Predator question

[ben_wood]

Just checked on my colony after working a couple of night shifts and found two groups of remains (feathers and a beak) on the ground. What predator would defeather their victims on the ground like this? Is it probably an owl? Both birds were ASY males judging by the coloration.

[Matt F.]

Hi Ben.
Sorry this happened.
From what I've read, a pile of feathers underneath the housing, usually indicates owl predation.
Hawks on the other hand, typically carry their prey off, and away from the housing.
Here's a helpful article:
http://purplemartin.org/update/BecomSleuth.html

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I agree with Matt, sounds like an owl. The area where you find the feathers depends upon how high the owl is from the ground, and how windy it is...Usually, the feathers at our land are about in a 5 or 6 ft circle. The owl almost never eats the real long feathers from the tail and the wings. The same owl will always eat its prey in the same general area, usually in a nearby tree.

A hawk may fly a long ways before it eats its prey. They can stop anywhere to eat it.

[ben_wood]

Thanks for the replies. There were a lot of the long feathers left. I would almost guess that the owl was on the ground while it was eating because the grouping was so small. I have had martins for around ten years and this is the first concrete evidence of owl predation I have seen. I hope the martins will adjust their habits and don't make it too attractive a spot for owls. Maybe I should look into owl guards for my house (Trio M-man) and SuperGourds.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

If you have not noticed this before, it may be that the owl caught one on the outside, sitting on the porch. You can bet your last dollar that the owl will come back and will try to catch some more. In fact, it will come back the next night.

[ben_wood]

I've lost at least two ASY males. This morning there weren't any additional signs of a successful attack. My Trio has the double deep compartments so there is more than the usual amount of protection. Wouldn't the surviving birds be more careful in their choice of roosting spots now?

[flyin-lowe]

Ben not making light of your situation, but you are correct the martins can become more picky in their roosting site. If it keeps up they will abandon your site and move on to another. Owls can wipe out an entire colony. Like was mentioned before once they find a food source they will return every night until it runs dry.

[Louise Chambers]

I think it is impossible to be sure this was an owl attack - could be a hawk, too. Either way, adding guards to housing is a good way to keep your martins safer. You can also add decoys to your set-up.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I would get a wire cage on that house as soon as possible

[Matt F.]

Ben,
You may have already seen this, but here's a article from Kent Justus, that shows how to make an easy owl guard for your Trio house:
http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/a ... lGuard.htm

Here's another great post from Kent, that shows the "cage" guard he created to protect his gourd rack.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=181101

[ben_wood]

Matt, thanks for the links. Louise, wouldn't a hawk be more prone to carrying off it's prey instead of defeathering the victim on the ground close to the gourds? BTW I haven't found any more signs of an attack.

[Louise Chambers]

Ben, I've seen lots of photos of hawks on ground with prey after initial capture, but I really can't say it was owl or hawk - getting cages on is a good idea.

[ben_wood]

Come to think of it Louise I guess if a hawk doesn't have young yet to feed, it could just defeather and eat the prey right there on the ground. Because of my work schedule (12 hr. shifts) I don't know whether the attacks were during the day or nocturnal. Thanks for everyone's advice, I'll work on the guards as soon as possible.

[Ed Pace]

Ben: Louise is right, most hawks( especially sharpys)
will eat there pray where they kill it, if they feel comfortable with the location.
Ed

[ben_wood]

@ about 2:40 pm I went outside to check on things and startled (actually we were both startled) what I believe to be a sharp-shinned hawk (going by photos I saw on the web). It was similar in size and color to a dove, in fact that is what I initally thought it was until I got a better look as it flew away. If this is indeed the culprit what advice can ya'll give me?

[ben_wood]

Also this morning after I got home from work (about 7:00), I went out back and lowered the house and gourds to see if I could see any telltale signs of an owl attack like blood, pulled ajar doors, etc. but saw nothing unusual. With me just seeing the hawk right by the colony I now lean towards the hawk theory.

[Todd Wright]

A couple of years ago I was sitting on the patio and witnessed a hawk snatch a martin from my ghourd rack and land in the next door neighbors yard to eat it. The year before witnessed hawk get a bluebird while it was on the ground.