Well the Cooper's hawk came back late this afternoon. Got an ASY male while I was watching them come in for the evening. I tried to scare him into dropping the Martin but it didn't work. I was yelling and clapping my hands. All the other martins were going crazy. It was strange that with all the noise that I was making in addition to the Martin about 200 Seagulls (Laughing Gulls)joined in the chase with the Martins and chased the hawk away. Unfortunately he took his victim with him. This really makes me angry. I had 31 Martins come in last evening. There were at least that many today but after most of them left. I think they are staying somewhere else tonight. Hope they come back tomorrow.
That was really strange to see the Gulls do this. They usually just ignore the Martins and whatever they are doing. They just gather on the piers for the night.
Tigerpitt
Another Hawk Attack
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Dale Davis
Tigerpitt, Sorry to hear you lost another martin to a Coopers Hawk. I have been fighting this since my martins arrived on March 4th. I too lost one early on and yes it does give you mixed emotions of anger and sadness. All we can do is what we have been and get out there every morning and evening and try to make sure the hawks are not in the area. Even this doesn't entirely stop it, but it sure helps. Good luck!
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Tigerpitt,
The gulls may have been trying to force the Cooper's hawk to drop the martin so THEY can eat it! Gulls will eat almost anything I believe and will resort to piracy.
We are getting ready for the merlin onslaught soon as these feisty little falcons will be heading north in increasing numbers and passing over our colonies. Though I often see them now and they have tried to capture the martins, the big wave starts in late March and continues until early May. It will be Hammer of the Gods when these jet fighters pursue the martins!
Sorry for the loss of the male martin and what you have experienced is probably happening in many martin colonies throughout the country.
Steve
The gulls may have been trying to force the Cooper's hawk to drop the martin so THEY can eat it! Gulls will eat almost anything I believe and will resort to piracy.
We are getting ready for the merlin onslaught soon as these feisty little falcons will be heading north in increasing numbers and passing over our colonies. Though I often see them now and they have tried to capture the martins, the big wave starts in late March and continues until early May. It will be Hammer of the Gods when these jet fighters pursue the martins!
Sorry for the loss of the male martin and what you have experienced is probably happening in many martin colonies throughout the country.
Steve
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James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
Sorry to hear that you loss another. I have had a few hawks flying around here at my house but I don't know what type they are. One is a sparrow hawk but the other 2 I done know. One of the big ones flew right past my gourd rack the other evening just before dark. I think he has been hunting the birds that are feeding at my neigbors feeder. I don't have any martins yet, I just hope they will leave soon and go a nest somewhere else.
Last year, (2006) in mid June, all our martins disappeared. I suspect that a hawk either ate them or scared them away. After years of seeing only an occasional hawk, we suddenly seemed to be overrun with them. I've seen one sit on my woodpile, just waiting for a meal to fly or run by! I know they have to eat, but I wish they would leave the birds alone. Our bluebird families also were thinned out. I've read up on this, and it seems there is no solution, other than taking down the martin housing. I would hate to do that, but I can't stand to be responsible for attracting these birds to my yard, only to have them become a hawk's dinner!
Steve,
You make a very good point. It is common for these Seagulls to try and take food from another bird. I see that all the time, however, it is very unusual for hundreds of them to try to steal a meal from one bird. There is more going on here than that. The whole flock of gulls took off after the hawk. The noise was incredible! It would have been interesting to see what the Gulls would have done to the Hawk had he not headed inland into the trees. I am not sure what natural predator these Gulls have that would produce such a response. I think a Red Tail Hawk would have trouble with one of these guys.They are a fairly large bird.
Well thanks for the reply. I hope the Martins are back today. I am at work but will guard them as they come in this evening.
My wife and kids say I am like Bill Murrey (Caddy Shack) when it comes to protecting my Martins. I do get a little crazy!
Tigerpitt
You make a very good point. It is common for these Seagulls to try and take food from another bird. I see that all the time, however, it is very unusual for hundreds of them to try to steal a meal from one bird. There is more going on here than that. The whole flock of gulls took off after the hawk. The noise was incredible! It would have been interesting to see what the Gulls would have done to the Hawk had he not headed inland into the trees. I am not sure what natural predator these Gulls have that would produce such a response. I think a Red Tail Hawk would have trouble with one of these guys.They are a fairly large bird.
Well thanks for the reply. I hope the Martins are back today. I am at work but will guard them as they come in this evening.
My wife and kids say I am like Bill Murrey (Caddy Shack) when it comes to protecting my Martins. I do get a little crazy!
Tigerpitt
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
Tigerpitt,
I am sorry for your loss of your ASY male. I know how upset and sad you are and my heart goes out to you. Hopefully, the hawk will migrate soon. That's what we are hoping for. Does anyone know when the Sharpies are starting to leave the Corpus Christi area? Our Sharpie shows up every morning and every evening. Fortunately, he does leave when he sees us (so far....). As for the seagulls....we had the same happen when our bird got taken. There were right next to the hawk out of nowhere and "escorted" him to the left and right hoping he would drop his prey. We are now also watching for signs of excited seagulls, thinking that might mean the hawk might be somewhere close...just a thought.
Take care and hopefully you will not have to witness another attack. Please always remember, by being outside whenever you can in order to protect your martins, you are doing your very best. We too, have changed our daily schedule in order to be there when they wake up and when they come in for the night. It is just natural that one tries to protect what one loves. I find it very heartwarming to read the posts by martin friends saying how much they do and care, and how much they go out of their way for our beloved martins. It is a good feeling to know you are all out there with the same love, concern and emotions
Astrid
I am sorry for your loss of your ASY male. I know how upset and sad you are and my heart goes out to you. Hopefully, the hawk will migrate soon. That's what we are hoping for. Does anyone know when the Sharpies are starting to leave the Corpus Christi area? Our Sharpie shows up every morning and every evening. Fortunately, he does leave when he sees us (so far....). As for the seagulls....we had the same happen when our bird got taken. There were right next to the hawk out of nowhere and "escorted" him to the left and right hoping he would drop his prey. We are now also watching for signs of excited seagulls, thinking that might mean the hawk might be somewhere close...just a thought.
Take care and hopefully you will not have to witness another attack. Please always remember, by being outside whenever you can in order to protect your martins, you are doing your very best. We too, have changed our daily schedule in order to be there when they wake up and when they come in for the night. It is just natural that one tries to protect what one loves. I find it very heartwarming to read the posts by martin friends saying how much they do and care, and how much they go out of their way for our beloved martins. It is a good feeling to know you are all out there with the same love, concern and emotions
Astrid
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BamaBren
Tigerpitt.....I'm having to be outside quite a bit lately to keep the hawks off my martins.....so far i havent had any direct attacks on the housing but i think one of my first females might have been taken....one of my males has been alone until today when 2 more females came in this morning....that caused quite a noise and i was out there the whole time for protection but i never seen a hawk...thank goodness....ya know we're not that far away from you and i see many hawks here.....good luck with keeping them away from your setup and i hope you get many more martins soon....best of luck this year with many martin returns..... 
.....Bren
.....Bren