Decoys

KevinS · Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:15 am

Hi, newbie here. My question: If I sould be successful in attracting PMs to my housing, If and when should the decoys be taken down?

daveh · Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:46 am

I leave my decoys up thru the season. I have them on 10 ft. sticks of pvc pipe and move them around occasionally. The cooper hawks are totallylost when they grab onto a plastic decoy.

dave

madattiver · Sat Mar 28, 2015 11:22 am

I leave mine up all season as well. Gives the martins a better shot escaping the Hawks. The Hawks always go for the slower bird and that is always the decoy.

Jose Rodriguez · Sat Mar 28, 2015 4:18 pm

One of our decoys has already been hit by a hawk or owl. The decoy was turned from its original position.

KevinS · Sat Mar 28, 2015 7:55 pm

Thanks for the info guys.

KevinS · Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:25 pm

Will proximity of power lines in area be an issue?

madattiver · Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:54 pm

It shouldn't be. Might actually help. I know a bunch of people on here swear by them as it gives them more places to perch.

KBoothby · Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:14 am

There are power lines close to my houses. The PMs line up along them and enjoy the view during the summer! I also find at the end of the season I have hundreds gather along the lines before the final drive across Lake Erie and southward.
Kathryn

James Strickland FL · Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:50 am

Never take the Decoys down. I have had 4 attempts by a hawk and he has gone after the decoys and not my martins.

RockyBrueseke · Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:51 pm

I needed this info also. Thank you.