Southern crow carries off adult martin in its beak?

[John Evans]

My neighbor came over this afternoon and said she saw( presumably a crow or grackle)carry off in its beak an adult PM and take it to the ground 50 yards away. 2 other martins gave chase and the carried off martin was able to escape.

I quizzed her about the possibility of it being a hawk with the martin in its talons. She said no it was in its beak.

This is at our Florida home not Ohio.I've never seen crows bother martins in Ohio.

Anyone else heard of this? I've googled it.. Nothing
Will be interesting to see if any martins return tonight. Trying to get a colony started in Cocoa Beach, and I'm sure this doesn't help along with the migrating Peregrines,merlins, and the kitchen sinks!

Thanks
John

[Dale D]

My 1st year as a landlord 14 years ago I witnessed Fish Crows attack my Martin housing reaching in and pulling babies out. That was the 1st and only year I offered the traditional 6 x 6 x 6 compartments. Also several years ago a Crow was flying over my site and the Martin's took chase. One of the Martin's as opposed to dive bombing from above came in under the Crow at which time the Crow grabbed the Martin with his talons and continued flying with it. Fortunately the Crow was unable to maintain his hold on the Martin which got away. So to be precise yea I have seen this happen.

[John Evans]

Thanks Dale, thanks for the reply. I've also heard of the fish crows grabbing babies out of houses. We have a Trendsetter house so not concerned as much about them ever getting babies Right now the crows are trying to clean out the grackle nests in the tops of some palms. They are smart opportunistic birds.

Take care
John

[birdbrat]

Wow John, Sounds like our little bit of snow and freezing temps are small problems compared to what you are dealing with at your new site. As long as I keep these buckeye birds (7 now) fed, and the openings to their compartments clear of ice and snow, they do well. I hope your southern birds will be settled back in and doing fine by night time and that crow stays away! Keep us posted. Brenda

[John Evans]

Thanks Brenda,
It's a different martin experience for sure. We live on a golf course with lots of open space. Learning to live with grackles both common and boat tail that like to perch on our martin house along with shrikes which are down right mean birds. Seen them attack the couple of martins we have.. They like to perch too and don't like to share.
I love seeing the bald eagles and ospreys along with the rose spoonbills and sandhill cranes around. Totally different birding here.
My sister and step son put up half our gourds and tree swallow gourds back in Ohio but I'm hoping our martins are late. We'll be back north in 2 weeks.

Fingers and toes crossed the martins that have been staying here for the last 2 weeks return tonight..

Take care
John

[flyin-lowe]

I've heard of crows carrying off baby martins but never adults. I've never heard of grackles preying on birds but I don't know a lot about them.