Coopers Hawk nails starling
I was outside this afternoon messing around and noticed a large flock of starlings foraging in the field surrounding our house. We have lots of a trees with a row of pine trees on the west side. When I walked towards the west edge of the yard, the starlings all flew at once in one big whoosh. Immediately a Coopers Hawk came darting from the pine trees heading straight for the flock of starlings. I walked around to the edge of the field and the hawk flew off with a starling in it's grip. I've noticed this hawk for a few years in the pines during winter, but I never see it during warm weather. Not sure if it is around or not. I've never seen it attack my martins. Maybe it spends the summer somewhere else.
Started with Trio houses and converting to Super Gourds. Adding another gourd rack this year.
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
I wish that event would be repeated A LOTTTTT more often with starlings as the target.
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
I had one get a female Cardinal today in the snow 
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Craig. Please be aware that is just a matter of time before the hawk pays a visit to your colony. There are many ways to deter hawk attacks on martins. Mainly, be sure that your martin housing is very open and the martins have a safe open fly zone away from their housing. Clear trees that are near your martin houses. If hawks begin to be a problem, consider using dove decoys away from your housing. The hawks will go after a dove before a martin if they think one is available for easy pickings. Also, spend time outside around your martins, hawks aren't bi fans of humans and if you can scare it off the more power to you. Best of luck.