Hi Everyone,
I came home today, from Turkey Hunting, and low and behold, a hawk was sitting on top of my gourd rack right next to a decoy.
I am going to sit and watch to see if my 2 pair and 1 single male come in tonight.
Will the hawks attack the PM's if in thier gourds or the babies ? It seems like the 5 here are spending more time around the site in the mornings which must have attracted the hawk. The pair has not started building nests yet which I would think presence of a hawk would hinder.
Thanks, Ken.
Read Threads on Hawks, But will they attack PMs/Babies
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Ken
It's uncommon for hawks to try pull martins or babies out of nests. It's been reported, but probably not something for you to worry about.
Hopefully your hawk is a migrant and just passing through. You'll want to ID it so you know how great the risk is. If it's a Cooper's Hawk or one smaller hawks that catches birds in the air, it's a threat. Hopefully it will move on. If it was a larger hawk, those prey mostly on rodents and amphibians, however either type of hawk might have been curious about the decoy. Many folks think decoys help save their martins by sort of taking the fall in attacks.
John Miller
It's uncommon for hawks to try pull martins or babies out of nests. It's been reported, but probably not something for you to worry about.
Hopefully your hawk is a migrant and just passing through. You'll want to ID it so you know how great the risk is. If it's a Cooper's Hawk or one smaller hawks that catches birds in the air, it's a threat. Hopefully it will move on. If it was a larger hawk, those prey mostly on rodents and amphibians, however either type of hawk might have been curious about the decoy. Many folks think decoys help save their martins by sort of taking the fall in attacks.
John Miller
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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
Ken
In answer to your question, yes, hawks do catch martins if they can. The smaller hawks like the Coopers & Sharpies are excellent hunters. Lets hope they don't wipe out your small colony
In answer to your question, yes, hawks do catch martins if they can. The smaller hawks like the Coopers & Sharpies are excellent hunters. Lets hope they don't wipe out your small colony
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Ken, I went ahead and edited replies above so that the thread can remain. John mentioned a couple of good points - first, what type of hawks are they, are they migrants or will they remain in FL to nest, and also the use of decoys to help confuse hawks. It can't hurt to try it.
Emil also gave good info - it is the two accipiter hawks common in a good part of the US, Cooper's and Sharpshinned, that are the most likely to be a problem for landlords. Knowing what type of hawks are at your site is helpful for figuring out how to keep your martins safe.
Adding external hawk/owl guards to houses and gourds (and also adding internal baffles to nest trays), trimming encroaching trees or shrubs to give martins a better view of the area, and even relocating housing to a more open site are all good methods to employ. The use of larger compartments and gourds is also helpful.
If you look through other forum threads on hawks, you'll find other ideas.
Louise
Emil also gave good info - it is the two accipiter hawks common in a good part of the US, Cooper's and Sharpshinned, that are the most likely to be a problem for landlords. Knowing what type of hawks are at your site is helpful for figuring out how to keep your martins safe.
Adding external hawk/owl guards to houses and gourds (and also adding internal baffles to nest trays), trimming encroaching trees or shrubs to give martins a better view of the area, and even relocating housing to a more open site are all good methods to employ. The use of larger compartments and gourds is also helpful.
If you look through other forum threads on hawks, you'll find other ideas.
Louise
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Guest
Thanks to all for the advice.
I did sit and watched my 2 pair and 1 male come in for the night, so I am relieved there were no victims.
Thanks,
Ken.
I did sit and watched my 2 pair and 1 male come in for the night, so I am relieved there were no victims.
Thanks,
Ken.
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Guest
Ken, interesting as I watched a hawk tonight land on the top of my Martin house while I was standing in the alley behind my house with my neighbor, watching the Martins circle above before coming in for the night. I'm going to have to brush up on my recognition of hawks and figure out what type it is. I watched it circle and chase some Martins in the sky (we live in a suburban neighborhood) this afternoon while taking a walk. First one I've noticed in two and one/half years.
It was close to dusk and the Martins raised a fuss and scattered when he was in the area. Very shortly they came down to my neighbors Martin house and three lone males came into my house and gourds for another night, which is all I have at this point.
Bud
It was close to dusk and the Martins raised a fuss and scattered when he was in the area. Very shortly they came down to my neighbors Martin house and three lone males came into my house and gourds for another night, which is all I have at this point.
Bud
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Guest
I haven't seen the hawk again, but I have not been at home during the day.
You having 3 males spending the night is great !! Got to have patience, which isn't easy. I put up housing for 5 yrs before our first pair last year. Now having 2 pair is really exciting with one male looking.
Good Luck!!
Thanks,
Ken.
You having 3 males spending the night is great !! Got to have patience, which isn't easy. I put up housing for 5 yrs before our first pair last year. Now having 2 pair is really exciting with one male looking.
Good Luck!!
Thanks,
Ken.