hawks

[Guest]

Besides my T-14 and all the gourds. I have two BH12s. Well to make a long story short, I left the BH12 up because of last years bunch. I had one old faithful PM that came in every night. The wife and I were watching from the back porch when he came in from feeding, he was guarding both BH12s. At 10:45 am sharp he was on the porch sunning and let his guard down and BAM a hawk got him in less than 5 seconds and gone. I don't believe any kind if guard except other PMs could have saved him. there were only two at night one on one and one on the other side. Bottom line, anyone have any plans for a big enough guard to use on theses two old BH12s. We are just sick.

[klcretired]

Hi Robert ,
we all feel your Pain , I don't even want to loose not even one martin but as sad as it is to say , you are going to loose a few to Nature and alot of times there is nothing we can do , for me I keep up my Decoys all year long along with dove Decoys scattered around and for me it's Saved my Martins Many Many Many times, The Predator will usually go for the Slowest Martin usually the plastic ones giving the Real Martin a Chance to Bolt to freedom, plus IMO when a Predator Hits Plastic time after time and doesn't get a warm meal they will move on to better hunting grounds.
Here are some of my previous posts listed below, Hope they help you

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... awk+attack

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9649

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... awk+attack

[~Ray~Gingerich]

You could make a complete cage out of vinyl covered garden wire, it's light in weight, wire spacing is only 2"x3" but you could make several larger entry points by cutting one connector out and maybe wraping electrical tape around the wire for a better toe hold when entering.

[Guest]

He had no other PMs to warn him and I think anything could have got him off the porch even with a guard unless the guard was a foot awyay. Someone had some pictures last year and this year, I do not remember where.

[Eddie McKnight]

As previously posted, I have been so devastated by hawks in the last couple of years, I have completely encircled my houses and gourd racks with 2 x 4 mesh wire. Martins can still get attacked on the perch rods up top, but WILL NOT get attacked while sitting on the porches. And they have adapted readily to scooting right through the wire mesh.

2 x 4 mesh wire is readily available at the box stores or local hardware stores, is light weight and inexpensive.

[Guest]

Tonight his buddy came home and flew around and around the houses looking for him and finally went to bed right at dark. Some one said they have no emotion toward each other. We are down to one now, however we had 4 males and a female came by looked around about noon and left. I still think we have more coming.

[Guest]

Sorry