Need encouragement...multiple hawk attacks!

[brent]

Hi everyone,
Do you ever get to the point where you feel like just throwing in the towel? I think I'm almost there. These poor martins are going through hell. There is a persistent hawk (perhaps two) that, for the last 4 days or so, have been attacking my small colony. I know he's taken 3 martins. I've blown my air horn, get out early, have decoys and cursed a lot. I'll be out early again tomorrow, before sunrise waiting. What else can one do? I've read where hawks have destroyed a whole colony of birds. These birds are so frightened that they are not coming out to sit as they once did. I live in a rural area that is teaming with wildlife. You'd think there would be more available prey. I don't know. Up early and in the garden tomorrow morning.
Brent

[Whippy]

Brent,

Go to Academy and get an airsoft rifle that shoots automatic. It won't hurt the hawks but it will definitely get their attention. You'll have to spend some "hunting" time but, if you're that concerned about it, do it. The possible impact plus the noise of the firing will make its point.

Coolwhips

[xprtbrdr]

Make a scarecrow/dummy that has a face similar to yours and is looking up. Put a cap on said dummy and dress him in your usual clothing. Make sure that the arms and legs can catch the wind and move. Position him in different areas near your colony and alternate positions where your hawks attack from. He can be seated in a lawn chair for periods of time as well. Make sure the eyes are large!! Good Luck

[brent]

Thanks. I'll work on a scare crow tomorrow. Whippy, what ammo do you use in the airsoft rifle? Have you used it before?
Brent

[C.C.Martins]

Brent did you try dove decoys? Have to move them around I put them all over to distract. It may help. Sounds to me like you had this same issue last year, those screens helped. Dont give up!!

Had hawks early 2 years ago. Took one of my favorite martins, he was a subbie year prior...hand fed his chick's after he lost his mate and low food availability during the summer resulted in starving chick's. He disappeared one day and was found eaten in my neighbors yard. Lost 3 or 4 martins to that hawk.

I tried the scarecrow too. Have to move it around too, sounds funny but everytime you go out wear a red or yellow cap, put that cap on the scarecrow. It may get associated with your presence. Your doing the right thing by being out there to intercede. When they que up and make their dives they are vulnerable. Yep, same behavior our birds displayed, no socializing at all. Duck in quick and stay put.

One thing I found here that helped my birds last year, (I'm in a suburban setting) was to put up a system in front, they all seem to support one another and hawks can't as easily sneak attack without being spotted.

[flyin-lowe]

Airsoft rifles take a small round plastic ball a little bigger than a BB.

[steve r]

I had a colony of 22 nesting wiped out by constant attacks from Cooper’s hawks. The ones that didn’t get attached never came back. Now I’m starting all over again. I have 3 males and 2 females coming in at night. All you can do is hope for the best it’s Mother Nature doing her thing. I sometime wonder if man didn’t help the martins so much would it help them survive better with hawks etc.

[brent]

I wonder about that too, Steve. It seems the colony of birds gets the attention of the hawks. C. C. Martins, I have 2 dove decoys out but will put another 2. I'm going to put a scarecrow together tomorrow. Flyin-Lowe, I'll look further into the airsoft rifle. I'll be out there before sunrise. Thanks everyone.
Brent

[C.C.Martins]

Look for one with the range you would need, perhaps a blind near where its coming from.

[Whippy]

Thanks. I'll work on a scare crow tomorrow. Whippy, what ammo do you use in the airsoft rifle? Have you used it before?
Brent

I sent you an email via the contact from this website.

Coolwhips

[brent]

Ok I'll check it. Thanks.
Brent

[Whippy]

Ok I'll check it. Thanks.
Brent

If you don't get it, send me a note to: service at tempomaster dot com.

Thank you.

Whips

[brent]

Got the emails. Thanks Whippy and PMDavid. Agree to both of them.
Brent

[PMDavid]

10-4 brent

[Kegger]

Brent:

Hoping you can persuade those hawks from attacking your colony. good luck!

[Black Jack]

I know some frown at having a bird feeder near a martin colony but i have had many hawks come thru my yard and always they prey on the yard birds.
I have had martins for 4yrs now and i have seen only 1 cooper hawk land on my martin pole and that was way after the martins have fledged.
I live way back in the boonies and i get about everything. The hawks will go for the easiest prey.

[Whippy]

I know some frown at having a bird feeder near a martin colony but i have had many hawks come thru my yard and always they prey on the yard birds.
I have had martins for 4yrs now and i have seen only 1 cooper hawk land on my martin pole and that was way after the martins have fledged.
I live way back in the boonies and i get about everything. The hawks will go for the easiest prey.

I keep sunflower seeds on the ground about 20 to 30 feet from my gourd rack to keep as many wings in the area as possible. I always have doves in the trees and on the fence and on the ground. They even sit on top of my roof. so if a hawk prefers doves then the Martins have it made. I've not seen any of these birds interfere with the Martins. The more chaos I can provide in my yard the better chance the Martins have of escaping any attacks.

I understand in some areas feeding may attract Sparrows and such but I do not have that problem. The frowning of bird feeders in the area of Martin colonies, I believe, is directed at inadvertently helping sparrows and presenting them the opportunity to invade the Martin Housing.

Coolwhips

[Louise Chambers]

Keep doing decoys, air horns, be present outside when you can - but airsoft pellets hitting a hawk could injure it, and would be illegal to shoot at hawks anyway. You can discharge an air rifle to scare them with noise but aim it down to the ground, or to hit a fence, something safe to shoot at.

Having feeders with doves away from your site can help. Some hawks are migrating now, and will only be a problem for a few more weeks. We have a sharp-shinned hawk after our rural site, so glad he will be moving on soon - their nesting range is way to the north. Cooper's hawks can be a bigger problem since their nesting range overlaps in large part with martins' nesting range.

Is your site as open as you can make it? Are there trees you could trim or even remove to give less cover to the hawk(s)?

[brent]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the great ideas. No hawk attack today. I was out at 6 am and stayed out there all morning. I have decoys out, both dove and martin. I keep the air horn near me all the time. I'm setting up a scarecrow tomorrow. I like the idea of a bird feeder although attracting sparrows concerns me. What seed mix can I use that sparrows don't care for? Louise, I hope this hawk does move on. Thanks everyone.
Brent

[Unk Bond]

Hello Brent
Big orange solid corn. [
Remember what was said about the color hat for you and the scare crow. That's a great Idea right there. Later