coopers hawks

[Grant O]

Coopers hawk found my colony, what now?

[Jones4381]

I've had a Coopers fly over once or twice the last 2 years but they never stick around my place thus far. I have a large pair of Red Shouldered Hawks and a litney of Crows 6-8 that I believe act as a deterrent here. I've read Coopers are most afraid of larger hawks, eagles, and crows. If you don't have those other birds around maybe sudden sounds or flashing lights when it attacks but that would will require you to be on guard to foil attacks. Good luck to you and your colony.

[scottfreidhof]

Persistence would be my answer. Try to be out there during those times of the day when attacks are most frequent. First thing in the morning and late afternoon/evening seem to be the parts of the day when the hawks make their attempts. Your physical presence and waving your arms when they come zooming in can help to distract them just enough to make them miss. My colony was plagued by sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper's hawks last summer during the last 3-4 weeks before all the young fledged. Multiple attacks per day every day for weeks. I did the best I could in the evenings after work and on the weekends when home. I have to remind myself that most years have been good for fledging. It makes the occasional high predation event summers a little easier to bear. In addition I realize that when my colony takes a hit by hawks, the colony 2 miles down the road does not, and vice versa.

[Phil01]

Agree, be out there near your housing in the mornings and evenings as much possible. If you can, get a very loud air horn from a marine store and sound it if you see him attempting an attack. Put up some Martin and dove decoys. Move them around every few days. The hawk will often go after the slowest Martin and hit the decoy and give your birds a chance to escape.
They’re smart! I’ve had a hawk hanging around since after nest building this season. Despite doing all that he still got a few I suspect. I saw him get one of my ASY females that had a nest with 3 young… Ended up having to renest them and they fledged. I can’t be out there 24/7 cause I work, but mornings before work, and evenings and weekends I always try to be by the housing at that time of the day. Unfortunately losing some is part of it and you just do the best you can.
Good luck!
Phil

[brent]

Hi everyone. I use an air horn when I witness an attack. You can buy them at Walmart. It does work. Also, I use martin decoys that I mount on bamboo that is attached to tomato stakes that I drive in the ground. The bamboo is flexible and will sway if windy. The hawk will attack the decoy giving the martins time to flee. You can buy some from PMCA shop and maybe at Lowe’s. I use zip ties to attach the bamboo to the tomato stake. I place them at least 20 feet from the housing. And yes, be out there as much as possible. I’ve even used scarecrows. When using decoys and scarecrows move them around so that they’re not in the same place all the time. Good luck. Brent

[jhcox]

I have had the same problem this summer never before have I seen attacks by hawks on my colony and this is my seventh or eighth year. But this year they’re attacking at will. Doesn’t matter if I’m outside waving my hands, yelling, clapping doesn’t seem to deter them at all. I have decoys all over the place. My issue is that the flash lanes can’t fly and are landing in the wet grass and the hawks are picking them off faster than I can pick them up and put them back in the gourds. My last count was 314 babies and still had 44 eggs left to hatch and then you add on to that 160+ adults. It must look like a Buffet to the Hawks. My fear is this going to be a reoccurring event every summer, if these hawks continue to nest in this region.

[charlesgremillion]

Crows seem to be a natural enemy of Coopers Hawks. After a group of Crows moved into my neighborhood the Hawk left .