question about decoys -- and being contrary maybe

[John Miller]

It's advised now to place multiple decoys around a colony -- maybe even dove decoys -- and move around.

But is it possible this, like over playing the audio tapes, is actually attracting hawks?

I suppose if one sees they've got hawks coming anyway, the answer is no.

We know martins are most vulnerable during cold rainy spells when they are sitting with droopy wings, so hopefully decoys would be helpful at these times.

I don't have experience with decoys at public sites. I was sitting under a tree last summer when it was about 105 watching near fleged babies sitting on a porch. A Cooper's came in and took a dove out of the tree right above my round head and flew way off somewhere with its kill.

Maybe if that dove had not been there, the hawk would have gone for the martins...so maybe decoys are great. But maybe the hawk was looking for doves anway. Just something I thought on last summer sitting there.

John M

[Lewis]

John,

I have some decoys I never got around to putting up. After watching how my martins have reacted to cooper hawks I decided not to use them. My site is open with no nearby trees so the martins sound the alarm long before the hawk is near. My observation is that after several attempts the hawk goes on and is succesful else where. I think if I put up decoys it would keep this hawk and others attracted to what looks like an easy target.

[Dale D]

John,
I have mixed emotions using decoys. There are times they have been helpful to me since I do have Cooper's hawks around this area. I put them up early one year and the hawks were eating plastic regular until the martins arrived. Once the martins arrived they were already watching the site.

I came to the conclusion that if I am going to use them it is better to wait until the hawks become a problem, and then I put them up. I try not to draw attention to the site before necessary. That's pretty much my viewpoint on them.

[John Miller]

well guys...seems your experience is what I suspected. It's "hard" to play mother nature. Maybe limit use of the decoys, especially the doves, until one is having a repeat hawk problem. Probably every site will be a little different.

thanks...

[Louise Chambers]

At my feeders in PA, it seemed cooper's hawks liked doves better than anything else, or maybe just a good sized meal?

[Robbo]

I have not personally seen it but the better half ( Betty) said the pesky Merlin hit the 2 Martin decoys on top of the T-14 with extended cage protection. I forget where I saw the Dove decoy that the wings moved but I would like to know.

[Tony]

I bought some martin decoys and put them up last year after I saw some hawks watching my site from neighboring trees. My martins hated the decoys. They kept flying into them trying to knock them down. I finally took down the decoys before my martins injured themselves.

[Bob Allnock]

I think every situation is different. I have a colony at Moraine State Park where I have a serious problem with hawks and owls. This is a remote site that I believe has more predator problems than one near houses with more activity. Here is a photo from a trail cam of what looks to be a coopers hawk attempting to carry off a martin decoy.

I also have a dove decoy at this site that is knocked loose constantly.

At a remote site I would definitely use decoys.

This site also has serious owl problem.

[James Strickland FL]

I think that they helped me get martins to look at my site , but they would not land until I took them down.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Last summer I had several decoys placed at the fringes of my colony, my martins seemed to ignore them until one day I placed a decoy on my gourd rack. My martins went crazy over that, dive bombing the new decoy and making a lot of noise, even attacking the decoys on the fringes.This went on for several hours so I took the new decoy down fearing all the noise would attract a hawk.

[Matt F.]

I think every situation is different. I have a colony at Moraine State Park where I have a serious problem with hawks and owls. This is a remote site that I believe has more predator problems than one near houses with more activity. Here is a photo from a trail cam of what looks to be a coopers hawk attempting to carry off a martin decoy.

I also have a dove decoy at this site that is knocked loose constantly.

At a remote site I would definitely use decoys.

This site also has serious owl problem.

Hi Bob.
I recall your great article in one of the recent Update issues.
One of your photos in the article of an entrance plate (I think it was an Excluder II plate) that had been ripped open by an owl, was a real eye opener as to how powerful owls are.
Your owl protection addtions look great.

[Bob Allnock]

Thanks, Matt:

I am very pleased with the comeback last year at Moraine. I have photos of the GHO with the trail cam almost every night, one night he was hanging on the fencing. He is still around but has no effect on the Martins. I would not be surprised if the Moraine site fills to capacity in 2013, at least I am hoping.

I will post an update this year.

[wyatt]

My martins hated the decoys. I tried to outlast them but finally took them down before the martins wore themselves out attacking the decoys.

[M.Stephens]

I keep about a dozen martin decoys located in the middle of my colony and the martins don't pay them any mind at all . They help deter the hawks when they attack. I also use dove decoys located on the edge of my colony and have had them knocked to the ground on several occasions.

[flyin-lowe]

I can't see where the decoys are going to draw in any more predators then the real thing will. The only difference is the decoys are a little slower to take off in flight once the attack occurs. If you don't have martins yet and you are using them to attract martins then they might draw in some hawks to your site but at that point it doesn't matter as much because you don't have martins. Once you get martins to stay then they will attract the hawks as much or more then the decoys. The only time I see that it makes sense not to use them is when you martins do not like them and are constantly worried about them.

[Robbo]

I have put them up and had to take them down because the Martin's hated them but last year I put them up before the Martin's arrived and just left them. The Martin's ended up even using them as perches and snuggling up to them.

[klcretired]

yes I am a firm Believer in using Decoys as a attracting tool and as a Hawk/Owl Deterant , I Know every Colony is Different but please use them if & When you can, they help save a Lot of martins Lives while under attack giving the PM's a Chance to Bolt to Freedom while the predator is attacking Plastic , Here at My Colony The Decoys stay up Year Round and when the Pm's come they are not bothered by The Decoys in Fact they Perch atop them Most of the time

[Bill Pec]

Hi John,

Good question. I don't think the decoys attract hawks. The commotion created by the martins at a viable martin site seems to be irresistable to hawks even without decoys. I have found the use of decoys is more effective in thwarting hawk attacks early in the season. As the season progressess the hawks seem to learn to ignore the decoys like other birds learn to ignore scarecrows and fake owls. Constantly moving the decoys does helps to confuse the hawks. So does adding decoys that move on there own to get the attention of the attacking hawks. This can be accomplished by placing decoys at the ends of long spindly rods so they bounce up and down when the martins flush from the perches. Decoys can also be hung from perches by heavy cords so they blow in the wind and also move when the martins flush from the perches. Use heavy cord so the string is visible to the martins so they don't hit them. I have about eight decoys at my site that have saved the lives of several martins. So far the martins have not been bothered by the decoys. Please see attached photo.
Enjoy the passion,

Bill

[John Miller]

Bill

this is an innovative idea for placing decoys...I'm bumping up just so folks see.

My original pondering this topic was mostly about the dove decoys...whether they attract hawks or deflect martin attacks. maybe best approach as in many things is -- all things in moderation.

John Miller

[DAVE]

I use live Doves as Decoys.What I mean is I put out Safflower seed which Doves and Cardinals love. Now I noticed that Cardinals are better than Martins at seeing or hearing Predators and since a Hawk like dove better they will go after them first. So far in the past 4 years of doing this a Dove has not been caught nor my Martins. Sparrows , Starling don't like this seed.
Dave