RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A cooper hawk took one of my beautiful male martins just now while I was watching them all sitting around prenning and fussing over whos gourd was whos and no one saw him coming not ever me!!!! I am in tears!! This was one of my favorite males that would always sit and talk to me when ever I was out at the racks. I am going back out and walk around and see how the others are going to act. I wish I had not seen it !!!!
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
I am sorry to hear that. Mother Nature can be cruel at times. Upsetting and frustrating but I guess that is part of her plan and always has been. Sorry you had to view it too.
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Oh April ,
I feel your pain, I hate that you had to wittness it, since my Martins have been here i have had many,many hawk attacks , all misses so far, a couple of attacks on the decoys rather than a real martins have saved lives , right now i have 30 Martins so i have been spending every moment tending to them trying to protect from the Hawks/starlings ,etc,etc,etc.
April , tho it hurts think of all the martins you have helped and get yourself prepared for the next attack by haveing things ready to deter the hawks IE: water hose with spray nozzle, Pressurized can of Boat Air Horn like the boaters use, Pot's,Pans clange them together as you are screaming at the top of your lungs, shoot a empty Pellet gun not loaded but pumped up , the loud noise will deter A HAWK.
I feel your pain, I hate that you had to wittness it, since my Martins have been here i have had many,many hawk attacks , all misses so far, a couple of attacks on the decoys rather than a real martins have saved lives , right now i have 30 Martins so i have been spending every moment tending to them trying to protect from the Hawks/starlings ,etc,etc,etc.
April , tho it hurts think of all the martins you have helped and get yourself prepared for the next attack by haveing things ready to deter the hawks IE: water hose with spray nozzle, Pressurized can of Boat Air Horn like the boaters use, Pot's,Pans clange them together as you are screaming at the top of your lungs, shoot a empty Pellet gun not loaded but pumped up , the loud noise will deter A HAWK.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
April,
I'm sorry to hear this. It happended to me several weeks ago. Nature is cruel this way. Question, are there any bird feeders in your area close in proximity to your colony? This is a major attraction for hawks since they will hide in the trees scoping out feeder stations. Since my neighbor has stopped feeding for the season, I have seen no more hawks. Just a thought.
Sparky
I'm sorry to hear this. It happended to me several weeks ago. Nature is cruel this way. Question, are there any bird feeders in your area close in proximity to your colony? This is a major attraction for hawks since they will hide in the trees scoping out feeder stations. Since my neighbor has stopped feeding for the season, I have seen no more hawks. Just a thought.
Sparky
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
Hi Davlyn,
I am sorry you lost that male Martin! I have Cooper's hawks in my neighborhood too. I am a strong believer in decoys. On more than one occasion I have seen the hawk grab a decoy, and then look perplexed over what it had caught. Decoys can divert the hawks attention for a few seconds, and give the Martins time to get away. It is important to move the decoys around periodically, so the hawks don't learn that they are fakes.
Gary
I am sorry you lost that male Martin! I have Cooper's hawks in my neighborhood too. I am a strong believer in decoys. On more than one occasion I have seen the hawk grab a decoy, and then look perplexed over what it had caught. Decoys can divert the hawks attention for a few seconds, and give the Martins time to get away. It is important to move the decoys around periodically, so the hawks don't learn that they are fakes.
Gary
Carlton, you are so right nature can be cruel, seeing and knowing is what hurts. Thanks for the kind words.
Ken, I have been seeing him around but this is the first time I have seen him catch one of my adult martins, he did swoop down in my back yard about a week ago and try and grab a ASY male but missed not today though! I am always watching for the hawk when ever I am outside but I will be more alert from now on. Thanks Ken for all your helpful advice and I will keep some pans on hand!! Thanks again.
Sparky, I use to put out feed until the cooper hawk showed up and after a few years of watching him take bird after bird I did not enjoy it any more so I stopped feeding the birds a few years ago. I do believe their are a couple of neighbors down the street from me that do feed though. I am also sorry to hear of your martin loss, it is a very bad thing to see! Thanks
Gary, I do not have any decoys, so maybe I need to order a few to sit around on top of my racks! Thanks so much for the advice.
Ken, I have been seeing him around but this is the first time I have seen him catch one of my adult martins, he did swoop down in my back yard about a week ago and try and grab a ASY male but missed not today though! I am always watching for the hawk when ever I am outside but I will be more alert from now on. Thanks Ken for all your helpful advice and I will keep some pans on hand!! Thanks again.
Sparky, I use to put out feed until the cooper hawk showed up and after a few years of watching him take bird after bird I did not enjoy it any more so I stopped feeding the birds a few years ago. I do believe their are a couple of neighbors down the street from me that do feed though. I am also sorry to hear of your martin loss, it is a very bad thing to see! Thanks
Gary, I do not have any decoys, so maybe I need to order a few to sit around on top of my racks! Thanks so much for the advice.
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member
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Guest
Anyone ever do this? Have a sling shot ready with a "dummy bird" made out of fabric or black feathers, so it flutters or something. Then sling shot the fake bird up in the air so that when it falls it looks like easy prey? Would the hawk go for that instead of a real bird. Maybe after enough of that he would think all the martins were "dummies"
what do you think???
what do you think???
Interesting idea, and ANYTHING is worth a try.
You'd likely have to have pretty durn quick reflexes though, its not too often one seen a Cooper's coming in, Usually they are there in a flash from behind cover of some sort. They depend upon surprise sorta like a cat, that is how they catch stuff.
Mike
You'd likely have to have pretty durn quick reflexes though, its not too often one seen a Cooper's coming in, Usually they are there in a flash from behind cover of some sort. They depend upon surprise sorta like a cat, that is how they catch stuff.
Mike
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
When a hawk attacks so suddenly how would one have time to shoot out a dummy bird?
I could see this working though if the hawk were perched somewhere and the dummy was shot out to where the hawk would see it and possibly attack.
Speaking of hawks This morning on my way to my plasma donation appt. I watched a Red Tail Hawk dive and grab a rodent from a field.
I have seen them catch prey before but it is always neat to watch.
I could see this working though if the hawk were perched somewhere and the dummy was shot out to where the hawk would see it and possibly attack.
Speaking of hawks This morning on my way to my plasma donation appt. I watched a Red Tail Hawk dive and grab a rodent from a field.
I have seen them catch prey before but it is always neat to watch.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Hey April,
I am so sorry! I have seen the same thing happen so many times that I have lost count of the number of martins I have seen caught by Accipiter hawks in my colonies. And it always upsets me and probably always will.
These hawks normally use cover to sneak up on a vulnerable martin colony and catch the martins off guard. Trees, human houses, cars and shrubs will allow the hawks to obscure their approach and they will be on the martins in seconds. Often the martins are taken completely by surprise.
I go on hawk patrol in the early morning and at roosting time by standing between my colony and Bob's site completely in the open so any hawk that is perched in nearby woodlots will see me. I also walk around the area and this usually but not always keeps the hawks from making direct attacks inside our colonies.
It is often difficult to keep these hawks out of martin colonies which have nearby trees. But many Accipiters are migratory in your area and they will eventually leave. You do have resident Cooper's hawks just like I did when I lived south of you in the Tallahassee, Florida area.
Good luck.
Steve
I am so sorry! I have seen the same thing happen so many times that I have lost count of the number of martins I have seen caught by Accipiter hawks in my colonies. And it always upsets me and probably always will.
These hawks normally use cover to sneak up on a vulnerable martin colony and catch the martins off guard. Trees, human houses, cars and shrubs will allow the hawks to obscure their approach and they will be on the martins in seconds. Often the martins are taken completely by surprise.
I go on hawk patrol in the early morning and at roosting time by standing between my colony and Bob's site completely in the open so any hawk that is perched in nearby woodlots will see me. I also walk around the area and this usually but not always keeps the hawks from making direct attacks inside our colonies.
It is often difficult to keep these hawks out of martin colonies which have nearby trees. But many Accipiters are migratory in your area and they will eventually leave. You do have resident Cooper's hawks just like I did when I lived south of you in the Tallahassee, Florida area.
Good luck.
Steve
Hey Steve, that is just what happened. The hawk came up between a tree line between my house and my neighbors. When I saw him he seem to be moving in slow motion, by the time all the martins realized he was there he was gone! It happened just that quick. I also saw him fly across the road and go down in a field, it made me sick to my stomach! I just hope they will pay closer attention, I know I will be. I always put my martins to bed, I got that from you. I guess I now need to go on hawk patrol!!! I hope this hawk will be moving on.
Thanks Steve
Thanks Steve
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member
Had the same thing happen to me this morning, darn it i usually spot hawks before my martins!!! I'm sorry for your loss and totally feel for you!!!
"We can judge the heart of man by his treatment of animals." - Immanual Kant.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulioPrado954/posts
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulioPrado954/posts
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Guest
I am really sorry you had this happen. I am sure everyone of us will some day witness this kind of attack. Hang in there. Your PM's will be more on the watch too and that's a good thing.
Julio, I am so sorry for your loss also, its terrible I know and so many landlords do know all to will just how we feel. Maybe both of our colonys will alert up and stay on guard, for the times that we are not able to. Best of luck to you!
JJ, thanks for your kind words, and I do hope they stay on watch because I feel that since MR. Cooper was a success than he will more than likely be back.
JJ, thanks for your kind words, and I do hope they stay on watch because I feel that since MR. Cooper was a success than he will more than likely be back.
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member
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Jewel
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:05 pm
- Location: IL/Payson 10 mi SE Quincy,IL.
- Martin Colony History: Active
So sorry to hear about the successful hawk attack. It too has happened to me, I remember the time I was out there feeding them and it happened they were all watching me waiting for food to get "flung" when out of no where...got a female, I ran down the road chasing and screaming at the top of my lungs...(not to cool, we live across the road from a small high school, oh well, I'm probably the crazy bird lady after all these years anyway)
Another time my husband and I were watching the birds while some were coming down to get grit out of the edge of the gravel when out from the base of a blue spruce jumped a fox! It was pretty amazing to see that animal jump and catch one as high as he did and then just trott off down the road with his meal. Needless to say we have elevated trays for egg shells and for food. We still fling a few to get them started to eat but then we make a big deal about dumping food in the tray up on the top of the post. They cock their heads and watch and fly to the tray to feed now. It's good for all, I don't have to stand out in the bitter cold flinging food and they are more alert I believe, about their surroundings than watching me flinging food.
Another time my husband and I were watching the birds while some were coming down to get grit out of the edge of the gravel when out from the base of a blue spruce jumped a fox! It was pretty amazing to see that animal jump and catch one as high as he did and then just trott off down the road with his meal. Needless to say we have elevated trays for egg shells and for food. We still fling a few to get them started to eat but then we make a big deal about dumping food in the tray up on the top of the post. They cock their heads and watch and fly to the tray to feed now. It's good for all, I don't have to stand out in the bitter cold flinging food and they are more alert I believe, about their surroundings than watching me flinging food.
Visit here this quiet nook, as songbirds rest their wing, hearken softly, whisper low, and perchance, you'll hear them sing.
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Guest
I've seen the around my area, but they seem to like the fat doves from my feeders, and attack them.
I don't know if that helps or not. Just gives them something else to concentrate on.
It's actually cool to watch them zooming in and chase them through the trees, and down the canal. The hawks don't score everytime. Part of nature,
I don't know if that helps or not. Just gives them something else to concentrate on.
It's actually cool to watch them zooming in and chase them through the trees, and down the canal. The hawks don't score everytime. Part of nature,