Vulnerable to Hawk Attacks?

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

I have recently setup my new Purple Martin site. There are really no trees are wooded areas near the site. I placed a T-14 and Super System gourd rack about 80 feet to the north of side of my house. The back of the house is essentially two stories, so is a good bit taller than the martin poles.

Should I be concerned about my house being a shield for hawks to ambush the colony? As in, hawks could fly in low from the south (opposite side of my house from the martin housing) and quickly up and over my house and swiftly drop in on the colony for an attack.

Or, am I simply over analyzing the situation?! ; )

I think I have a great site, but am a bit concerned that I placed the two poles too close to the back of my house, especially given my house is rather tall.

What are your takes on this situation? Thanks much!

[M.Stephens]

I think you are fine. The houses need to be close to you so you can enjoy them and they like being close to human activity.

That is a good open area. I would get an air horn and use it if you set on the balcony observing your colony. The hawks are most likely going to be up high unless you have large trees in the front of your house. The Cooper's like to use trees to attack from.

[Louise Chambers]

Daryl, that would be the only line of approach that might work. If any martins are up in the air, they'd spot the hawk and give alarm. If all the martins are on perches, gourds, then a hawk might be able to sneak up. But you can do a couple of things about that - put some tree swallow boxes or gourds in front yard, maybe one to side of house, too, where they could see a hawk more easily. Put a few martin decoys up on the house side of your systems. Consider a bird feeder out front too - first line of defense

[Chris B]

Decoys work! I think if they are up higher than the perches they present a easy target.

This morning all three of my decoys were upside down. Who did it? Who, who, hoo???

Like an owl.

I need some kind of spring mounted deal so I don't have to keep resetting the decoys.

[Kent Justus]

Daryl,

My experience has been that sites that are this much in the open as yours are more likely to be attacked by an accipiter or merlin coming in from up high and then stooping down at full speed and trying to quickly capture martins that might have exited too late and are still close to the racks. I agree that if tree swallows are present at the front of your property they are going to sound the alarm. I've known other folks that are so confident against hawk attacks because there are no trees around, but the hawks still try to attack from high above plunging down at top speed. - Kent

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Daryl, that would be the only line of approach that might work. If any martins are up in the air, they'd spot the hawk and give alarm. If all the martins are on perches, gourds, then a hawk might be able to sneak up. But you can do a couple of things about that - put some tree swallow boxes or gourds in front yard, maybe one to side of house, too, where they could see a hawk more easily. Put a few martin decoys up on the house side of your systems. Consider a bird feeder out front too - first line of defense

Thanks Louise! I already have 6 BB boxes lining the perimeter of my 2.5 acre lot. Bluebirds are already building in one box and Tree Swallows have claimed the others! It sure is a joy already seeing the yard full of tree and barn swallows... I'm sure martins will fit right in!

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Daryl,

My experience has been that sites that are this much in the open as yours are more likely to be attacked by an accipiter or merlin coming in from up high and then stooping down at full speed and trying to quickly capture martins that might have exited too late and are still close to the racks. I agree that if tree swallows are present at the front of your property they are going to sound the alarm. I've known other folks that are so confident against hawk attacks because there are no trees around, but the hawks still try to attack from high above plunging down at top speed. - Kent

Thanks much Kent!

So in your opinion, if the attacks would come from up high and then swooping down... does the proximity to my house to the martin housing have any affect on potential attacks? In other words, is it worth moving the martin housing further from my house... or do you think the 80 feet is a non-issue? I also have several TS pairs around the perimeter of my 2.5 acres... they should help send alarm calls!

I've been trying for 15 years to get my own colony going - I just want to make sure I have my poles in the best spot possible.

Thanks for your input - I appreciate your expertise!

[Kent Justus]

Daryl,

It is my opinion that the 80 feet is not an issue. It wouldn't matter if they were 100 or more away, the hawks still might try to attack by sailing over at a great height and then stooping, so I wouldn't worry about it either way. The most important thing is the early warning system by additional sets of eyes, which is covered by your bluebird and tree swallow sentinels.

On another note, I would highly recommend putting up a few decoys, playing the "daytime chatter" CD, and building nests in most of the cavities. I recommend a handful of white pine needles flattened into the bottom of the cavity, and if you want to go above and beyond that, finding some dried up willow or pin oak leaves and putting a few at the back of the cavity. Just be sure to use your hand to completely flatten the material so that it doesn't appear to be a starling nest to the martins that look in. I found that the daytime chatter CD worked better for me than the dawnsong. - Kent

[taxidermy lady]

Try a decoy on a stif wire.

[taxidermy lady]

Here the right pic!!