shooting near martins

rhinewalt · Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:49 pm

I have been shooting sparrows just wondering if anyone knows if this will affect my martins

rrmartins · Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:53 pm

What are you shooting? Alot of us shoot rat birds and starlings all the time. This past Sat., I shot a starling off the house while martins were on it and they didn't budge.

http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21605

rhinewalt · Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:04 pm

using 20 guage shotgun with light load shells

Don Strickland · Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:31 pm

They seem to tolerate pellet guns and .22 rifle. Don't know about a shotgun.

rrmartins · Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:15 pm

You may want to sight in a good pellet gun or 22. I don't think I would be shooting a shotgun around them, maybe others will know for sure, but I would not do it.

LarryMelcher/KY · Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:52 pm

I host public colonies. One at work, too. This past summer there was a LOT of construction going on. Loud bangs, noisy trucks... never bothered them. I think martins and native birds recognize areas where there are less Starlings and House Sparrows and they love it. As long as you know what you are doing.... not chancing harming any native birds, you should be fine. Native birds seem to flourish where the S&S has been thinned out. (to me, that is.)

Sandy - NC · Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:16 pm

They will tolerate a 12 gauge shotgun. I just wouldn't shoot it in their direction since you can't control the spread of the pellets. The shotgun noise won't bother them.

ljd-kc · Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:24 pm

I agree with Sandy, pattern size of a 12 guage is considerably larger than a single pellet or a 22, you should be very careful about shooting around them with a 12 guage. Not to say you can't....just be careful..

Jack

~Ray~Gingerich · Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:58 am

I use a .20 gauge with modified choke, it's accurate and the shot pattern is good, not too narrow or wide, starlings seem to have a set distance where they think it's safe to sit back and laugh at you,but with the modified barrel and a good load they get a nasty surprise. Another thing I like about the 20 gauge is it's not as loud and less kick back than a 12 gauge, I've used it for years around the martins and they get used to it, but I still try to limit it's use when martins are present. Just don't use it around new visiting martins.

Scott D.- La · Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:07 am

I shot a Starling one time off my gourd rack with my .22 rifle that was just sitting there acting like a Martin and surrounded by Martin's. The Starling was showing no aggression. When the Starling hit the ground the Martin's seemed very curious about what had happened as they dove down to look at the body and kind of seemed happy about it. The Martin's seem to know that I am not shooting at them be it .22 rifle or 12 gauge and act like it is just a normal thing, that crazy white dude does

~Ray~Gingerich · Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:41 pm

Scott, I did the same thing , had a sparrow that wouldn't let me get within shot range so pulled my truck within range and shot the sparrow while martins were on the house. The martins talked about that one for a while. I used a CB.22 load so it wasn't very loud.

Dave Duit · Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:00 pm

Just be careful that your aim is right on. There is a pattern or circle that your pellet may stray and hit a martin if near by.

flyin-lowe · Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:29 pm

I shoot my 20 gage a lot around my matins. Never in there general direction but I am close when I shoot them. The first few times they fly off briefly but after a couple weeks they won't even leave the house. The only thing you need to worry about is your aim itself.

tonyg · Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:43 am

I also use a 20ga. Doesn't bother my martins at all..sure lays out a starling though