The importance of decoys

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Last night around 8:00, I was out fishing off my boardwalk and watching my martin's bring in their young to roost in their housing. I heard the distinct warning signal and the birds on my housing took off, except for one nestling that was sitting on the porch. The warnings became louder and lasted longer than normal so I felt sure there was a predator lurking.

All of a sudden there he was, a hawk flying low about 15' above the water and about 20' from my martin house at the end of my boat dock. He was being pursued by my martin's that had left the housing. He got to the house, slowed to just shy of a complete stop and grabbed the decoy that was mounted to one of my perching rods. The hawk made the last second decision to go for the still decoy versus the nestling sitting on the porch behind owl guards. The decoy did not budge and the hawk quickly flew off being mobbed by my martin's. It was a chilling experience to witness this attack from about 30' away.

I recall last year using the decoys as one of the attractants to help me get my first pair. I also recall being told on the forum, once you get a nesting pair, it was a good idea to leave the decoys in place throughout the season as a potential "decoy" for hawk and owl attacks. That decoy, one of two I have on my housing, saved my nestling from being plucked off the porch.

I am now a firm believer that decoys serve a dual purpose. Next season, I plan on putting up a few more decoys so they are located on BOTH sides of my housing to cover potential attacks from any direction. No more than they cost, they are well worth the expense.

Tim

[T Seber]

Tim:
I believe your story and have seen the same thing happen. In fact, I believe this to be the primary use for decoys. I doubt they have ever caused a pair to nest in housing that would not have been nested in anyway.
In addition, I believe decoys should be moved around in the colony pretty often to give the most help. Hawks quickly learn that the decoy is not a potential meal. I have seen hawks hit my decoys, but think the same hawk probably won't hit the same decoy, in the same spot, over and over again.
I also see one disadvantage to having decoys and moving them around. Sometimes my martins will become agitated at the presence of a newly moved decoy. After a while, they seem to learn that the decoys are not alive and they tend to ignore them.

[klcretired]

Tim & T Seber ,
Like you , I also have wittnessed the same thing here at my colony and because of the decoys that i have mounted around in different places on my Housing and Gourd Rack it has saved My Martins from sudden Death, yes, I have been a firm believer of decoys for a number of years, they really do help give the martins a chance for escape.I have read alot of posts where some LL's say that the Decoys just attract the preditors but brother let me tell you the preditor's are going to find the Martins with or without the decoys, IMO it's a safety valve that gives the martins a chance to Bolt and escape, and after awhile when the hawk continues to get Plastic he won't come back such as what has happened here at my colony.

[Guest]

I'm so glad you brought this subject up, as I have considered using decoys. My hesitation is that I wonder if it would keep a predator coming back over and over if he/she always sees a "martin" sitting out in the open.

[Guest]

A few weeks ago I found the decoy I have on the eggshell feeder upside down. When I lowered it to straighten it up, I saw that it was covered in mud. Well....since it was clean when I put it up there, I'm sure the mud came from some hawk's muddy feet!

I left my decoys up this year to fake out the hawks. I may add a few more next year.

[Guest]

i don't have Hawks around here... but I am thinking about ordering a dozen decoys just so the house doesn't look empty! I don't want the dreaded end of season to come!
Adiekaty

[db]

I've witnessed hawks being fooled by my decoys a couple of times this year also. I'm using four wooden ones I cut out with a jig saw from a piece of 2 x 4 and shaped with a disc sander. I'd like to add a few more before next year. One of my four has a piece of stiff wire for legs that allows me to easily move it around in the grass under the poles. I would encourage anyone that has had hawk issues to invest in a couples of decoys......db

[RC Moser]

I've seen my decoy's take about 30 hits in the last two years and probably that many more while I was at work or gone. I see the same thing, A PM savory IMO. Don't work all the time but I rate them about 75% effective. I even seen a sharp shined hawk hang upside down trying to pull if off. He had a very disgusted look on it face let me tell you! IMO give the PM a 3 or 4 second edge