Hawk attack at dusk

[Sam Harris]

I was out on the patio talking to my mom, watching the martins flying all together. They usually do this prior to going in their houses at dusk. A coopers hawk flew by and landed on one of the houses. I yelled and chased him away. But a little bit later as some of the martins started flying in to the houses, the hawk came back and landed on the house again. I banged a pan and chased it away. The rest finally came in, but they were hesitant. I just hope he doesn't make this a habit. I cant be out there watching for him all the time.

[birdy girl]

Sorry you are having this intruder coming to your colony. This probably happens more than some landlords know. I was going to appointment few days ago. While driving by a small martin colony, I saw a Cooper's hawk sitting on top of the gourd rack. The hawk was watching the gourds below him waiting for a martin to exit a gourd. I didn't have time to stop at that time. On the way home, I stopped at the person's house, but no one came to the door. I saw this same thing at the same rack last year. I did tell the son of the landlord last year. My guess, the hawk comes there several times a day for his meal.

Sam, maybe this hawk will move on or meet up with a GHO one night.

[Chuck4]

Sam, I am sorry you are having to deal with the hawk issue! THis year I have seen many more hawks than in recent years past. For the past three nights as my martins were comiing home for the night a cooper's hawk would fly through on several passes causing their (and mine ) blood preassure to rise. I do think the overall Accipter numbers are up this season. For me, betweeen, the hawks and the HOSP, I am on control overload...

[Sam Harris]

I haven't seen the martins this morning. I sure hope that hawk hasn't scared them away. It has been cool and wet, so maybe they are off feeding somewhere else, I hope.

[Louise Chambers]

Just might help some to know, we are probably at peak of raptor migration now, or will be shortly. Falcons, cooper's, sharpies, you name it, many kinds of raptors are moving north now too. So you may see more for a few weeks, but that doesn't mean they are staying in your area.

[jr 2]

louisse;;;does the coopers hawk nest here in southeastern ohio or do they migrate furhtur north;;;had a hawk attack yesterday as I don't no if it got any martins or not;;I was on back patio working on my riding mower;i only have 3 pair back now;;;jr2

[Louise Chambers]

They nest in almost every state; their breeding range in US is more extensive than Sharp-shinned Hawk.

[RC Moser]

The Cooper hawk the 4 door sports sedan with the V8. Cooper's are long and sleek. Glide through the air like there slower 4 cylinder modes the Red tailed. But, The Cooper's Got SPEED and came turn on dime. He is also stealthy! The ability to sneak up on it's prey, then come out of the trees like bullet shot from high powered rifle. Then has the ability like hummingbird to stop and grab PM as it trying to enter at roost time.

Cooper's are the Trailblazer SS's of the family SUV raptors. The Ninja of the hawks. When you see Cooper's soring along over your PM colony to you seems like that's not threat. Well the Ninja of the sky is plotting his plan of ambush. Another tactic I see them use it the high speed low flyby just before dust. This stirs up the PM's and they all frantically take higher path in the sky. After his flyby he sneaks up, watches , waits, and then the pick off.

Some times this question weigh's on my mind to use Sreh's or not? Which is worse PM getting killed by starling attacks or getting picked off daily by resident Coopers. Any Hesitation by the PM getting in at roost time is all the Ninja of the sky needs to grab one..

My only defense is stand under my housing with water hose and hope I seen his plan of attack. Seems that me moving and squirting water foils his roost time attack's. One of the best advice I read on hear years ago was put your PM to Bed. I took that as being close to the housing and be in the line of obstruction from the Coopers that got afterburners and missile guided Claws.

I will also mention once they figure out successful attack. They come back, so just cause you haven't seen them for couple days they are around policing their territory.

I can also recognize when the PM's have seen one especially in the evening. They fly unusually high in the sky later than normal and making more noise than normal.

O I got to mention decoy's. IMO they only work for couple time for the resident Hawks, after that they pretty much ignore them. I won't leave mine up for long period of time before the PM's arrive. Seems they us them for target practice honing in their skills.

[Sam Harris]

I stood outside last night till the martins came in to roost, I was ready with a large pan lid and a wooden spoon to make a lot of noise if the hawk showed up. Luckily he didn't.