Do Purple Martin Decoys Really Work

deadeyedick · Wed Feb 22, 2017 6:35 pm

Hi everyone,

I just put up a new PM 8 room Waters Edge house and I have no takers. I got 2 PM Decoys and put them on the roof purch but still no visitors.
Do Purple Martin decoys really work? Please let me know how they worked for you.

I may be impatience for having a brand new house. It may be different from my old days where I had returning families.

I would love to hear your input.

Thanks,
Dale

PS: I live in South Louisiana near Watson

taxidermy lady · Wed Feb 22, 2017 6:41 pm

I've used them for 4 yrs. and still no martins! It's all about location! If your in a open area where there is fly ways in all directions then you shouldn't have a problem attracting a pair!
Most people use the decoys as a decoy for Hawks and owls! It will go for the decoy first and give the purple Martin a chance to climb high and be safe!
Be patient if your house is in a good location it will happen! Good luck

Courtney-NC · Wed Feb 22, 2017 8:00 pm

Decoys seem to work well to bring down martins for a look when used in conjunction with dawnsong.
Some martins don't like decoys and will 'razz' them, divebombing them, etc. Sometimes new visiting martins won't land on a setup that has decoys on it. If you get visitors that look nervous around the decoys, you might want to take them off for a while and see how it goes.
Another thing I have done is put a decoy inside a compartment/gourd with its head sticking out. That way, the decoy looks like it's only 'guarding' one compartment and is much less intimidating to the more timid visitors, and the site still looks 'occupied'. Another trick is to put a decoy on the porch of a gourd or compartment. Same idea, but a little more visibility.

Whippy · Wed Feb 22, 2017 9:47 pm

As I mentioned in another thread, I used decoys for awhile to no avail. Then, one day, I just removed them altogether. Within 2 days I had Martins visiting my gourd rack landing on porches, going in and out of gourds, and just having a grand ole time.

I took them down as I noticed I was getting a lot of flybys and close lookers but no commitment. I wasn't sure the decoys were keeping them away but, when I removed them, I was able to conclude that perhaps they were.

That's my own experience and by no means a scientific conclusion.

Coolwhips.

Chris B · Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:53 am

I put up decoys to be attack targets for Hawks, not to attract Martins. I have witnessed a hawk that was way up high come in to a dive and hit the decoy, which allowed the PMs time to scatter and stage a counter attack and drive it off. Also fun to watch PMs swoop down and hit on the decoy. Sometimes they will sit on it's head.

deadeyedick · Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:50 pm

Thanks everyone that was some good info.
I will take them off the top of the house and try the porch for a wile and see how that works.
I have my house in a good location. I have not seen any martins around here yet this year. Strange.
I will let you all know how it works.

Thanks,
Dale

deadeyedick · Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:52 pm

Thanks everyone that was some good info.
I will take them off the top of the house and try the porch for a wile and see how that works.
I have my house in a good location. I have not seen any martins around here yet this year. Strange.
I will let you all know how it works.

Thanks,
Dale

phldave · Fri Feb 24, 2017 11:04 am

Dale,

Take it from me, if it will get the martin's to notice it's worth a try.

Dave

deadeyedick · Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:02 am

I took the PM decoys down Thursday the 23rd.
Friday the 24th I saw 4 PM feeding around the my place they were high and never came in to look that I know of.
It's still early for nesting new birds but at least I know they are some around.

Thanks everyone,

K_Adams · Mon Feb 27, 2017 4:26 pm

Hey, I live close to Watson...plenty martins in my neighborhood the past week, staying at two other houses. Nothing at mine just yet. I do have a decoy on it, thinking I should take it off.

I also have two nice gourd racks at North Park by the walking path. Still waiting there...it's a new site so I'm waiting on the sub adults to come in. If you're by that way, check it out.

Krista

Doug Martin - PA · Mon Feb 27, 2017 5:56 pm

Dale,

I agree with Courtney. Very accurate capsule on decoys.

I could add that you are in an area where there will be many birds migrating to their homes further north and may be passing through. You may even get some overnight guests just looking for a place to stay while traveling.

In a few more weeks the local birds will be more seriously looking to establish themselves in new housing. Remember most of the birds now are returning to their sites from last season.

You are trying to attract the younger birds that did not nest last year or were unsuccessful. They will arrive later. Plenty of time left. Good luck.

Doug

BobbyG · Mon Feb 27, 2017 10:27 pm

I love my decoys I lost 4 last year this year I have lost one decoy I walked a 200 yard radius around my houses don't know where that hawk took my decoy. I move the decoys once a week from house to house and turn them in all directions.

phldave · Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:14 am

BobbyG wrote:I love my decoys I lost 4 last year this year I have lost one decoy I walked a 200 yard radius around my houses don't know where that hawk took my decoy. I move the decoys once a week from house to house and turn them in all directions.

Bobby,

Moving them that much, how do you attach them? The attachment that comes on them is pretty flimsy. I would move mine around too, but the attachment is pretty much shot after about 5yrs.

thanks,
Dave

K_Adams · Wed Mar 01, 2017 1:43 pm

Took decoy off the house and this morning had a martin checking out compartments...go figure! Maybe it's just coincidence. Krista

tonyg · Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:12 pm

Try adding a spring to it...something hits it, it bounces back.

BobbyG · Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:47 pm

Dave I use the electrical loom connector from home depot sometimes they break the plastic connector sometimes the decoy is on the ground they rip the screw out so I put a bigger diameter it comes with a #6 then I switch to an #8 then a # 10 then I just drill another hole I have 2 of them that have about 3 holes in them the next thing I am going to do is pop rivet a threaded insert into the decoy then use a bolt. since ihave been using decoys I have lost 5 to the hawks they are no where to be found. After a while the hawks get ticked and leave the birds alone are at least have less frequent attacks .
Bobby,

Moving them that much, how do you attach them? The attachment that comes on them is pretty flimsy. I would move mine around too, but the attachment is pretty much shot after about 5yrs.

thanks,
Dave[/quote]

Todd Wright · Fri Mar 03, 2017 10:05 am

I use them for Hawks also, I have one wooden decoy that has deep grooves in it from Hawks hitting it. Last year I witnessed a hawk swoop in and the martins escaped as the hawk grabbed one of my decoys. Thankfully I usually only have about a 3 week period that I deal with the hawk attacks generally the last 2 weeks of March and 1st week of April. With the warm weather this year I expect it to start now.

Robert Richerson · Sun Mar 05, 2017 4:30 pm

I love martin decoys, but I don't know how effective at attracting martins. But they are great at confusing hawks coming down for a kill and getting fooled.

Cassiere · Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:30 pm

I have had Martins coming to my house since 1980.
I received a Martin decoy with an order about two years. I almost threw the decoy away because I felt I had no need for it.
Now that I see it can confuse Hawks and Owls, "Game On"
Let me use my "dizzy decimal" retrieval method to find where I put the Martin decoy.
Question:
What is the best way to attach the decoy so that it can withstand the force from a Hawk attack?
Last year Hawks, Owls and Kites gave my Martins fits.

Spiderman · Tue Mar 07, 2017 9:02 am

I think decoys for Hawks are a mixed blessing. I have seen Hawks attached to a decoy and hanging upside down on one of our houses. Confused but not letting his prey go.

I didn't use any decoys last year and it seemed the number of hawk attacks were way down. Usually the Martins just come in real quickly at dusk and don't talk much. They seem to enjoy the middle of the day on their houses, singing and looking thru the cavities to see which one they will eventually select for this year.

As your colonies get larger the attention from Hawks will rise also. A young male in his prime can catch 2 Martins per day to feed the female & his young. That will take a toll on any Colony over time.