Was watching my Martins come in tonight...

[Al Denton]

I’m having trouble with Hawks so far this year. Just wondering what the train of thought is now on the placement of decoys. Would it be better to stick decoys on the housing or in the yard perched on rods stuck in the ground? Hoping the decoys aren’t actually attracting the Hawks to my setup.

[Whippy]

Al,

Last year I had my decoys set up on poles on top of my fence. In those positions, the hawk had to fly by them to get to my gourd rack. When the martins left the rack they flew past the decoys. The decoys last year saved many martins. However, this year, not so much. Although I did move the decoys to other locations, the hawk has learned to go after moving targets rather than the stationary ones.

So putting them on poles around your set up but not too close will help deflect some of the attacks. After a while you will want to move the decoys around a little bit to avoid them becoming a normal fixture. The sounds and commotions of the martins interacting is what attracts the hawk.

Also. I remember someone here having put wings on their decoys. I am in the process of trying to do this as well and I'll hang the decoy on a string to allow it to move around.

Other than that, be out near and under your housing as much as possible. Set up a scarecrow if you can. I have been able to reduce the presence of this hawk by being outside as much as possible. I also fire a pellet gun in his direction without projectiles but letting the report of the shot scare him off. If he's on a tree limb or a fence or something like that, I'll fire a projectile near him and let both the report of the gun and the impact of the projectile scare him off. Some also use an air horn to scare the hawks away. I'm in a pretty tight neighborhood so I don't use the airhorn here.

If I think of something else I'll add it.

Hope that helps.

Coolwhips

[Thomabear]

I’m having trouble with Hawks so far this year. Just wondering what the train of thought is now on the placement of decoys. Would it be better to stick decoys on the housing or in the yard perched on rods stuck in the ground? Hoping the decoys aren’t actually attracting the Hawks to my setup.

I'm wondering the same. I discovered a hawk a couple days ago and its landing under and on the houses early in the morning around daybreak.. I see a lot of post about decoys but have to wonder if this helps or promotes the problem.

[Whippy]

Thomabeaar,

That particular hawk is waiting for the martins to leave their cavity and will catch them in a short sprint if he's lucky. Be sure to scare him off the houses and don't let him to continue to perch up there.

I firmly believe the hawks are attracted by the noise and activity rather than the visual of a decoy. The decoys may deflect an attack during the onset of the rush and following flurry and scrambling but I don't believe the decoys actually attract the presence of the hawk.

When I started my colony and was using the dawn song to attract martins, it also attracted hawks into the area that I had not seen so much before. They would hang around more than usual when the dawn song was playing which further makes me believe the hawk is drawn to the sounds and activities.

Yours has learned where his meal pops out of and he waits for it.

That's my .02

Coolwhips

[Whippy]

After a quick search my initial thought was correct. It was Steve Kroenke who has put wings on his decoys. Here is a link to the original post of his. Very much and invaluable information from Steve. Thanks, Steve.


viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35711&p=287551&hili ... gs#p287551

Coolwhips

[Al Denton]

Al,

Last year I had my decoys set up on poles on top of my fence. In those positions, the hawk had to fly by them to get to my gourd rack. When the martins left the rack they flew past the decoys. The decoys last year saved many martins. However, this year, not so much. Although I did move the decoys to other locations, the hawk has learned to go after moving targets rather than the stationary ones.

So putting them on poles around your set up but not too close will help deflect some of the attacks. After a while you will want to move the decoys around a little bit to avoid them becoming a normal fixture. The sounds and commotions of the martins interacting is what attracts the hawk.

Also. I remember someone here having put wings on their decoys. I am in the process of trying to do this as well and I'll hang the decoy on a string to allow it to move around.

Other than that, be out near and under your housing as much as possible. Set up a scarecrow if you can. I have been able to reduce the presence of this hawk by being outside as much as possible. I also fire a pellet gun in his direction without projectiles but letting the report of the shot scare him off. If he's on a tree limb or a fence or something like that, I'll fire a projectile near him and let both the report of the gun and the impact of the projectile scare him off. Some also use an air horn to scare the hawks away. I'm in a pretty tight neighborhood so I don't use the airhorn here.

If I think of something else I'll add it.

Hope that helps.

Coolwhips

Thanks, I think adding wings to some of the decoys is certainly worth a try. I’m going to remove some of the decoys from the setup, and move the rest of them around periodically. My decoys in the yard are mounted on tall tomato stakes. I’m going to move them further away from the setup, and keep them moving around also. I just hope this hawk or hawks is migrating through and moves on soon.

[Whippy]

Good luck to you.

I've had 3 hawk attacks so far this morning. He has been unsuccessful each time.

When I hear the martins starting their decent into the gourd rack to fight over cavities, I go outside and stand by the gourd rack. During the 2nd attack, I was there and he came in so fast it was crazy. A female martin flew past me about 2 feet away at chest level. The hawk was in chase and as I reached my hand out it flared. I could have smacked him if I was fast enough. Seems the martin was using me for cover and defense. Maybe not but who knows.

Coolwhips

[Unk Bond]

Hello All
Are Hawks in your area on the song bird state list. [ Later

[brent]

Hi everyone,
At 9:42, while in the garden under the houses, a hawk attacked. First I heard the martins alerting then I looked up and right above me there it was. It looked like he was attracted to the decoy. I blew the air horn right at him. He reacted and immediately changed course. The martins chased after him. I have decoys mounted on bamboo and the bamboo is zipped tied to tomato stakes that are hammered into the ground. This way they sway with the wind. I also have a scarecrow made of a tomato stake that I taped 2 coat hangers to so that I am able to put a button down shirt on him and pants. I took a plastic grocery bag and filled it with straw and shaped it into a head. Then I added a hat. Hope this helps. There are just too many hawks!
Brent

[Unk Bond]

Hello All
Are Hawks in your area on the song bird state list. [ Later

===========
Hello All
Any one know [ Later

[Whippy]

Hello All
Are Hawks in your area on the song bird state list. [ Later

===========
Hello All
Any one know [ Later

Unk,

Hawks, owls, eagles, and all other non-game birds and songbirds (except for the few unprotected birds listed below) are protected by various state and federal laws and may not be killed, taken from the nest, picked up, or possessed for any reason, and their feathers may not be possessed or sold. Arts and crafts may not include these protected species under any circumstances.

The only birds not protected by any state or federal law are European starlings, English sparrows, feral rock doves (common pigeon, Columba livia) and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers may be possessed. Yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer's blackbirds and all grackles, cowbirds (does not include cattle egret), crows, or magpies may be controlled without a federal or state depredation permit when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes a health hazard or other nuisance.

Coolwhips

[Al Denton]

Good luck to you.

I've had 3 hawk attacks so far this morning. He has been unsuccessful each time.

When I hear the martins starting their decent into the gourd rack to fight over cavities, I go outside and stand by the gourd rack. During the 2nd attack, I was there and he came in so fast it was crazy. A female martin flew past me about 2 feet away at chest level. The hawk was in chase and as I reached my hand out it flared. I could have smacked him if I was fast enough. Seems the martin was using me for cover and defense. Maybe not but who knows.

Coolwhips

I’ll be spending lot of time now outside with my Martins...especially mornings and late afternoon. The best deterrent against Hawks is the sight of me. Thanks again

[Whippy]

I’ll be spending lot of time now outside with my Martins...especially mornings and late afternoon. The best deterrent against Hawks is the sight of me. Thanks again

I resemble that remark. I was a bit concerned that I may have been the best deterrent against the ladies in the bar but now I'm glad I can put it to good use. It just took a while to realize it was a talent and not a detriment.

Coolwhips

[deancamp]

A lot of good information on this post. I agree that decoys help distract hawks and don't attract them to the martins. The noise and movement the martins make would surely draw more attention than a still decoy and then hopefully the hawk will see the decoy as a slow moving target giving the martins a chance to escape.

[Thomabear]

Has anyone experienced a hawk take out two martins in one strike? When I woke up early this morning I saw a hawk pulling on something on the ground about 30 feet from my housing. I went over to scare the hawk off and found a pair of martins about 6 inches apart dead. I have one 4K video cam pointing directly at the housing to monitor and watched the attack in slow motion as the hawk came in from behind a building at ground level then went true vertical in one motion right under the house. That dude grabbed a martin in each foot then landed where I initially saw it. I'm gonna have to keep a close eye on this one. He is a master... Now its off to Tractor Supply to purchase a 4"x4" mesh panel. I have a plan to do a wrap with hinges for easy nest checks.

[Whippy]

Bear,

I've not seen one do that yet.

I have a pair of hawks working my rack. The male is pretty good the female not so much yet. I figured since all of this started this Spring I've lost 10 to 20 martins.

I move decoys around and do all the things we've discussed here on the forum but it seems these hawks are very good at adapting and overcoming obstacles. Their tactic now is to have a running start and bust into the rack when the martins are socializing and trying to select cavities. If i'm outside I can distract them enough to let the martins escape. If I'm not outside chances are 50/50 I lose one.

My joy of watching martins has turned into the fear of watching martins get taken by a hawk. Pretty much sucks.

I hope your plan works for you.

Keeping at it,

Coolwhips

[SSMartin]

Whips,

Wow I can’t believe you have lost so many. I have watched so many attacks from this Merlin still who should have migrated but he’s never successful. If I lost as many as you I can certainly see how the joy of these birds can be diminished. I hope things improve that really takes the fun out of hosting martins.

[Whippy]

Whips,

Wow I can’t believe you have lost so many. I have watched so many attacks from this Merlin still who should have migrated but he’s never successful. If I lost as many as you I can certainly see how the joy of these birds can be diminished. I hope things improve that really takes the fun out of hosting martins.

SS,

I've seen them take 6. Theres no telling how many they have taken when I'm not around so I'm estimating based on what I've seen occur and the frequency of attacks. Yesterday they hunted my yard just about all day. They know I'm watching and stay clear when I'm outside so I'll stand under the gourd rack when they are socializing. I will win this fight it'll just take time and a little bit of ingenuity on my part. The male is the most tenacious and he has become pretty smart. To give you an idea of how smart he is, this morning he took a martin so I walked the neighborhood to find him. When I did find him, he and a female were in a tree a couple of streets over. I was able to walk within 10 feet of both of them. They did not flare. When I walk out of my back door and they are near, they flush out and leave for a while.

I have new martins arriving so the numbers are staying up. You can tell which ones are new because they sit up there scratching feverishly. Once they stay over a few days, the sevin dust cleans them up.

Thanks for the note.

Coolwhips

[colliemom]

You can also buy crow decoys (from Knutsons, I believe). They fit on stakes in your yard, can also be
placed so will move some with the wind. Can also buy flying crows and cawing crows. I have them
all, use them as needed to fool hawks or attract crows. Some crows are not good around martins but
the ones we have don't bother them. Hawks also like dove decoys.

I've also been heard clapping, yelling, and screaming at them. Doesn't always work but sometimes
it startles them long enough to let the martin get away.

[Whippy]

Thanks, Collie.

Very good advise. Crows around here are more busy stealing dog food off of porches than worrying about martins or anything else.

I'll get my crow decoys and put them out along with some of my dove decoys.

That'll change things up a bit.

Coolwhips.