is a bird of prey nesting in my back yard.

[Arkansas Granny]

Several times this summer I have found my back yard covered with feathers that appear to be from the Collared Doves that have colonized the area over the last several years. They are pretty birds, but very agressive non-natives. Since they showed up, I hardly see any of our native Mourning Doves anymore and they used to be numerous.



It sometimes looks like a pillow fight has taken place. I feed a colony of feral cats, but I didn't think they were responsible because I never found any body parts, just feathers and they were scattered under a tree and nowhere else.

Today I was outside and saw a feather drift down from overhead. I looked up and there were many feathers stuck to the tree limbs above my head. I looked around some more and spotted a rather large nest about 25-30 ft. up in the fork of a branch. It looks to be about 12-18 inches in diameter and made primarily of small sticks and twigs. I didn't see anything happening, but I'll be checking for activity.

[Coventina]

1. An owl would be my first guess, but who knows?

Please keep us updated!

Do you have a good set of binocs?

Very curious as to the make & model of your new neighbor!

[Arkansas Granny]

2. No binocs, but I have a pretty good view of the nest from the ground.

I've seen hawks patrolling the neighborhood and even saw one that had snatched a sparrow from the bird feeder once. Now that I feed the wild kitties, I don't feed the birds. There's no need to give the cats an unfair advantage.

[hobbit709]

3. A friend of mine here in Austin always feeds the pigeons and doves in his yard.

About once a week or so a red-tailed hawk will snag one of the pigeons.

[Populist_Prole]

4. Maybe. You got me thinking and it just dawned on me

While walking every square foot of my yard doing my weekly mowing, I seem to notice lots of feathers in clumps, and the occasional bird carcass. Almost without fail.

[femmocrat]

5. Do you have hawks?

I am pretty sure they kill our doves, too. Such a sad sight, because the doves are so gentle and slow.

[Arkansas Granny]

10. Yes, I've seen hawks in the neighborhood regularly, and in my yard a

a few times. I don't really mind about the doves. They are non-native and invasive.

[Brigid]

6. What kinds of hawks or falcons are in your area?

Back in April, I saw a redtail hawk grab a robin for lunch in the park across the street. And just yesterday while I was waiting for a bus I saw a flock of foraging sparrows suddenly scatter and hide in a large bush nearby. I looked up, and saw a hawk fly over.

[LWolf]

7. I have the same dove situation.

Birds of prey are common, and the local great-horned owl likes the tree by my bedroom and my back door. I often find dove feathers under both of them, although there is no nest.

[Kali]

8. check under the tree for pellets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellet_%28ornithology%29

[Arkansas Granny]

11. I saw something that looked like that, but didn't realize what it was.

I'll look closer tonight.

[sakabatou]

9. We have a nesting pair of hawks sometimes

I don't see feathers, but I do see their nest with the sidewalk all dirty.