Right now I have 4 decoys but I am contemplating putting them. As I have heard some people think they scare away visiting martins while others think they give it a feeling of other birds living there. I have a 12 room S&K house on one pole, Eight Bo-Villas on another, and a perching top on another pole. So Should I put up all four decoys or maybe just two or maybe none at all? Thanks
Tyler
Should I put up decoys?
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CraigMo.
- Posts: 1480
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
- Martin Colony History: Active since 2003
Tyler I hear more good on them than I do bad. They say they attract them and also fool the hawks . I guess the hawks will try to attack them and maybe give up when they are never the real pm. Pm's are sociable birds so you would think these decoys would bring in a few lookers. Also if you get martins you would think if a hawk would attack the decoys the real pms would have a better chance to escape. I am still new at this so maybe you will get some more responses.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Tyler, I have heard so many different ideas about that. That is one of those things that you can do if it makes you feel good. I have no idea if it works, and I do keep one on my housing all year long. The songbirds sit on it.. I don't think that it hurts or helps, but I sure don't know one way or the other.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
I don't know if decoys help. Martins do have an uncanny ability to find housing on their own. I think they must imprint on it at fledging time.
One decoy that I used began to play with my head. I had it on a martin house at a weekend lakeside setup and every time I drove up, I thought I had a martin. I took it down as the season and my chances for real martins waned.
John Miller
One decoy that I used began to play with my head. I had it on a martin house at a weekend lakeside setup and every time I drove up, I thought I had a martin. I took it down as the season and my chances for real martins waned.
John Miller
Hi,
I had a thought about using decoys as a safety device for martins. I have witnessed numerous attacks on my martin colony by coopers and sharp shinned hawks. When the birds see the hawk they take off immediately and the hawks almost always target the bird sitting still (the decoy) apparently unaware of immenent attack. This give the real birds a better chance of escape. Several times I have seen a hawk head for a live bird then swerve to try to hit a decoy because (I assume) it looked like an easier target. I don't think that they attract more hawks. There are always hawks and owls in our area and I haven't noticed an increase.
I have seen first arriving scouts nestle up to a decoy and chirp to it or enter the only compartment that had a decoy by the entrance. They definately are attracted to them. I think once they realize they are not real they start to ignore them but by then they have found your colony and settled in.
James
Just some thoughts
I had a thought about using decoys as a safety device for martins. I have witnessed numerous attacks on my martin colony by coopers and sharp shinned hawks. When the birds see the hawk they take off immediately and the hawks almost always target the bird sitting still (the decoy) apparently unaware of immenent attack. This give the real birds a better chance of escape. Several times I have seen a hawk head for a live bird then swerve to try to hit a decoy because (I assume) it looked like an easier target. I don't think that they attract more hawks. There are always hawks and owls in our area and I haven't noticed an increase.
I have seen first arriving scouts nestle up to a decoy and chirp to it or enter the only compartment that had a decoy by the entrance. They definately are attracted to them. I think once they realize they are not real they start to ignore them but by then they have found your colony and settled in.
James
Just some thoughts
James Mejeur
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Hey Tyler,
I keep My decoys up all year long every year, they do not bother any of my PM's and the Pm's are not afraid of the decoy's....in fact ,I have pic's of some of my PM's sitting on top of the decoy's, but my Main reason for having the decoy's is not only to attract Martins but Most importantly it is to Help the Martins in case of an attack from any predator ,in most cases the predator will ppick the slowest or weakest when they attack. I have had decoy's taken from both my Gourd Rack and My Lonestar Goliad House and i have found some over my fence and in neighbor's yard's and some i never found at all.My Point is this , once a predator has attacked and Get's "Plastic" rather than Meat......They will move on, they sure won't stick around for cold plastic.I hope this post helps you in your decision and besides it couldn't hurt anything just having decoy's up all year.
I keep My decoys up all year long every year, they do not bother any of my PM's and the Pm's are not afraid of the decoy's....in fact ,I have pic's of some of my PM's sitting on top of the decoy's, but my Main reason for having the decoy's is not only to attract Martins but Most importantly it is to Help the Martins in case of an attack from any predator ,in most cases the predator will ppick the slowest or weakest when they attack. I have had decoy's taken from both my Gourd Rack and My Lonestar Goliad House and i have found some over my fence and in neighbor's yard's and some i never found at all.My Point is this , once a predator has attacked and Get's "Plastic" rather than Meat......They will move on, they sure won't stick around for cold plastic.I hope this post helps you in your decision and besides it couldn't hurt anything just having decoy's up all year.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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Bob Burkard
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:56 pm
- Location: Oldsmar, FL
This is why I keep one decoy on my house. This hawk attacked the decoy a few times and then stopped coming around.
Bob Burkard
Bob Burkard
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Bob Burkard
Oldsmar, FL
Oldsmar, FL
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Guest
Tyler,
I played the dawn song without decoys here in nebraska and had great success. After reading about the experiences with others with decoys I think I may consider putting a couple up just as hawk or owl protection.
I would play the dawn song even in the afternoon after I got home from work and it would seem like the martins would come around even when they were out doing other things.
I look forward to hearing how it goes this year. Keep us updated!
I played the dawn song without decoys here in nebraska and had great success. After reading about the experiences with others with decoys I think I may consider putting a couple up just as hawk or owl protection.
I would play the dawn song even in the afternoon after I got home from work and it would seem like the martins would come around even when they were out doing other things.
I look forward to hearing how it goes this year. Keep us updated!
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Guest
Tyler I like Nesto used the dawnsong in the morning till about 8:00 then the daytime chatter. Last year was my first year as a landlord. The year before I tried with only visitors. The daytime chatter CD really brought the martins in. I ended up with two adult pairs and fourteen sub-adult pairs which all fledged young. It was really great. I also used the decoys but I feel the CDs were really what attracted the martins to my colony. Good Luck, Ken.