i found a hawk nest

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chickadee
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:02 pm
Location: ohio

I found a hawk nest about 200 ft from my martin colony. you have my martins cornfield then a big tree with the red tail hawk nest. he sits in it and just stares. I wondered why every 30 minutes the alarm goes off that the hawk is in the field or above my house. my martins cant even sit for long. what kind of threat does this cause my birds? will they leave?
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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DornCounty
Posts: 2169
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:58 pm
Location: Rural SE Kansas
Martin Colony History: .
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Trio-Jedi

pretty sure a red tail is not a huge threat to martins. I would think a martin would have to be injured or not aware to get caught by a red tail.
2017 - Home & Public Colonies - 300 Cavities
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chickadee
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:02 pm
Location: ohio

that is what I thought. but it does not seem like a lot of peace for them with this hawk coming threw every 30 minutes. and it is that much. I just worry when the martins do not seem happy.
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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Robbo
Posts: 624
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:53 pm
Location: Leduc, Alberta, Canada.

I believe they are not a threat but I saw one crash into one of my Martin houses a few years ago, it was funny don't know what is was after?
2009. 98 eggs, 66 hatch, 61 fledged.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion :grin: . first egg May 25 in a BO-11
2018. Population stable.
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Charles B
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:44 am
Location: Alabama/Auburn

Today I looked up and saw a rather large object several hundred feet high with several smaller objects flying all around it. I reached for my binoculars, and it turned out to be a red tailed hawk being harassed by four purple martins. It reminded me of a scene from Twelve O'Clock High. The hawk continued on to the horizon with the martins buzzing in rapid pursuit. They came so close that the hawk appeared to flinch several times. I had seen the martins harass a red tail hawk before, but never so relentlessly.
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AvianStewardess
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 3:10 pm
Location: Maryland/Cambridge

The sub-adults seem to get most confused. They've spooked at Osprey and Buzzards/Vultures. Fortunately, haven't spotted any hawks.
~Michelle
PMCA Member
Heritage Farm Quad Pod Systems
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John Miller
Posts: 4863
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

I have heard of red tails taking martins at roosts, but I had a pair nest in close proximity and no problems other than what you describe, and sometimes I think martins just enjoy getting all worked up. Consider yourself fortunate because these larger hawks won't let Cooper's Hawks nest nearby.

John M
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willbird
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:35 pm
Location: NW Ohio

I have a BUNCH of Red Wing Blackbirds about 200 yards from my PM housing, they do a great job of running predator birds off :-).
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