has anyone had it happen where something is eating the buds off of trees...will this kill the tree?

Birds eat the buds off of many fruit trees. It won't kill the tree, but will reduce the crop.

thanks bass! I am not sure if these are birds.

It could be them 'hungry' winter rats/mice/etc...

I had an entire tree eaten by mice and/or voles. Took the tarp off in the spring and there was nothing there, just the scaffolding and a hole in the ground!

If you don't see teeth marks from rodents and the marks are on the small side, check the surrounding soil for pill bugs. They have gone after several of my trees and nearly eaten all the way around the small trunks. Let me know if your Panache gives up and I may have one for you this fall.

Mice, Rabbits and squirrels can chew on the bark in winter when food is low. Even cats sometimes chew the young shoots of my kiwi in winter. 

thanks everyone for advice and support.  i think they may be mice/rats.

Hi Tammysf
Sorry for your rodent problem,if you need a VDB I have a small plant you can have (a rooted cutting from last fall)
Vito 

     I had problems with rabbits last year. One bit off the top of a small Magnolia fig tree.I put a wire cage around the tree and a baby rabbit slipped through the 1.5"x3"wire holes and ate the tree to the ground. It died.At that point,I dug up my trees and kept them in a safe area.Chicken wire would have kept the rabbits out,but at that time I wasn't sure if it was a rat or rabbit. A rabbit bite on vegetation will be at about a 45 angle and a sharp cut.