Hawk migration question.

[brent]

I was told on this forum that the hawks migrate through and the attacks will lessen. Does any one know when I can expect that to happen here in SE Louisiana? Both Sharp Shinned and Copper's have been problems. Just wondering. Brent

[Spiderman]

Strictly my own belief but I think some of the hawks migrate with the flocks of Martins. Kind of like wolves and sheep if you will. We have some arrive before the Martins get here, but more as the Purple migration develops. The more Martins that are here the more Hawk attacks occur.

We can have a yard full of all different types of birds, but the Cooper’s hawk will always attack the Martins first, like it is their favorite meal.

Secondary target, if he/she misses a Martin is the doves under neath the bird feeders.

Most of the hawks wil migrate through and continue on their northward track but unfortunately you will end up with a resident pair that will remain and nest in the area.

[brent]

Thanks for the insight. Really a good observation. I'm considering putting up a wild bird feeder so that there would be other live birds around even though birds, in general, are less since the hurricane. I think, though, that I'll give it a try. Thoughts? Brent

[Whippy]

Brent,

Put those feeders on the outskirts of your martin set ups. I figure as far away as possible but in areas that would allow them to be hit first and/or provide the first alarm. You could even set up a perimeter of feeders around your colony so the hawk has to fly by them first to get to your Martins. If she has to fly by other birds first, they'll announce the alarm. At least common sense tells me this might work.

I've read here that a landlord or two felt bad for having bird feeders too close to their colony and thinking they may have created an additional attraction for the hawk.

Just a thought but it would be interesting to see if it actually works and gives your martins more time to escape.

Coolwhips

[G Saner]

Brent,

At the colony I had prior to my current colony, I had a Sharp-shinned hawk that devastated my martins. It came back several years in the early part of the martin season and then disappeared in early April. I assumed it migrated north. By that time, it was hard to attract new martins as the neighborhood trees had grown large. The hawk had many hiding places to attack from in Live Oak trees.

My current colony is totally open behind an Assisted Living Center. I also feed the birds at feeders about 50 feet from the gourds. This attracted Cooper's hawks. Once I found Dove feathers beneath the feeders, I removed the bird feeders during the martin season. Now, I only feed the birds from August to January. This way, the residents can enjoy martins half the year and the bird feeders the other half.

[Thomas Maddox]

I'm not sure about their migration. I have feeders out and I only use black oil sunflower seeds as I've read that the HOSPS don't like them. I have heard some say HOSPS will eat them, but I never see them eat it at my place. Also, I've heard that air horns work well. Good luck!

[brent]

Thanks everyone. It’s definitely a problem here. We really don’t have many “other birds” in abundance. Just yesterday as I was closing the blinds at the end of the day with just a whisper of light left I witnessed another hawk attack. He didn’t get any that I saw. So this evening I decided to wait with the air horn in hand. The martins were flying very high and as the daylight was leaving they made a dash to the compartments. Only a couple stayed out on the porches. And then…it happened. ATTACK!!! I sounded the horn twice. He did not get any. This happened right at 6:10 pm with just a glimmer of light. Pretty sure it was a Cooper’s. Stay vigilant. Me, up early and in late. Good luck everyone. Brent

[Martintown33]

I’m sorry you’re getting so many attacks Brent. That has to really suck.. Personally, I took my feeders down years ago,. My thinking was having so many birds using the feeders in my backyard, all year, would keep hawks around all year. Basically create a yearly cafeteria for them. So I took them down. I still see hawks, flying in the sky, hunting, but haven’t had any attacks lately. I use the air horn when I see them getting uncomfortably close. That seems to keep them at bay, at least for now. The sight of one circling overhead is always unnerving though.
Good luck,
Rob

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

Our hawks are here year round in Illinois. Vultures migrate, but the hawks and owls stay. Wife feeds the domestic non-migrating birds and the Juncos that migrate down from om the north. Hawk likes them all.