The Grim Reaper…Twelve O’ Clock High…Purple Martins Beware!

[Steve Kroenke]

The Grim Reaper…Twelve O’ Clock High…Purple Martins Beware!

…Beware of the Grim Reaper, an entity with no beginning and no end. It is male and it is female, but its harvest is always the same. A shape shifter with no boundaries of form that swings its grisly scythe with ruthless indifference. Waiting, watching, and ready to take advantage of every mistake, vulnerability and opportunity. The careless, the weak, the old and the young, they all fall before the Reaper’s scythe. So spread your wings and fly little martin fly, you were born to fly. Do not tarry or look back. Every second counts. Hesitation is death. Beware of the Grim Reaper, the sly one that hides in the shadows, appears from nowhere, strikes without warning and is gone in a flash. The Reaper is on the prowl, stalking the earth and has a hunger. The Reaper is after you little martin, just you…

April. Deadly April…the most dangerous month for adult purple martins in our two large super colonies, mine and my neighbor Bob’s colony. (March is dangerous too!) It is during April when numerous migrant bird eating Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter hawks) and merlins (small falcons) pass over on their journey north to their breeding territories. The Grim Reapers! It is during this time that I witness multiple attacks on our martins and when hundreds of screaming martins are fleeing for their lives, it is Hammer of the Gods! Mighty Thor, Viking God of power, thunder and war hurls his magical battle hammer through the sky as martins meet their deadly enemies in mortal aerial combat!

The daily onslaught of attacks by Accipiters and merlins on our two large purple martin colonies was going full steam during April 2016. The Grim Reaper had a hunger! Migrant raptors heading north to their breeding territories just couldn’t resist the opportunity to try for one of the hundreds of “succulent feathered protein bars” in our yards! Cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and merlins were attacking at all times of the day from early mornings till until almost dark and the martins and I had to be constantly vigilant.

Our location is open so martins can often see approaching danger, but that has NOT stopped Accipiters and merlins from making blistering attacks from low down or high up in the sky. There are surprise attacks when a hawk or falcon appears out of nowhere like a ghost from nothing and the martins are caught completely off guard. And there are full blown “in your face” assaults where the raptors come in with “all guns blazing” and there is NO effort to conceal their approach. The raptor tries to exploit the chaos of screaming martins scattering all over the place and many have NO idea where the Grim Reaper is at! Martins may even bolt from their nests when the raptor is already inside the colony or perched on the houses/gourd racks and waiting for an opportunity.

There was nothing special about April 14, 2016. Just another spring day during deadly April. But something was brewing high in the sky to the south. A violent storm was approaching our two purple martin colonies and hundreds of martins would soon be emitting bloodcurdling screams of terror and flying for their lives as the Grim Reaper was coming.

I was in my yard and watching untold numbers of martins flying around both our huge martin colonies. All my martin housing is in my front yard and Bob has his in his front yard, too. Our two colonies are less than a hundred yards apart.

It was late morning around 10:00 am and martin activity was going strong with martins courting, nest building and socializing. All that would end in a few seconds.

Suddenly martins began scattering and screaming. I knew there was a raptor approaching but was it a Cooper’s hawk, a sharp-shinned hawk or a merlin? And where was the Grim Reaper!

When these attacks occur, I try to locate the raptor so I can try to intercept the hawk or falcon and do my best to frighten the hunter away. If I distract the raptor before he/she is in full attack mode, then this may cause the raptor to break off the hunt and the martins may escape. I have often rushed out into the yard and clapped my hands loudly and the raptor saw me and terminated its attack. Even if a hawk or falcon has caught a martin in mid-air or pinned one to the ground, my active interference has sometimes caused these raptors to release the martin on occasion and the martin survived.

But I have another way: martin decoys. I place multiple plastic martin decoys on poles about eight to 12 feet high all around the perimeter of my martin colony and Bob’s site, too. The decoys are located anywhere from about 50 to over 100 feet away from the martin housing. I prefer this decoy arrangement rather than attaching decoys to the housing so that Accipiter hawks and merlins may attack the decoys farther away and give the real martins more time to build up speed and escape. If the raptor can enter the colony and get closer to the fleeing martins, then an attacked martin has a greater chance of being caught. Often an Accipiter or merlin will “get occupied” with attacking the decoys and “forget” about the real martins that are accelerating and climbing to the safety of the open skies.

Now back to the April 14 attack…

Martins were rapidly climbing and others were streaking out into nearby cow pastures. The blood curdling screams of terror from hundreds of martins seemed almost electronically amplified! At first I couldn’t see the raptor. I was out in the middle of the yard in between our two martin colonies and searching the skies for the Grim Reaper!

Then I saw the raptor! An Accipiter hawk was directly above our two colonies and maybe several hundred yards high up. The Grim Reaper was twelve o’clock high! Within seconds I would know it was a mature female Cooper’s hawk. She was preparing a devastating stoop into our colonies! I have seen many of these awesome attacks and Cooper’s hawks become almost like peregrine falcons when these Accipiters dive straight down at an almost 90 degree angle with their bodies streamline and wings tucked against their sides. I have seen these hawks come down from literally hundreds of yards high in the sky and target individual martins that are flying wildly and appear to have NO idea where the Grim Reaper is until it is too late!

Five, four, three, two, one…down she came like the “death asteroid” on my martin colony! It was Hammer of the Gods!

The screams of terrified martins filled the sky and martins fled for their lives. The high flying martins were safe and martins are superior to Accipiter hawks in flying abilities at higher altitudes. In fact martins can fly circles around these hawks high up.

But low flying martins are highly vulnerable, particularly martins that are unaware of the raptor’s location and ambushed. Accipiter hawks have short rounded wings and long tails and can accelerate like a feathered cheetah while twisting and turning like a flycatcher in pursuit of their prey. Martins are often in serious trouble when they are trying to accelerate away from or climbing INTO the deadly stoop of a Cooper’s hawk. These super agile Accipiters can often match every turn of a martin trying to out accelerate and out turn a Cooper’s or sharp-shinned hawk when the attack occurs at low altitudes and the raptor has the element of surprise. Short rounded wings of Accipiters are better at acceleration and short distance pursuits than the long pointed wings of martins which are superior in sustained flights over longer distances. Once a martin has fully accelerated the martin can usually distance any Accipiter hawk in level flight. But those first few seconds when chaos and the element of surprise rule often determine the outcome of the hunt.

There was little I could do as the hawk came down so fast and quickly targeted a male martin that foolishly bolted from his nest at the wrong time when the raptor was closing in rapidly. I just held my breath.

But the real martin seemed to “play a trick” on the hawk! The hawk was only a foot or so away from the fleeing martin when the martin flew directly toward one of my martin decoys located about 100 feet from the colony! In fact the martin almost hit the decoy!

And lo and behold the hawk veered away from the real martin, suddenly flared up and grabbed the DECOY; the real martin escaped and streaked upward into the sky! The hawk was actually hanging on the decoy and trying to pull it off the pole, but to no avail! The hawk then attacked another martin decoy and I rush toward the hawk and chased her off.

But she didn’t leave entirely. She flew across the road and landed in a tall tree located over a hundred yards from my martin colony. Several more martins left their nests and started climbing up not far from where the hawk was perched; the martins apparently didn’t see the Grim Reaper.

Amazingly she flew out from her hiding place in the tree and made a rather aggressive attempt to capture another martin which had foolishly allowed the hawk to get close. The hawk twisted and turned with the agility of a flycatcher while using her long tail as a rudder as she pursued the martin in a circuitous chase just above some tall trees.

Fortunately the martin managed to outturn the hawk several times and then out climbed her. The martin has an advantage higher up and was able to accelerate and maneuver more effectively. The martin quickly vanished high the sky and the defeated hawk left and headed on her journey north.

This attack by a Cooper’s hawk on our martins was just one of among many in 2016. My martin decoys scattered about probably saved the lives of a number of real martins as I saw Cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, merlins and even one magnificent female peregrine falcon hit the decoys rather than try for the real thing.

For 2017 I plan to expand my use of decoys and include some decoy mourning doves. Doves are favorite prey items for Accipiter hawks, particularly Cooper’s hawks and I have observed these hawks catch doves. It will be Hammer of the Gods!

… So spread your wings and fly little martin fly, you were born to fly. Do not tarry or look back. Every second counts. Hesitation is death. Beware of the Grim Reaper, the sly one that hides in the shadows, appears from nowhere, strikes without warning and is gone in a flash. The Reaper is on the prowl, stalking the earth and has a hunger. The Reaper is after you little martin, just you…

Steve Kroenke

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I usually don't worry too much about coopers and sharp shinned hawks except when the new fledglings are out. Last season when the fledglings were out I went around the borders of my colony clapping 2 blocks of wood, that worked good to keep the hawks out of the nearby trees within 1/8th of a mile

[JJ Jones]

Steve, as always you really know how to spell it out (Exactly the way it is). Wow! You described the way the "grim reapers" dive; turning in flight; In the sun (Twelve O'clock High); and running very low. I have seen what you are describing about here at my colony. Early in the morning; then late in the evening. Sometimes, when they are really hungry, they will come by every 30 minutes or so. I have stopped some attacks; however I have seen the "grim reapers" practically stop in mid flight and pick off one. My heart just sinks when this happen. Like you I try to keep a vigil on my colony. Thanks very much for sharing your reports on "The Grim Reaper"

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Ray,

We usually get daily attacks during part of March and nearly all of April by migrant Accipiters and merlins. The most I have ever seen in a single day was around eight I believe. It was Hammer of the Gods!

In June and July the resident Cooper's hawks catch numerous martin fledglings from the tops of trees, off power lines and in the air. Most of these attacks are several hundred yards from our two colonies and there is little that can be done to intervene. I have seen as many as six kills in a single day.

I believe the hawks nest within a mile of our colonies and this year there were at least two pairs and some juveniles "feasting" on the hundreds of martin fledglings in the area. One female Cooper's hawk would come over at several hundred yards high the sky and the parent martins would go berserk, emit bloodcurdling screams, and climb up to meet the Grim Reaper! But she was totally unimpressed with being mobbed by a huge flock of martins and she circled high over the area looking for vulnerable martin fledglings perched in trees or on power lines. When she found a victim, she would drop like a bullet, sometimes almost straight down, and there was NO escape for the selected martin fledgling. These hawks probably predated over a 100 martin fledglings in June and July and I lost count of the number of kills I saw. There were probably plenty others that I didn't see.

In spite of the predation, we still fledge MANY martins and our colonies continue to thrive. Large martin colonies no doubt attract Accipiter hawks, particularly during fledging time. But such colonies can withstand predation much better than smaller colonies because of the sheer numbers of martins. Plus with large colonies there are MORE eyes watching for danger!

Thanks for sharing your comments.

Steve

Hey JJ,

Thanks for those comments and sharing your experiences with hawk attacks on your martins! While the hawks do catch some martins, I usually see more escapes by adult martins when Accipiters and merlins attack. As long as the martins see the Grim Reaper coming and are not totally caught off guard, the martins often escape. Of course, they do get some help from their faithful landlord and I try to keep the hawks/merlins at bay the best I can.


The martin decoys have done a good job during March and April when the migrant raptors are coming over and looking for prey. I have enjoyed watching Accipiters and merlins hit my martin decoys many times in 2016. I remember one day when Harold the man who mows my yard was on his lawnmower and casually cutting. I was out in the yard watching the martins. Suddenly a female Cooper's hawk came down in spiraling dive as if she were trying to anticipate what her chosen target a "decoy martin" was going to do! Harold stop his lawnmower and we both just looked almost in disbelief as that hawk "tore into the decoy" and tried to pull it off the pole! Harold was stunned to see Hammer of the Gods! I chased the hawk out of the yard and she headed north.

If you haven't tried any martin decoys, you might want to consider adding some to your martin colony. They may help to deflect attacking Accipiters/merlins from the real martins.

Thanks again for commenting and I hope you have a great martin season and the Grim Reaper stays away!

Steve

[Anthony Neira]

Steve, Great work as usual, ! Your answer to Ray answered my question about the benefits of a larger colony ! It does take more work & dedication, as you have shown, Best of luck, Anthony

[phldave]

Steve,

I always enjoy your posts. When I first saw your title I had visions of Gregory Peck, the 8th air corps, and the Luftwaffe; until I realized the onslaught was from our own domestic terrorizers.

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Anthony,

Thank you for your kind remarks! As I get "older", managing such a large purple martin colony does get at little more challenging! Fortunately I am retired and thoroughly enjoy studying and observing my martins. So all the "work" associated with a large martin colony is just part of the enjoyment!

Large martin colonies have their pros and cons. But the pros so far are MORE than the cons!

I am sure eventually I will start "downsizing" my martin colony when I can no longer provide the care and protection I that I currently provide.

I hope you have a great martin season in 2017!

Steve

Hey phldave,

I am glad you enjoy my posts! I must admit the skies over our two purple martin colonies do become war zones as our martins and their enemies, Accipiter hawks and merlins meet in mortal combat! I have seen so many spectacular and awesome attacks and some great purple martin escapes from the Grim Reaper! I have watched merlins which are high speed falcons chase martins for hundreds of yards in blistering pursuits and the martins escaped every time by out turning these extremely swift raptors. It is Hammer of the Gods! Some of these dogfights do remind me of the combat between the "war birds" of World War II: P-51s vs. FW-190s, P-47s vs. ME-109s!

I hope you have a great martin season in 2017!

Steve

[mwren]

Steve,
I enjoyed your "Grim Reaper" post! I too have a large colony that seems to be a magnet for the "air force" that you describe so well. I have tried all sorts of hawk and owl guards on my boxes and gourds, but have yet to try the decoys. I am going to be ordering them as soon as I finish this reply! I will let you know if I have the success that you have described! Thank you ! "Bird"

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Mike,

The decoys make work better with Accipiter hawks and merlins than owls. Last season the hawks and falcons really hit the decoys around our two martin colonies.

We also have barred and/or great horned owls that attack our colonies every season. An owl did hit several of my decoys one night and actually pulled them off and carried them about 50 feet away! Barred and great horned owls are much more powerful than an Accipiter hawk or merlin. But these owls seem to learn quickly that the decoys are not edible and they stopped hitting them.

Though I place my decoys on poles located away from inside our colonies, other folks attach the decoys to the houses/gourd racks. This method does work, too. I just prefer to have the decoys on poles and located outside our colonies.

No doubt the decoys help to deflect Accipiter hawk/merlin attacks away from the real martins. But the decoys may not work all the time. You might also want to move your decoys around periodically. I will sometimes move my decoy poles from one location to another.

A purple martin colony is almost like an African waterhole! When animals come down to drink and gather around the waterhole, the lions, leopards, hyenas and other predators attack! The predators learn to recognize that the waterhole is a place to find food. And hawks and owls learn to recognize that a martin colony provides food, too!

I wish you the best in 2007 and hope you have a thriving purple martin colony!

Steve