Hawk Attack Prevention Update

[Eddie McKnight]

While a group of us were standing around a firepit celebrating my daughter's birthday Friday night, we were watching the martins come in for the night (around 8:00 pm). I was explaining that about this time of night a sharpie has been grabbing a martin every night as the birds try to scoot into the crescent entrances, which, as you know, takes a split second longer than a round hole.

As I thought it was getting too dark, and hoping they were safe, the sharpie flew in not 6 feet over our heads and grabbed a martin that was waiting on his mate to scoot in before he did. It was disgusting....AGAIN!

So Saturday morning I headed out to buy some 2" x 3" mesh wire and came back and covered all my gourd racks and houses. I stood outside at dusk and waited on the martins to come back for the night...to be sure they would accept the wire mesh around their cavities. AND THEY DID. As you can see in the pictures, they are totally comfortable with the cages, and hopefully they can sit around on their porches now without threat.

Comments appreciated if you think this will work. I covered 3 houses and 2 large gourd racks with $37 of wire.

[birdy girl]

How is the wire cage secured to the gourd rack to keep it from steady and secured?

[Eddie McKnight]

I basically made two open ended flat baskets, slid one on each end and joined them together in the middle. I used a threaded rod through the gourd rack (which is metal conduit) to secure the basket bottoms. Actually you can see the rods in the picture...

[LynnInTenn]

For my own benefit, is it necessary to enclose the sides also??

[Eddie McKnight]

It wasn't that much more trouble, and from what I have observed of the agility of these small hawks, they could very easily attack from the side. Which is what they actually do to sneak up on a porch setting martin who can't see their approach from the side or rear....

[LynnInTenn]

Thanks Eddie. Those look nice. Should solve your problem.

[chickadee]

That is a nice setup and great idea.Would this work on a round rack,I have a gemini.thanks

[Eddie McKnight]

It could work on any shape rack with a little work. Someone posted a pic last week or so on a round rack, but I don't remember who it was.

[chickadee]

Ok thanks.one more question have you seen the hawk come back and this work?I just figured if a hawk came they would just fly out of the mesh because its their first instinct to fly?or do you think they learn that this protects them?

[Eddie McKnight]

I haven't had time to watch at dusk yet. Been too busy, but just following advice of others who have put cages up. At least they can't be grabbed off a porch unexpectedly.

[flyin-lowe]

chickadee
A lot of the sharpie and coopers attacks happen so fast the martins don't see them coming and get taken right off the porch. A lot of times if the martins do get airborne they can get away. Not always but they stand a better chance.

[JHeap]

Gee, I really stressed a female martin out by just adding decoys. I wonder how she will do if I now add wire.

Eddie or anyone can you give me step by step details of how you secure the wire on the houses. I am not very handy. I have two grandfather whatever the name houses -- each house has the larger compartments and porches with dividers. Each house is full. Do you extend the wire away from the porch in some way or is it flush against the porches. Every time the hawk comes he seems to head for the crowded houses. If I can get the houses set up THEN I will ask how to tackle the round gourd rack. I only have the crazy female and her mate in the gourd rack at this point.

[Suzette McGowen]

I too installed almost identical wire on our houses this year. I believe it has helped. The martins love it, the only problem is that the do enjoy "clinging" to it. While in the clinging position they are still very vulnerable, I believe they will love feeding the babies from it. We have still witnessed a hawk attack before our eyes, he grabbed a female just as she was approaching the entry, he was so fast he got her before she even had a chance to dive in.

I can't wait for him to migrate.

[Keith]

When the Martins are trying to get away from the Hawks, unless they can get above the Hawk, they are in serious trouble. I live in an area where the Coopers nest, so this problem is ever-present. I realize that "Laws" can be changed by our legislators but I doubt that many of them realize that the Hawk population is increasing to the point that Martins and some other songbirds in general may be in jeopardy without intervening with some thinning permits as they have and do with other wildlife. Probably will never come to pass but I'm just passing along some thoughts that I have.
Keith

[chickadee]

Thanks so much for the information.I will be doing this before waiting for something bad to happen first like I did with the sreh.thanks kelli

[Eddie McKnight]

Each setup would require a different kind of attachment for the wire. It DEFINITELY needs to be away from the porch. My wire is at least 12 inches out from any cavity. What I noticed was the hawk was grabbing them off the porch when they didn't expect it. At least he can't do that witht the wire guards. I was also thinking that when they start feeding, the wire will be far enough out to avoid an attack while sitting on the porch feeding nestlings...

[jonkertb]

That wire cage will do double duty at night when the Great horned owl comes to dine....I added the fencing to my housing last year when a GHO made several return trips and broke off several porches reaching in for dinner. My running out at dusk in my undies clapping and hollering to scare him off wasn't a pretty sight for the neighbors LOL....I think the martins liked it though.....:>)