Hawks

[Mark/OH]

I am fairly new to this. I have had a house up for 7 years. In 2011 I had one pair with two fledges. Last year 5 pairs and about 20 fledges. All pairs were SY. No problems with hawks although several are around. This year I finally had 4 pair back at the end of last week all ASY. Think they are last years birds. Come Saturday I only have 7 purple martins and today only 6 martins. Not sure what the problem is but we have a lot more hawks this year and I see a lot of people have trouble with them. Do hawks take them in flight or do they land on the gourds and houses. Last year the martins would chase the hawks when they came to close. This year when I have seen a hawk fly over the martins scatter

[Mike1624]

Mark, the hawks that take birds are extremely quick and will generally catch the birds on the houses or on the ground, if they're picking up nesting material. They also occasionally catch them in the air. If your site is closely ringed by trees, the martins don't get much warning time and can be surprised. If they see a hawk early, they will mob it and chase it away. You will have to spend a lot of time watching to see a hawk take a bird. Just because your numbers change, it doesn't necessarily mean a hawk caught one, although that could be the reason. Most, but not all, Coopers and Sharp-shinned hawk attacks occur in the morning, or in the late evening.
My problem became so extreme last year that I had to build large cages over my houses to give the martins a chance. So far, this year, it seems to be working. Good luck.

[Laura Dore]

Maybe you need to get some decoy martins from the PMCA store? I've heard the hawks will go for the slowest birds when attacking a house. So, while it swoops down to get the decoy, the live ones can escape.

[Mark/OH]

Mike, thanks for the input. The pole is in a pasture with trees closer on one side. I will keep a close eye. The weather has warmed the last couple days so the martins are goon feeding most of the day

Laura, I had put up two decoys this year and thought that might be attracting hawks so I took them down on Sunday but you might have a good point and I my have to rethink it.

I can't believe I finally have some martins and want to build a good colony.
I love walking outside and hearing them fly overhead and watching them soar

[MamaBruff]

Although I don't have PMs yet, I did put up some decoys as recommended here on the forum. I put one (Dino) on a perch on the east side of the house, and one (Gino) on an upper porch on the west side. I found out today what they were talking about, with decoys and hawks! .... a Coopers hawk appeared out of nowhere, attacking poor Gino on the porch, then it few away embarrassed, with empty talons. Too bad it didn't come in from the east, as the starlings were having a porch party there!! (No they can't enter any of my housing entrances)

[Jack Petty-IL]

Mark I leave my decoy's on all martin season. I have witnessed hawk attacks on them numerous times! You will need them decoys out there more than ever when young martins begin to fly!