Crows eating martins
A couple of crows have learned how to eat my martins. They fly up to house when a baby puts its head out and snatch it. Some times it the crow will catch a martin when it is flying to the hole to feed a young one. The martins are upset by this and gang up on the crow and try to chase it away. So far I have seen 4 of my martins get caught. They have maybe got more when I was not watching. Very upsetting!
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jhcox
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
- Location: tennesse
- Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair
Get a crow caller and lore the crows into shotgun range and have at them. Good shooting
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
I've never seen them harassing my martins, but they wipe out robin chicks in no time.
I have a "robin shelf/open nestbox" on the south side of the garage and under the shade of a huge maple tree.
I kept hearing a commotion and walked around to see a huge crow clinging to the edge of the shelf, plucking out the half-grown robins. It flew off to the north, and a bit later I saw it flying by again with another robin chick. It cleaned out the entire nest in just a few minutes.
I wish I could shoot any gun in town, but I can't.
I have a "robin shelf/open nestbox" on the south side of the garage and under the shade of a huge maple tree.
I kept hearing a commotion and walked around to see a huge crow clinging to the edge of the shelf, plucking out the half-grown robins. It flew off to the north, and a bit later I saw it flying by again with another robin chick. It cleaned out the entire nest in just a few minutes.
I wish I could shoot any gun in town, but I can't.
~ Not all those who wander are lost.
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Mitch Booth
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
- Location: Akron, OH
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair
I can take take starlings and sparrows out to 40 yards with my .22 caliber PCP Benjamin marauder air rifle 9 out of 10 shots if it is not super windy. The gun also has a shrouded barrel and is very quiet to shoot.
Mitch
Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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Courtney-NC
- Posts: 592
- Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
- Location: Holly Springs, NC
- Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site
They can especially be a problem in housing with shallow compartments and porches where the young can wander out.
Some folks have resorted to using hawk/owl caging for crow problems. It's usually the fish crows that do the damage. You might want to consider caging in the house to protect the remaining young.
Some folks have resorted to using hawk/owl caging for crow problems. It's usually the fish crows that do the damage. You might want to consider caging in the house to protect the remaining young.
-Courtney
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2444
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
My brother lives in Winter Haven, Fl,,, He had that trouble with fish crows,,, What he said he did was "took off all the perch rods" that he had for the Martins to perch on.. That stop the fish crow from setting on his houses.
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio