When should I install a predator guard?

[SCleland]

As of this morning a pair of SY birds is checking out a PM house I monitor on a nearby golf course. If they stay it will mean success after five years of trying!
The house is near a patch of woods that has many birds, probably including owls and hawks. I plan to put a predator guard around the house, but to do so I'd have to lower it for a while, and I don't want to spook the birds. And even if I installed it while they were away feeding, might they abandon the house if it's visibly changed and their path to the holes is slightly blocked? Advice, please.
Thanks,
Stuart in Evanston, Ill.

[Thomas Maddox]

I personally would wait a bit longer to see if they commit to your house and then put it up. I learned the hard way once. A large rat snake destroyed my colony and they never came back to that house. Good luck!

[SCleland]

Thanks, Thomas. Luckily we don't have large snakes up here, but we do have aerial predators and also racoons and squirrels. SEC

[Martintown33]

Congrats on starting up a new colony! You could put up a removable pole guard for now, to prevent the ground predators. That won’t spook your martins. But agree with Thomas, I would wait to your new birds are very settled in before putting any cages around your housing. Pmca sells a removable pole guard.
Good luck with your new colony!
Rob.

[SCleland]

Thanks, Rob. I do intend to get a guard for ground-level predators, but right now I'm focused on potential attacks from the air! Stuart

[Martintown33]

Oh I understand completely! I’ve had many run ins with hawks.. never a pleasant experience… I haven’t had much luck with them, but many have successfully used decoys to distract the hawks and give the martins valuable seconds to escape. I have successfully used bottle rockets to scare the hawks off for long periods of time, but don’t know if that is an option for you, until you get your cage set up. Plus you have to see the hawk in his perching spot, to use the bottle rockets, which isn’t always easy. They are great at hiding and using ambush tactics.
Good luck
Rob

[SCleland]

There are five or so decoys on the house now, and I may just leave them as is to confuse any hawks. As you say, a split second could count!
SEC

[Stingray]

Stuart,
Congrats on hopefully attracting martins!
Your instincts are right on...you may scare the martins away with a radical change.
You might also attract others.

Does your house have crescent shaped entrances? They offer protection from starlings and sparrows.
While not predators they are definitely a threat to your colony.
Quite a few hawks ambush their prey so your predator guard around the house would not help in that scenario. I had a Coopers hawk ambush two martins recently.
Given your situation, I would focus on your easiest line of defense at the moment which is a pole guard. You can easily install it while your martins are away so they don't get spooked as they offer good protection from ground predators which you mention.

Best of luck to you!

[SCleland]

Thanks, Stingray - I appreciate your experienced advice.
SEC

[Stingray]

You are welcome.