Rethinking the PM decoy.......

geneinmurphy · Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:15 am

I have been using decoys for several years now (11 year landlord) but have also had a large number of hawk attacks the last few years. I had the decoys on my racks strict for an alternate target for the hawks. However, I will try something different.......not use decoys at all. I think the hawks come by during the day while the PMs are out and attack just because the decoys are there. Maybe with no decoys up there (at least until the PMs start feeding their young) this will cut down on the attacks......

GeneP · Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:58 am

Haven't really dealt with hawks, but some on the forum have added decoys after their birds have arrived and found their martins are disturb by them. Whereas if the decoys were there when the martins arrived, the martins were fine with them.

After 11 years you may not have that problem. Worth a try. Heck, we're all just trying to figure it out.

chickadee · Sat Mar 22, 2014 10:10 am

I do not use decoys I never have. And I do not have any hawk problems. But my colony is just now growing. So we will see. Only hawk I have had try to get close is a red tail.

Lewis · Sat Mar 22, 2014 10:21 am

I don't use decoys and have very few hawk attacks. I have a very open sight and the martins see the hawk long before it gets close. I believe if the hawk is unsuccessfull they move on. I think decoys may attract hawks that would otherwise move on

Mark/OH · Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:46 pm

I had decoys out at the start of last year. First time I tried them they seemed to draw the hawks in. After I lost two martins to them I took the decoys down and had no more problems.

BuddyS · Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:10 pm

What about using decoys for PM attraction? Should newbies use them in addition to Dawnsong or maybe not?

geneinmurphy · Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:37 pm

Buddy.....yes.....decoys are great for a new colony and attracting PM's. But I do not need them for that since I have an established colony. I am hoping that removing he decoys will lessen the hawk attacks.....

DAVE · Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:39 pm

Last year for the first time I used Decoys and had Hawk attacks but known in the past 5 years. I took them down this year. In late Winter and early Spring the Hawks are just a little more hungry like other animals.

Maybe! Just Gene said just trying to figure them out.
Dave

James Strickland FL · Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:50 pm

I used them in the past and I think they did work, but now I do not have them due to Hawks stayed around and the Martins did not like them around. If you are going to use Decoys I would put them away from the Colony as to have the Hawks attack away from form your Colony Site. Good Luck!

klcretired · Sun Mar 23, 2014 2:41 pm

geneinmurphy
Over the 35 plus years I have been a PM Land Lord I tried exactly what you are Talking about but Believe me when I tell you The Hawks are coming anyway because Martins are very Vocal and attract many Predators, IMO having the decoys up (Many Decoys) save Martin Lives because while the Hawk is attacking the decoys the Martins have a Chance to Bolt to Freedom, Like I said I have tried it both ways and I prefer having decoys up at all times.

Siberman · Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:12 pm

This was my first year to try decoys . I put several doves out in November '13 and then 3 martins in January '14 . Every other day , I had to straighten them up after they'd been hit . I haven't had to do that since the first week of March . Think the hawks finally gave up ?

Davlyn · Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:51 pm

Here are my thoughts on decoys , I think that they help if placed in the right area . Here is what I mean , I have had martins now since 1999 with no trouble with OWLS ! In 2010 I added decoys because every now and again I would have a cooper hawk come threw my colony grabbing one of my matins so I placed decoys on my gourd racks and trio house . Some mornings my decoys would be upside down ! The following year I had a OWL almost wipe out my entire colony , I think the owl was drawn in by the decoys I'm not sure that was the cause but it could have been . So I took down all my decoys , If I were going to use them again I would place them far away from my colony on a pole by their self .

JL Murray · Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:17 pm

I have seen martins get away safely enough times while the hawk flys of empty clawed because it went for the easy target of a decoy instead of the harder moving target of a live martin enough times in fact that I am 100% convinced that the decoys are needed.