Our martins have been attacked (though only once successfully) every season. I usually go out and chase the hawks away, but can't help but wonder what it would take for hawks to completely obliterate our small colony.
Any suggestions as to how to keep the hawks away, or information as to how serious the hawk attack would have to be to discourage our martins from returning.
Each season brings with it anxiety for the survival of the birds. We do usually go on a two week vacation during the time the birds are raising their young. Our housing consists of a T14 with 4 super gourds hanging from it, and another gourd rack that has 4 super gourds on it.
Sue P
Hawks
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Hawks can be fooled by decoys, they will attack the decoy and that permits the martins to escape. It is suggested that people move the decoys around so that the hawks will not get used to them and remember that they are decoys. Some people put up 2, 3, or even more decoys. I think its very important to move them often
I use a long pole that is about 18ft long, its 2 pieces of 2 x 2 boards nailed together. I put the decoy on top, and I move that pole to different places or different gourd racks. I just lean it against the poles so its easy to move daily.
Probably the best idea is to get rid of nearby trees. People usually are unable to do that or hate to do it but its the best solution. When you have no trees, the martins can see the hawks coming, so they can escape before the hawk arrives.
I use a long pole that is about 18ft long, its 2 pieces of 2 x 2 boards nailed together. I put the decoy on top, and I move that pole to different places or different gourd racks. I just lean it against the poles so its easy to move daily.
Probably the best idea is to get rid of nearby trees. People usually are unable to do that or hate to do it but its the best solution. When you have no trees, the martins can see the hawks coming, so they can escape before the hawk arrives.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
I have studied Accipiter hawk predation on purple martins for many years and have witnessed literally hundreds of attacks over the years.
Purple martin colonies are ideal locations for certain types of raptors to stake out and attack. Such a colony is similar to a bird feeding station that attracts hawks. Any concentration of prey will attract predators. It is the law of the jungle.
You mainly have to worry about two major martin predators: Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks. These are the Accipiters with short rounded shaped wings, long tails and slim profiles. They are built for speed, agility and eating birds.
Another predator is the super fast merlin which is a small falcon. These raptors often hunt martins and swallows. These falcons nest primarily in Canada and in the upper mid-west and the northwest of the United States and are largely migratory for most parts of America. You don't see them as frequently as the Accipiters for most locations.
A major strategy to minimize successful Accipiter hawks on a colony of purple martins is to provide a completely open environment. Any nearby trees, particularly ones that are less than 60 feet from the martin housing create camouflage for an Accipiter to launch surprise attacks. These hawks will sneak up on the colony during the early morning or late afternoon at roosting time and attack the martins in vulnerable situations before they can take evasive action. Martins need an unobstructed avenue of escape with no vegetation to impede their initial downward burst of speed from their housing and then the subsequent straight line high speed flight leading to the upward climb to reach the safety of the open sky. Trees and other vegetation get in the martin’s way and result in reduced forward speed. This may allow the Accipiter to quickly overtake the martin and force the martin to try to out maneuver this highly agile hawk. The sharpie, in particular, can match turn for turn every banking action of a martin at low altitudes and at the slower speeds of close quarter dog fighting. It is best to have several hundred feet or yards of open space so martins can accelerate, build up speed and then climb to escape from Accipiter hawks.
Placing realistic martin decoys on gourd racks, house perches/top or even on a stand alone perch may deflect an attacking Accipiter hawk from a real martin and allow the martin to accelerate and escape. These hawks may naturally select the slowest and most vulnerable prey and a stationary decoy can sometimes “fool” the raptor. Decoys probably work well with migratory Accipiter hawks that are passing through and may just try a single attack on a martin colony. Resident Accipiter hawks may eventually learn to ignore the decoys and go for the real martins, particularly if the hawks have struck the fake martins a number of times. I have a martin decoy pole placed about 100 feet to the south of my martin colony and these decoys will sometimes lure in both Accipiter hawks and merlins that are approaching from that direction.
Physical guards on martin housing produce a paradoxical impact relative to minimizing Accipiter hawk predation. Such guards do a good job of keeping these hawks from grabbing both adult and young martins inside the nest or on porches. However, guards such as fencing panels and protruding curved metal dowels may slow down martins in bolting from their housing when an Accipiter is attacking. Martins may fly into such guards or be delayed in getting through them when trying to quickly escape.
Using enlarged cavities, srehs and offset entrances can help to keep hawks from reaching inside nests to pull out martins. But most Accipiter hawks hunt the martins on the outside.
Landlords may be able to reduce surprise attacks by Accipiters on their martin colony by maintaining a highly visible presence, particularly during the early mornings and at roosting times in the late afternoons. I always stand guard when my martins are coming in to roost because this is the perfect time for Accipiter hawks to launch surprise attacks. I do the same thing in the mornings. The dim lighting conditions give the hawk a chance to sneak up on the colony and enter the area almost undetected at times. I position myself in front of my colony and move about around the perimeter. This has on a number of occasions kept the hawks at bay or allowed me to see them coming in. If I can see them before they actually go into a hunting feeding frenzy, my hand clapping and visible presence will sometimes chase the hawks away. The key is to intercept the hawk BEFORE it is in a full blown hunting modus operandi.
Resident Accipiter hawks with young to feed may attack a martin colony at any time during the day. These hawks are the most difficult to thwart. We have several pairs of resident Cooper's hawk that nest in our area and these hawks probably catch between 100 and 200 martin fledglings every year. I often see 3 to 5 attacks a day.
Cooper's hawks in particular are increasing in population and expanding the nesting ranges into more suburban and urban areas. These hawks are learning to associate martin housing with food and actively seeking out martin colonies.
Constant hawk attacks can create an atmosphere of terror for martins and they may stop socializing around the colony and stay gone for most of the day. This is particularly true earlier in the season. The martins may circle high over their colony and be afraid to come down. Or the martins may make frequent dives to the colony and then pull up into the sky. They are afraid to stay around because the hawks attack the martins when they are at the housing. In the evenings the martins will return and often wait till almost dark to dive down and then they quickly enter. There is little or no socializing around the housing.
Usually some hawk attacks will not cause total abandonment of a colony. Martins have been facing their predators for thousands of years. However, if the hawks are successful on a daily basis, then a small colony could be destroyed. It is a numbers game and the hawks simply wipe out the martins.
It is just a fact of life that martin colonies are tempting targets for the Accipiters and the landlords can't stop all predation, but can do things to minimize it.
Steve
Purple martin colonies are ideal locations for certain types of raptors to stake out and attack. Such a colony is similar to a bird feeding station that attracts hawks. Any concentration of prey will attract predators. It is the law of the jungle.
You mainly have to worry about two major martin predators: Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks. These are the Accipiters with short rounded shaped wings, long tails and slim profiles. They are built for speed, agility and eating birds.
Another predator is the super fast merlin which is a small falcon. These raptors often hunt martins and swallows. These falcons nest primarily in Canada and in the upper mid-west and the northwest of the United States and are largely migratory for most parts of America. You don't see them as frequently as the Accipiters for most locations.
A major strategy to minimize successful Accipiter hawks on a colony of purple martins is to provide a completely open environment. Any nearby trees, particularly ones that are less than 60 feet from the martin housing create camouflage for an Accipiter to launch surprise attacks. These hawks will sneak up on the colony during the early morning or late afternoon at roosting time and attack the martins in vulnerable situations before they can take evasive action. Martins need an unobstructed avenue of escape with no vegetation to impede their initial downward burst of speed from their housing and then the subsequent straight line high speed flight leading to the upward climb to reach the safety of the open sky. Trees and other vegetation get in the martin’s way and result in reduced forward speed. This may allow the Accipiter to quickly overtake the martin and force the martin to try to out maneuver this highly agile hawk. The sharpie, in particular, can match turn for turn every banking action of a martin at low altitudes and at the slower speeds of close quarter dog fighting. It is best to have several hundred feet or yards of open space so martins can accelerate, build up speed and then climb to escape from Accipiter hawks.
Placing realistic martin decoys on gourd racks, house perches/top or even on a stand alone perch may deflect an attacking Accipiter hawk from a real martin and allow the martin to accelerate and escape. These hawks may naturally select the slowest and most vulnerable prey and a stationary decoy can sometimes “fool” the raptor. Decoys probably work well with migratory Accipiter hawks that are passing through and may just try a single attack on a martin colony. Resident Accipiter hawks may eventually learn to ignore the decoys and go for the real martins, particularly if the hawks have struck the fake martins a number of times. I have a martin decoy pole placed about 100 feet to the south of my martin colony and these decoys will sometimes lure in both Accipiter hawks and merlins that are approaching from that direction.
Physical guards on martin housing produce a paradoxical impact relative to minimizing Accipiter hawk predation. Such guards do a good job of keeping these hawks from grabbing both adult and young martins inside the nest or on porches. However, guards such as fencing panels and protruding curved metal dowels may slow down martins in bolting from their housing when an Accipiter is attacking. Martins may fly into such guards or be delayed in getting through them when trying to quickly escape.
Using enlarged cavities, srehs and offset entrances can help to keep hawks from reaching inside nests to pull out martins. But most Accipiter hawks hunt the martins on the outside.
Landlords may be able to reduce surprise attacks by Accipiters on their martin colony by maintaining a highly visible presence, particularly during the early mornings and at roosting times in the late afternoons. I always stand guard when my martins are coming in to roost because this is the perfect time for Accipiter hawks to launch surprise attacks. I do the same thing in the mornings. The dim lighting conditions give the hawk a chance to sneak up on the colony and enter the area almost undetected at times. I position myself in front of my colony and move about around the perimeter. This has on a number of occasions kept the hawks at bay or allowed me to see them coming in. If I can see them before they actually go into a hunting feeding frenzy, my hand clapping and visible presence will sometimes chase the hawks away. The key is to intercept the hawk BEFORE it is in a full blown hunting modus operandi.
Resident Accipiter hawks with young to feed may attack a martin colony at any time during the day. These hawks are the most difficult to thwart. We have several pairs of resident Cooper's hawk that nest in our area and these hawks probably catch between 100 and 200 martin fledglings every year. I often see 3 to 5 attacks a day.
Cooper's hawks in particular are increasing in population and expanding the nesting ranges into more suburban and urban areas. These hawks are learning to associate martin housing with food and actively seeking out martin colonies.
Constant hawk attacks can create an atmosphere of terror for martins and they may stop socializing around the colony and stay gone for most of the day. This is particularly true earlier in the season. The martins may circle high over their colony and be afraid to come down. Or the martins may make frequent dives to the colony and then pull up into the sky. They are afraid to stay around because the hawks attack the martins when they are at the housing. In the evenings the martins will return and often wait till almost dark to dive down and then they quickly enter. There is little or no socializing around the housing.
Usually some hawk attacks will not cause total abandonment of a colony. Martins have been facing their predators for thousands of years. However, if the hawks are successful on a daily basis, then a small colony could be destroyed. It is a numbers game and the hawks simply wipe out the martins.
It is just a fact of life that martin colonies are tempting targets for the Accipiters and the landlords can't stop all predation, but can do things to minimize it.
Steve
PMCA Member
300+ pairs of martins each season
300+ pairs of martins each season
Hi Sue,
I installed 4 inch wire fencing around all my compartments. The fencing extends 9 to 12 inches in front of each hole. I have a small colony too, with some trees nearby. I lost two ASY males 3 years ago to a Cooper's hawk, before the fencing was installed. I haven't lost any birds since. I use decoys also. The fencing also would protect your colony from large owl attacks.
Gary
I installed 4 inch wire fencing around all my compartments. The fencing extends 9 to 12 inches in front of each hole. I have a small colony too, with some trees nearby. I lost two ASY males 3 years ago to a Cooper's hawk, before the fencing was installed. I haven't lost any birds since. I use decoys also. The fencing also would protect your colony from large owl attacks.
Gary
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Hi Sue- Steve has given lots of good information.
I have 2 gourd racks and 1 housing system - 60 cavities. I have 6 decoys that I move around my colony once a week.
I had a Cooper's hawk that conducted daily attacks (sometimes 2x a day) on my colony last year. She inevitably hit the decoys - every time, except during fledging time and once, a fledgling was too slow off the blocks and she ended up pursuing him. Fortunately, the adults saw the poor fledgling's dilema and circled around to attack the hawk as the fledgling flew for the trees (about 350 ft. away) and managed to escape. Heck of a way to learn to fly isn't it??
Even after my martins left and I hadn't taken down the decoys, she continued her attacks on them. I was amazed that she never gave up, even struggling with one decoy so ferociously that she fell to the ground when she lost her momentum and balance.
Good luck - decoys & your presence will help!
I have 2 gourd racks and 1 housing system - 60 cavities. I have 6 decoys that I move around my colony once a week.
I had a Cooper's hawk that conducted daily attacks (sometimes 2x a day) on my colony last year. She inevitably hit the decoys - every time, except during fledging time and once, a fledgling was too slow off the blocks and she ended up pursuing him. Fortunately, the adults saw the poor fledgling's dilema and circled around to attack the hawk as the fledgling flew for the trees (about 350 ft. away) and managed to escape. Heck of a way to learn to fly isn't it??
Even after my martins left and I hadn't taken down the decoys, she continued her attacks on them. I was amazed that she never gave up, even struggling with one decoy so ferociously that she fell to the ground when she lost her momentum and balance.
Good luck - decoys & your presence will help!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Keith
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:45 pm
- Location: Missouri/Ava
- Martin Colony History: 85 pair in 2020. Seems fairly consistent the last few years.
Hello Sue,
I hear you. I cannot speak to the issue of Hawks in other areas but here in this immediate vicinity of southwest Mo. Hawk attacks on Martin colonies the last 15 years have increased dramatically. These Hawks are protected by the government but I do not believe they are an endangered species at all. As this trend continues smaller colonies of Martins could posibly be interrupted to the point of no return and just perhaps a decision will have to be made as to the preservation of our purple friends for the future. With the Coopers nesting near our colonies here in this region there is no let-up especially as these hawks are needing to feed their young.
Keith
I hear you. I cannot speak to the issue of Hawks in other areas but here in this immediate vicinity of southwest Mo. Hawk attacks on Martin colonies the last 15 years have increased dramatically. These Hawks are protected by the government but I do not believe they are an endangered species at all. As this trend continues smaller colonies of Martins could posibly be interrupted to the point of no return and just perhaps a decision will have to be made as to the preservation of our purple friends for the future. With the Coopers nesting near our colonies here in this region there is no let-up especially as these hawks are needing to feed their young.
Keith
I seem to lose one or two Martin's every year to a Merlin that seems to visit every morning. I have witnessed merlin attacks but only saw one sucessful attack in mid air. I have seen many misses. I put up a decoy last year but I think it was to late as the Martin's hated that thing. I will try it again this year and have added Owl guards to my new T-14's as one year there evidence of a Martin being taken off the porch or pulled out of the nest( blood everywhere). I have never seen an Owl myself but the wife claims she saw one gliding through the backyard one year. I have also seen what I believe to be a Sparrow Hawk down the street.
Rob.
Rob.
2009. 98 eggs, 66 hatch, 61 fledged.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion . first egg May 25 in a BO-11
2018. Population stable.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion
. first egg May 25 in a BO-112018. Population stable.
Thank you all for the information you provided. If you put a decoy on a pole, do you lean it up against the T14 or gourd rack to move it, or is it set in a separate hole away from the housing? I have read where anything leaning against the housing will spook the martins --- i.e. wires, etc.
I am going to order a few more decoys --- just wondered how to set them up!
Sue P
I am going to order a few more decoys --- just wondered how to set them up!
Sue P
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Sue, you can lean it anywhere or mount the decoys to the gourd arms (just make sure you can get to them easily during the season to move them around and/or readjust them when they get hit by a hawk). I mount mine on the cheap dowel rods you can get at Walmart (some use the garden stakes), then I ziptie them to the gourd arms with 2 zipties. (Steve K. recommended I use tape instead to keep the dowel rods from rotating - turning the decoy upside down, so I'll use that this year).
My martins didn't mind them (I had them already mounted when they arrived). BUT, once the babies started fledging, I had 1 female that started attacking the decoys that she thought were too close to her nest. Every day - she would swoop back & forth like a pendulum hitting the decoy. I finally moved him a couple feet away. ....she didn't give up, so I had to completely remove him. But I was able to keep the other 5 up the whole season.
My martins didn't mind them (I had them already mounted when they arrived). BUT, once the babies started fledging, I had 1 female that started attacking the decoys that she thought were too close to her nest. Every day - she would swoop back & forth like a pendulum hitting the decoy. I finally moved him a couple feet away. ....she didn't give up, so I had to completely remove him. But I was able to keep the other 5 up the whole season.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
- Posts: 649
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
- Location: Helotes/Texas
What Steve said is true; I have seen early in the morning around 7:00 am or so a Sharpie Hawk just sitting on the fence waiting for a Purple Martin to fly out of the house/gourd. It just amazes me how smart they r and when they r hungry they will do just about anything. I also have a blow horn and during the day (of course not in the early morning) if I see a hawk come by..trying to attack I will blow the horn and it works..it causes confusion for the Hawk and will miss the Purple Martins...never have fail; of course you have to be outside watching your birds for that to work.
I know we get hit pretty hard with Sharpie; they are so agile during March/April...I just pray that they migrate through as soon as possible. We do have some attacks of Cooper...if you have any substantial amounts of Purple Martins; the hawks will be coming to your yard...I do have decoys and they definitely work. We even have a pic of a Cooper with their claws on top of the 'fake' Purple Martin.
Good Luck,
Sheryle
I know we get hit pretty hard with Sharpie; they are so agile during March/April...I just pray that they migrate through as soon as possible. We do have some attacks of Cooper...if you have any substantial amounts of Purple Martins; the hawks will be coming to your yard...I do have decoys and they definitely work. We even have a pic of a Cooper with their claws on top of the 'fake' Purple Martin.
Good Luck,
Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Sheryle. I run through the yard like an idiot, waving my arms and screaming at the hawk. (This would make a good picture for something!) A blow horn is very interesting. It is the Sharpies that we have the most trouble with. I don't think they migrate through here, but rather live in the woods nearby and hunt in our yard. The trees aren't near enough to pose a problem, but nearly every day they are flying through the yard. To the best of my knowledge, though, we have only lost one purple martin in the four years we have had our little colony. I suppose as time goes on, and if we are lucky enough to have our little colony grow, the problem will grow also.
I certainly appreciate all of the suggestions you people out in "martin land" have given me. I'll be trying all of the suggestions.
Sue P
I certainly appreciate all of the suggestions you people out in "martin land" have given me. I'll be trying all of the suggestions.
Sue P
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Donna - TX
- Posts: 889
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:44 pm
- Location: Texas/Pearland
Hi Sue,
Over the last 4 years my hawk attacks have increased. I have anywhere from 5 - 15 attacks a day by resident hawks.
The decoys help with the Red-Shoulder hawks and sometimes with the Cooper's and Sharpie.
The Cooper's and Sharpie hawks have come to realize they can make a quick turn if the martins are chasing them and grab one especially if the babies are with them. The hawks also love to go to the tops of the trees and look for the fledglings but last year my martins were getting the babies out of the trees before the hawks could reach them.
If the martins go straight up in the air they have a great chance but if the martins are chasing and being chased they have a lesser chance.
My colony has grown every year until last year and only because I am full now so they have not scared my birds away.
I do not put my housing up when I see the first martin, I wait for a few more since they have a much greater chance in numbers. I have lost a couple of first visitors and right now I see the hawks before sun up every morning at my place waiting for the martins.
My biggest advantage is I am at home so my presence is seen by the hawks daily. I never let them roost anywhere near my housing, I will run up and scare them away, the ones I don't see scare me. During egg laying, hatching, babies and fledging I am outside before the sun rises and until they go to bed. This is for the love of the bird and they are no easy task but I think they are worth it.
Since I live inside the City Limits and in a neighborhood I am not allowed to make noises.
Over the last 4 years my hawk attacks have increased. I have anywhere from 5 - 15 attacks a day by resident hawks.
The decoys help with the Red-Shoulder hawks and sometimes with the Cooper's and Sharpie.
The Cooper's and Sharpie hawks have come to realize they can make a quick turn if the martins are chasing them and grab one especially if the babies are with them. The hawks also love to go to the tops of the trees and look for the fledglings but last year my martins were getting the babies out of the trees before the hawks could reach them.
If the martins go straight up in the air they have a great chance but if the martins are chasing and being chased they have a lesser chance.
My colony has grown every year until last year and only because I am full now so they have not scared my birds away.
I do not put my housing up when I see the first martin, I wait for a few more since they have a much greater chance in numbers. I have lost a couple of first visitors and right now I see the hawks before sun up every morning at my place waiting for the martins.
My biggest advantage is I am at home so my presence is seen by the hawks daily. I never let them roost anywhere near my housing, I will run up and scare them away, the ones I don't see scare me. During egg laying, hatching, babies and fledging I am outside before the sun rises and until they go to bed. This is for the love of the bird and they are no easy task but I think they are worth it.
Since I live inside the City Limits and in a neighborhood I am not allowed to make noises.
Donna Gillbee
Hi Donna,
Thank you for your input with regard to hawks. I gather from the information all of you have provided that hawks are a much greater threat than I had believed. I am home most of the time, also (i occasionally have to go to town for groceries) so I am around to chase the hawks. They do get bolder, though, as time goes on.
Apparently from what most of you have said, hawks flying through don't always result in losing a colony. I definitely plan to try the decoy thing. I have another place in the yard I am going to try decoys.
Why don't the hawks seem to attack the starlings like they do the martins? I also have noticed that they attack robins when they are feeding on the ground. But I have yet to find any starling feathers on the ground.
Sue P
Thank you for your input with regard to hawks. I gather from the information all of you have provided that hawks are a much greater threat than I had believed. I am home most of the time, also (i occasionally have to go to town for groceries) so I am around to chase the hawks. They do get bolder, though, as time goes on.
Apparently from what most of you have said, hawks flying through don't always result in losing a colony. I definitely plan to try the decoy thing. I have another place in the yard I am going to try decoys.
Why don't the hawks seem to attack the starlings like they do the martins? I also have noticed that they attack robins when they are feeding on the ground. But I have yet to find any starling feathers on the ground.
Sue P
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Sue,
Every site is different - you may not have much trouble, or any trouble, or you may have to use every idea here. Wait and see, but don't assume the worst just yet. It's good to have these ideas shared so you can think about what you can do if hawks become a problem with your martins.
One thing I don't think was mentioned is help from other birds - crows and blue jays will give alarms and mob hawks and owls relentlessly. Having nesting red-tailed hawks or crows nearby could help, as they will mob and chase other hawks. Red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, kingbirds, and others will all help sound the alarm, and the martins will pay attention. A good open flyway is one of your best protections against hawks, and it sounds like you have that.
Every site is different - you may not have much trouble, or any trouble, or you may have to use every idea here. Wait and see, but don't assume the worst just yet. It's good to have these ideas shared so you can think about what you can do if hawks become a problem with your martins.
One thing I don't think was mentioned is help from other birds - crows and blue jays will give alarms and mob hawks and owls relentlessly. Having nesting red-tailed hawks or crows nearby could help, as they will mob and chase other hawks. Red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, kingbirds, and others will all help sound the alarm, and the martins will pay attention. A good open flyway is one of your best protections against hawks, and it sounds like you have that.
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Donna - TX
- Posts: 889
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:44 pm
- Location: Texas/Pearland
You are so right Louise! My birds would be in so much trouble if it were not for my blue jays and mockingbirds. They let me know if a hawk is trying to hide somewhere everytime. I try to keep these birds very happy around here so they will stick around.
I do have a nesting pair of Red-Shoulder's every year and a couple of times the Red-Tail hawks but they don't chase away the Cooper's or Sharpies, I sure wish they would but they don't bother with each other. We also have a Great Horned Owl that the hawks are suppose to be afraid of but they are not.
I do have a nesting pair of Red-Shoulder's every year and a couple of times the Red-Tail hawks but they don't chase away the Cooper's or Sharpies, I sure wish they would but they don't bother with each other. We also have a Great Horned Owl that the hawks are suppose to be afraid of but they are not.
Donna Gillbee
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Hi Sue,Sue P wrote:Why don't the hawks seem to attack the starlings like they do the martins?
I have seen them attack the flocks of starlings here and around my surrounding area. Often last year I would see a flock of birds suddenly flush from a tree that was pretty far away and after grabbing the binoculars, I could see they were starlings being chased by a Cooper's. They would frequently try to make a dash up the fence line between 2 hay fields that had the only other trees, squawking loudly and the Cooper's would chase them relentlessly, dodging & weaving until she either caught one or gave up.
I would cheer her on as she chased the starlings - not so much when she came after my martins.
Anyway, it was a sight to see - as deadly as they are to our colonies, you really have to admire such a magnificent show of strength, endurance, speed & sheer determination!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Kathy in VA
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:24 am
- Location: Virginia/Scottsburg
- Martin Colony History: It took me 11 years to get martins. It finally happened in 2010! Been going strong, ever since! I have a 12-gourd rack, full and overflowing!! I love this hobby!
I'd like to offer a recommendation, if you decide to place a separate pole (to mount decoys on it) leaning up against your martin housing: I would put a predator guard on it, to stop snakes and other climbing predators; otherwise snakes can have an easy secondary route up to the martin house as they wrap around that separate post or pole and head up and over to eat the martins. Even if your house/gourd rack pole has a predator guard on it, if there's another pole near it, snakes can use that pole to bypass your other predator guard to reach the housing. That's the same reason it's not recommended that we use guy-wires to stabilize martin housing--ground predators can go right up them if the wires do not have some type of predator protection on them. Just a thought.
Kathy in VA
Gonna bump this up as I'm in New England and after a snow saw a beautiful and agile hawk buzz my wife and dog before barrel rolling over the house. This guy was like a fighter jet and WIDE. How do folks handle hawks? They're just as beautiful as the martins but I'm not trying to open op Chic-Fil-Martin either.
Pictures and idea please. I already have tunnel on all the gourds I purchased and thinking main plan is to get decoys which I should move for defense?
Owl decoy?
Pictures and idea please. I already have tunnel on all the gourds I purchased and thinking main plan is to get decoys which I should move for defense?
Owl decoy?