Daily Cooper Hawk Attacks

Purple Rain · Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:31 pm

The Martins didn't arrive here in Virginia until last week and I am already having daily hawk attacks, yesterday and today! I have four 12 compartment houses on four poles and 30 gourds under them for a total of 78 compartments and I am ready to take it all down! Frustrated! Any suggestions? I feel like I am providing a grocery store for the Hawks!

taxidermy lady · Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:36 pm

So sorry Purple Rain. That has to be disheartening for you! I think Hawks are to plentiful now. Just not much out there to catch a hawk and have it for lunch. The only suggestion I could give you is scream at them like a crazy person and try to monitor your site closely! So sorry!

threelilkids · Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:47 pm

I know what you mean, I only have one pair and a hawk almost got my female a few days ago. Not to help the hawks but it is a way of life. Do all you can (decoys, feeders to attract other birds for warnings, dove decoys) try not to give up, the Martins need housing. I put up decoys and made it look like they are fling. My male martin is also more alert sense the hawk attack. I put up feeders for other birds. Maybe do some reading on how to deter hawks. So sorry for your martin loss. Good luck, Mary

Purple Rain · Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:59 pm

I have three, fixed decoys and one on a wire! So far, they have not fooled Mr. Hawk! He pokes his head into the compartments only to find nobody home? I have 3 to 6 martins checking out the housing doing touch and go's throughout the day and more should be arriving soon. I will have to try something else!

threelilkids · Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:21 pm

If the hawk is able to put his head in the house rooms maybe a wire mesh should be put around your house so the hawk can't get that close and the martins will be safe while on the house. Good luck, Mary

Gary W · Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:28 pm

Sorry to hear about the hawk attacks! I solved my hawk problem by installing a 4 inch wire fence barrier in front of all my housing. The fencing extends 9 to 12 inches in front of each hole. My Martins love to perch on it. Now, the Cooper's hawk cannot pick off the Martins entering a compartment, or when they are roosting on the housing. I still use decoys too.

Gary

Purple Rain · Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:26 am

Gary, can you post a picture of the 4" inch fencing? Thanks.

threelilkids · Thu Apr 02, 2015 2:03 pm

Thanks Gary that is what I was trying to say, and a pic would do her wonders. Good luck to all with the crazy hungry hawks

Mary

threelilkids · Thu Apr 02, 2015 2:10 pm

Purple Rain, Look at the post about banded bird returns, Kathy has a pic of her bird and you can see her 2x4 inch mesh wire on her house, hope that helps until you get a better one, Mary

Purple Rain · Thu Apr 02, 2015 3:51 pm

Thank you for all of the great suggestions! Today I added another decoy, installed green garden fencing around the houses, and hung buckets upside down on the poles. I will try to post a picture! I hope the fencing doesn't cause the martin to be trapped during an attack; I installed it only four inches from the entrance holes or basically enclosed the porch area. All comments appreciated!

Gary W · Sat Apr 04, 2015 8:49 pm

Hi Purple Rain,

I am sorry but I cannot post any pictures right now due to a computer problem.

Gary

birdy girl · Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:58 pm

Purple Rain
I totally understand how you feel. My poor martins are scared to come in at night due to all the constant hawk attacks. Thinking about this being our last year. So sorry you are experiencing hawk attacks. It upsets and stresses me out so much. Hope you can figure out a way to keep your martins safe from these monsters.

Purple Rain · Sun Apr 05, 2015 7:28 am

Over the past two days, I took down the houses and removed the fencing since it was only four inches away from the entrances. I then added wider and longer fencing so that it now extends out about 10" from the entrances and is higher and lower than the houses! I feel certain this will protect more birds. Next I will have to figure out a way to add protection to my 30 natural gourds, but the houses were the Hawks favorite place to dine! Threelilkids, the post on banded birds really helped and I used this as my model! Good luck to all!

skw159 · Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:13 am

We have hawks and eagles all over the place too because we live near a state park and the Illinois river.

I still can't get any visitors (it's only been a week) but am getting disheartened a bit and am beginning to think maybe I don't have the perfect setting for PMs.

KathyF · Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:47 am

Purple, I'm glad the picture helped! One other strategy that I use along with decoys and moving them around is to put out a few bird feeders to attract other birds. Birds at feeders tend to be more attentive about hawks and can be good sentries to sound the alarm if a hawk is attacking. Try to determine the direction from which your hawk is attacking and put a bird feeder directly in his path. If possible put the feeder about 10-15 ft. from shrubbery so the feeder birds have something into which they can escape.
I have 3 bird feeding stations going right now and it's really helping here.

taxidermy lady · Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:01 am

SKW we wannabe's all think that! Keep reading an changing until something happens! If I don't get any this year my poles are being moved farther out from my house! The only thing obstructing flyways are, large power pole and wires. But the wires should be good! So keep at it! Good luck!

saltair · Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:27 am

We also have Hawk problems but the biggest problem are Crows which are not always frightened by humans. PM's attack the lookout while the other Crow or Crows attacks the houses. Mockingbirds are excellent lookouts.