It seems that my worst problem is Hawks. Last week I woke up to find a Cooper's hawk sitting on one of my martin houses. My question is can they pull the PM out of the house or are they waiting for them to come out? I have regular entrance holes. Last year a hawk flew in and got one my PMs right in front of me. The PMs were flying around their house when it happened. Boy was I mad. I can now tell when a hawk is around by the way my birds act. This morning a hawk flew over and 8-10 PMs were flying in very tight formation above him. They escorted him away. The rest of the day they were fine. This hawk seems to be waiting to get them just as the sun comes up. Any suggestions?
[Forum Admin: the post that followed this one in reply was removed. The removed post violated Forum Policy, which states posts advocating illegal trapping or shooting of protected birds will not be allowed. The rest of this thread was replies to the removed post, which suggested shooting the hawk. Tigerpitt, originator of this thread, did NOT suggest shooting the hawk.]
Cooper's Hawk Question
-
Guss P O'Brien
If you really are shooting hawks, and you are not just talking big and tough, I hope you get the justice you deserve. Pathetic.
I'm sure the forum bosses will delete your post when they find out about it.
I'm sure the forum bosses will delete your post when they find out about it.
-
eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
Ouch !!! Yes, I'm sure it will get deleted.......I would not have written that....
Johnny
-
Guest
Fortunately the majority who have worked years to bring birds of prey back into existence will also report those that disobey the common laws applied to them.
Would it be asking, to much maybe, for you, to edit out the comment suggesting that you would or others should shoot illegally?
Would it be asking, to much maybe, for you, to edit out the comment suggesting that you would or others should shoot illegally?
-
Guest
Many, "many" years ago, my father-in-law shot and killed a hawk that was stealing my chickens. When I saw this beautiful and magnificent bird up close and destroyed, it literally made me sick. I vowed right then that I would never see this happen again.
Sheila
Sheila
-
Guest
Im sure the guy was not being serious, no one Ive ever met shoots hawks over having himself a good meal... They gotta eat too.
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
The post suggesting shooting hawks was removed; any posts suggesting or condoning illegal shooting, trapping, etc of any birds will be removed.
Tigerpitt, if you read some of Steve Kroenke's posts, he talks about being out in the yard when the martins are coming in at night, allowing him to scare off attacking hawks. We've been doing this here in Corpus Christi this spring after a Cooper's got one of the male martins. We just try to offer some extra eyes on the look out. The martins have been very leary ever since the hawk attack - they swoop into their housing at lightning speed and don't sit out on the perches. In a few weeks, Cooper's Hawks will have left this area to travel north, and the martins will be able to loaf and socialize on perches and porches once again.
If you can station yourself outside to watch for the hawk, a yell or clapping your hands will help startle it and give the martins time to escape. Once they're up in the air, the advantage is usually theirs'.
Louise
Tigerpitt, if you read some of Steve Kroenke's posts, he talks about being out in the yard when the martins are coming in at night, allowing him to scare off attacking hawks. We've been doing this here in Corpus Christi this spring after a Cooper's got one of the male martins. We just try to offer some extra eyes on the look out. The martins have been very leary ever since the hawk attack - they swoop into their housing at lightning speed and don't sit out on the perches. In a few weeks, Cooper's Hawks will have left this area to travel north, and the martins will be able to loaf and socialize on perches and porches once again.
If you can station yourself outside to watch for the hawk, a yell or clapping your hands will help startle it and give the martins time to escape. Once they're up in the air, the advantage is usually theirs'.
Louise
Well, I have hawk attacks weekly throughout the PM season and basically all year round. 
I seen probably 20 attempts in the last 3 years and probably missed another 50. I am sad to report I witness three successfully kills by the Hawks on pm's. and the killing of my bluebird buddy that nested off my back porch for 6 years! yea it hurt, but somewhere it happen time and time again in nature.
I contribute the unsuccessful attempts on my PM's to my two decoy's. Yesterday, one swoop in and grabbed my decoy's instead of PM's and tried to rip it off the perch above my T-14, which IMO gave my PM the edge they needed to escape with there lives.
Does it work every time? NO 
, but it reduced his odds and makes him look else were. Now it upside down. Maybe he will come back and turn it right side up cause I don't want to remove the houses and tilt the pole down just to turn him upright.
Hawks, falcons, owls, along with snakes, ants, mites, and who knows what else will try to get your PM's it's agreevating and sad when it happens, but it's the "call of the wild", your PM will adjust and will be smarter after each attack successful or unsuccessful. In the game of life there is happiness and sad times even in our hobbies, sure I'd like to see all things live for ever, in a peaceful world, but that's not real life for anything except maybe a rock
.
Crows, bluejays, Mockingbirds, and a few more can be a Landlord security fence IMO. Crows hate hawks and owls and will drive them off and chase them for hours. Bluejays Screen like something trying to kill them, Daa there is something trying to kill them, bluejay's also has the hawk call down pat, they fool me about 90% of the time. Mockingbirds will also chase and aggravate hawks out of the area. So IMO you have tools and friends around you that will help. So the next time you run them Crows off you may be inviting the the grim reaper to dinner
.
I seen probably 20 attempts in the last 3 years and probably missed another 50. I am sad to report I witness three successfully kills by the Hawks on pm's. and the killing of my bluebird buddy that nested off my back porch for 6 years! yea it hurt, but somewhere it happen time and time again in nature. I contribute the unsuccessful attempts on my PM's to my two decoy's. Yesterday, one swoop in and grabbed my decoy's instead of PM's and tried to rip it off the perch above my T-14, which IMO gave my PM the edge they needed to escape with there lives.
Does it work every time? NO , but it reduced his odds and makes him look else were. Now it upside down. Maybe he will come back and turn it right side up cause I don't want to remove the houses and tilt the pole down just to turn him upright. Hawks, falcons, owls, along with snakes, ants, mites, and who knows what else will try to get your PM's it's agreevating and sad when it happens, but it's the "call of the wild", your PM will adjust and will be smarter after each attack successful or unsuccessful. In the game of life there is happiness and sad times even in our hobbies, sure I'd like to see all things live for ever, in a peaceful world, but that's not real life for anything except maybe a rock
. Crows, bluejays, Mockingbirds, and a few more can be a Landlord security fence IMO. Crows hate hawks and owls and will drive them off and chase them for hours. Bluejays Screen like something trying to kill them, Daa there is something trying to kill them, bluejay's also has the hawk call down pat, they fool me about 90% of the time. Mockingbirds will also chase and aggravate hawks out of the area. So IMO you have tools and friends around you that will help. So the next time you run them Crows off you may be inviting the the grim reaper to dinner
.-
Guest
RC,
I really enjoyed your post. I haven't had any problems with owls or hawks (crossing my fingers), but if I ever do, I will remember your good advice! And I have the bluejays, mockingbirds and crows to help me!
Sheila Martin
I really enjoyed your post. I haven't had any problems with owls or hawks (crossing my fingers), but if I ever do, I will remember your good advice! And I have the bluejays, mockingbirds and crows to help me!
Sheila Martin
-
Guest
The idea that predators can do no wrong is ignorance. I know about, and once subscribed to, all that propaganda about the noble predators. I would like to know at what point there would be too many predators and too few of the endangered prey species. At some point, some number of predators are too many. Nowadays we are dealing with endangered species endangering other endangered species. I do not believe that just letting nature take its course is going to be sufficient when human activities have shrunken habitats and altered the natural state of things. We are losing purple martins to S&S (unnatural competition), and less people are providing housing. What in nature makes up for this loss? Fifty years ago there were many more people living on farms. Lots of those folks had purple martin housing. Most of those people would kill any hawk they saw to protect their fowl. Those days are gone, and in my area there appears to be many more accipiter hawks than there were thirty to forty years ago. Are the hawks more sacred than the endangered species they are preying on? There are depredation allowances for eliminating wolves that are preying on livestock. More predators will not always be better. The numbers of accipiters, and their effects on their endangered prey should be studied. We should not just stand by and hope for the best. Armed with knowledge, not dogma, we can be certain whether we should be doing something. If everything is in equilibrium I will be happy with the way things are now. I am afraid that we are excessively increasing accipiter numbers at the expense of other endangered prey species. I know about the rule that supposedly says predators are self limiting. I'm worried about the endangered species which might not be there to rebound when the predators have decreased. We are not talking rabbits here. I am afraid that accipiter numbers are expanding needlessly while other species are declining at their expense. I would feel a lot better if we knew for sure. Please help encourage studies along this line.
I am seeing more hawks in this part of the country than I have ever seen. It has gotten so bad at times that you may see 2-4 hawks working the same area. An ever increasing hawk population will not be favorable to our purple friends and their future survival.
-
Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
I have a Cooper's hawk for two seasons now that has been an absolute terror in the area. It is a female and I'm assuming it has to be nesting close by with the amount of frequency it is in my yard. When I'm home I usually spoil it's hunt. Usually it goes for the robins and grackles (the slower birds), but almost always the entire bird population has alerted the birds in my yard to the eminent danger. It's actually interesting to see it all play out. Usually the redwings and grackles are giving alarm calls and then the meadowlarks do a really good job of sounding the alarm for the Cooper's hawk. Kingbird is quick on the heels to give the warning too. Before you know it the martins are already high in the sky and circling in tight formation. Only once have a seen the lady Cooper's chase a martin and that was the martin's fault actually but the ASY male managed to effortlessly flee the hawk.
-
Bob Rogers
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:48 pm
- Location: Arnold, Missouri
Tigerpitt,
Hawks will most certainly grab PM's from their houses if they can---I have vitnessed this many times! They are quick to learn that their "food" live in those holes. Wish they would take a special liking to the many starlings in my area
Hawks will most certainly grab PM's from their houses if they can---I have vitnessed this many times! They are quick to learn that their "food" live in those holes. Wish they would take a special liking to the many starlings in my area
Bob R.
-
Guest
The idea that predators which are endangered or threatened should now be controlled by killing them is ignorance. I know about all of the propaganda about an overabundance of Hawks and Owls. It is not only propaganda it is an opinion and nothing more. In fact I?ll back up my statements with facts, not opinions. I wish that others would do the same. Some ask others for studies about species which are currently listed as endangered, threatened or species of special concern. These people speak of shrinking habitat and consider that a good thing for birds of prey. Nothing could be further from the truth. Destruction of natural habitat directly affects birds of prey in a negative way and benefits Purple Martins because man provides virtually their entire habitat (housing) in North America.
Wolves do not fly and have been reintroduced into areas where livestock live. Comparing Wolves to Hawks is comparing apples to oranges and doesn?t belong here. What someone ?believes? is irrelevant. Facts are relevant.
What do S&S have to do with Hawks? Perhaps we should toss in a reduction in the numbers of dragonflies, too! If Purple Martins have multiple problems in North America is the only rational way to handle the situation killing a species that is only a small fraction of the total mortality rate? If someone wants to see more housing made available to Purple Martins they should actively participate in their community to see that it gets done. That?s what I do.
?There appears to be more accipiter hawks than there were thirty or forty years ago?? Can this be proven or is this simply another opinionated observation by a biased individual? Again, some facts would be nice to go along with an individual?s beliefs.
Fifty years ago people shot hawks and dumped millions of gallons of DDT per year into our environment. Both were stupid ideas. We learned from both and passed laws against them. Of course, many folks on farms fifty years ago were uneducated and illiterate. These are not the folks that I?d want to use to base a case upon.
?I am afraid that accipiter numbers are expanding needlessly while other species are declining at their expense. I would feel a lot better if we knew for sure. Please help encourage studies along this line.? There is a nice close. This is more opinion based on nothing but opinion. How about some facts ? OK:
Cooper?s Hawk in Connecticut ? Threatened:
http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/pdf/chawk.pdf
Cooper?s Hawk in New Jersey ? Endangered:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf ... oopers.pdf
Cooper?s Hawk in New York ? Species of Special concern:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwm ... clist.html
Cooper?s Hawk in Indiana ? Watch List, Rare or Uncommon
http://www.ai.org/dnr/naturepr/endanger/vertinve.htm
Illinois has this to say about Hawks in general and they seem to have a good number of Cooper?s:
Because they catch primarily the weaker, slower animals, they actually help their prey species to remain healthy and strong. Raptors have evolved to keep natural populations in balance, and thus they are beneficial to natural ecosystems. Because of their value, ALL RAPTORS AREPROTECTED by both state and federal laws.
People and their technology are the greatest threats to hawks and other birds of prey--indeed, to most Illinois wildlife. Buildings, power lines, towers, automobiles, the use of pesticides, and the destruction of hunting and nesting areas all cause more problems for these valuable birds each
year.
http://www.illinoisaudubon.org/educatio ... alcons.pdf
Nobody should believe for a minute that there are not members of this board who shoot Hawks and Owls. It has been admitted on this board in the past. They even have an acronym for it ? SSSU ? Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up. One of the major problems with any thought of trying to allow any raptor to be harvested is that while most of these folks can ID a Purple Martin many can?t tell you what kind of Hawk or Owl they are looking at. Many would not know a Hawk from a Falcon. The thought of ever permitting any killing of any raptor is beyond the realm of reason. It will not happen legally while I am on this Earth!
Mark Dietrich
www.michiganmartins.com
Wolves do not fly and have been reintroduced into areas where livestock live. Comparing Wolves to Hawks is comparing apples to oranges and doesn?t belong here. What someone ?believes? is irrelevant. Facts are relevant.
What do S&S have to do with Hawks? Perhaps we should toss in a reduction in the numbers of dragonflies, too! If Purple Martins have multiple problems in North America is the only rational way to handle the situation killing a species that is only a small fraction of the total mortality rate? If someone wants to see more housing made available to Purple Martins they should actively participate in their community to see that it gets done. That?s what I do.
?There appears to be more accipiter hawks than there were thirty or forty years ago?? Can this be proven or is this simply another opinionated observation by a biased individual? Again, some facts would be nice to go along with an individual?s beliefs.
Fifty years ago people shot hawks and dumped millions of gallons of DDT per year into our environment. Both were stupid ideas. We learned from both and passed laws against them. Of course, many folks on farms fifty years ago were uneducated and illiterate. These are not the folks that I?d want to use to base a case upon.
?I am afraid that accipiter numbers are expanding needlessly while other species are declining at their expense. I would feel a lot better if we knew for sure. Please help encourage studies along this line.? There is a nice close. This is more opinion based on nothing but opinion. How about some facts ? OK:
Cooper?s Hawk in Connecticut ? Threatened:
http://dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/pdf/chawk.pdf
Cooper?s Hawk in New Jersey ? Endangered:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf ... oopers.pdf
Cooper?s Hawk in New York ? Species of Special concern:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwm ... clist.html
Cooper?s Hawk in Indiana ? Watch List, Rare or Uncommon
http://www.ai.org/dnr/naturepr/endanger/vertinve.htm
Illinois has this to say about Hawks in general and they seem to have a good number of Cooper?s:
Because they catch primarily the weaker, slower animals, they actually help their prey species to remain healthy and strong. Raptors have evolved to keep natural populations in balance, and thus they are beneficial to natural ecosystems. Because of their value, ALL RAPTORS AREPROTECTED by both state and federal laws.
People and their technology are the greatest threats to hawks and other birds of prey--indeed, to most Illinois wildlife. Buildings, power lines, towers, automobiles, the use of pesticides, and the destruction of hunting and nesting areas all cause more problems for these valuable birds each
year.
http://www.illinoisaudubon.org/educatio ... alcons.pdf
Nobody should believe for a minute that there are not members of this board who shoot Hawks and Owls. It has been admitted on this board in the past. They even have an acronym for it ? SSSU ? Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up. One of the major problems with any thought of trying to allow any raptor to be harvested is that while most of these folks can ID a Purple Martin many can?t tell you what kind of Hawk or Owl they are looking at. Many would not know a Hawk from a Falcon. The thought of ever permitting any killing of any raptor is beyond the realm of reason. It will not happen legally while I am on this Earth!
Mark Dietrich
www.michiganmartins.com
-
roblrich
That is why I have read so many people giving others advice to put up decoys on the housing, so that the hawks will go for the decoys. Seems expensive though, losing a $8 decoy to thwart off a hawk attack.Bob Rogers wrote:Tigerpitt,
Hawks will most certainly grab PM's from their houses if they can---I have vitnessed this many times! They are quick to learn that their "food" live in those holes. Wish they would take a special liking to the many starlings in my area
I have never had a hawk problem before, but I have always seen them from time to time. But this spring, I have seen many. Either last year was a good year for them to reproduce, or some have moved into my area. Maybe they will leave once all the surrounding farm fields in my area are plowed and tilled for crops.
-
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
tidfam, I agree with you that there can be an overabundance of one thing or another, even hawks can become overabundant. We have some of these native American birds like cowbirds. They are being trapped in some areas to protect other bird species. An overabundance is exactly what the word means, even though some will not admit it...Hawks are not in an overabundance situation here where I live. Sure hawks are beautiful birds to many people, but I am sure that some people think that Osana Bin Laden is handsome! I am very fortunate that we do not have a hawk problem here...
Where I hunted deer a few years ago, there was an overabundance of deer there, and I would not even attempt to shoot some of them, they were so poor, I am sure they died the following winter. Even if the poor deer were dying, you still could not shoot more than your limit. To see something starve to death due to overabundance is not a pretty sight either...
The thing about laws, they always are passed several years too late. Only after a serious problem develops are the laws passed. If the hawks become a serious problem, we may really lose a lot of our bird population before laws are changed..
Where I hunted deer a few years ago, there was an overabundance of deer there, and I would not even attempt to shoot some of them, they were so poor, I am sure they died the following winter. Even if the poor deer were dying, you still could not shoot more than your limit. To see something starve to death due to overabundance is not a pretty sight either...
The thing about laws, they always are passed several years too late. Only after a serious problem develops are the laws passed. If the hawks become a serious problem, we may really lose a lot of our bird population before laws are changed..
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
-
Guest
Mark, great job! martins and accipiters have adapted well. the coops and sharpies eat alot of sparrows and starlings when all the martins are in south america. sure there are a few that specialize in martins but for the most part just too many slower birds to be caught. does anyone really know vthe pop for martins vs. lets say coops? i would think more martins
jason c
jason c
-
Guest
I have been feeding the birds for many years and enjoy the song and color they add to my back yard . Sadly I have made my mind up and have taken down all my feeders, I am sick and tired of a coopers hawk using my yard as a smorgashboard for songbirds, he got my female cardinal the other evening that was the final straw. For the hawk lovers out there you and I are on a different page. a coopers killed 3 of my martins last year that I know of. for all of you that think yelling and shouting ,dancing screaming or what ever will deter a coopers hawk that has his eye on a martin you haven,'t met mine and I think you are kidding yourself if you think they are going to move on. I see them here all the time. I sweat bullets until I get enough martins here that they can spot him before he does anymore damage, and when they are in numbers they will run the hawk off. I protect my colony from house sparrows and starlings with a vengance, it is all that I can do at times from going postal and snapping out of control, but if I do I guess I'll have to plead temporary insanity. PLEASE! no lecture on how pretty they are , how protected they are, what a service to nature you think they are ,.. TO me they are nothing more than a pest. They say you are supposed to wait until you are not mad to write about the subject that has made you mad in the first place. Well I am dag gone mad and frustrated right now.
I am hoping that when there aren't as many birds in my yard to attract them that they(the Hawks) won't fixate on my gourd set up this year. Time will tell I guess.
I am hoping that when there aren't as many birds in my yard to attract them that they(the Hawks) won't fixate on my gourd set up this year. Time will tell I guess.
Sorry it took so long to get back. Internet problems. I did not mean to stir up a hornets nest here. I would not shoot a hawk even though I really like my PMs.
I saw the Cooper again today when I was home for lunch. He flew through the back yard toward a heavily wooded area across the street.My PM houses are in the front yard (water side). I clapped my hands and yelled at him as he left (per ya'lls instructions). I felt kind of silly and looked to see if anyone heard me. All of the PMs were gone at the time. I was wondering if he had run them off but they showed up again at their regular time (5:30-6:00). They all dove back into their homes. I had 5 last week and tonight 11. They seem to be gone most of the day. I do not know if it is because of the hawk or they are just looking for mates. They stayed around most of the day Saturday but not Sunday or today. Are the rest of you noticing this?
I think that some colonies have an easier time watching out for hawks than mine. There is a constant flow north and south of large sea birds here(pelicans, seagull, blue herons, white herons etc.). In most places they see a large bird come near and react. They can not do that here. A hawk can slip right in. Or what this guy is doing (I think) is sitting on the house early in the morning and getting them as they come out. I am not always up to protect them. I hope he is not pulling them out. He would have a hard time holding on to a gourd and doing this. What are your thoughts?
Tigerpitt
I saw the Cooper again today when I was home for lunch. He flew through the back yard toward a heavily wooded area across the street.My PM houses are in the front yard (water side). I clapped my hands and yelled at him as he left (per ya'lls instructions). I felt kind of silly and looked to see if anyone heard me. All of the PMs were gone at the time. I was wondering if he had run them off but they showed up again at their regular time (5:30-6:00). They all dove back into their homes. I had 5 last week and tonight 11. They seem to be gone most of the day. I do not know if it is because of the hawk or they are just looking for mates. They stayed around most of the day Saturday but not Sunday or today. Are the rest of you noticing this?
I think that some colonies have an easier time watching out for hawks than mine. There is a constant flow north and south of large sea birds here(pelicans, seagull, blue herons, white herons etc.). In most places they see a large bird come near and react. They can not do that here. A hawk can slip right in. Or what this guy is doing (I think) is sitting on the house early in the morning and getting them as they come out. I am not always up to protect them. I hope he is not pulling them out. He would have a hard time holding on to a gourd and doing this. What are your thoughts?
Tigerpitt
-
Guest
TIGERPITT,
If a Cooper's Hawk could grab onto a gourd and pull a Martin out we would have seen multiple photographs of this actually happening. I have yet to see a single photograph that actually shows any raptor taking a Purple Martin. There is a lot of talk, but not a single photo, and I've seen a lot of great nature photographs (anyone want to submit just one that shows this seemingly common occurrence???). I'm sure that they take a few, but that's nature. The migrations (spring and fall) take many more. Raptors and other predators (snakes . . .) take a bunch in Brazil every winter. South America still uses DDT, which hurts the numbers reproducing here, wetland destruction reduces food supply, which reduces the number of fledged young and uneducated landlords kill more Purple Martins than all of the Hawks and Owls put together in North America!!! The simple minded fight against birds of prey is just that. Those who argue that by killing birds of prey we will somehow help the Purple Martin population in North America are living in a dream world and many are killing a valuable natural resource that controls the balance of nature. For those who disagree, consider the FACT that YOU provide a feeding station for birds of prey by supplying a concentration of food!!! YOU are the problem, not the Hawks and Owls. They are doing what is natural. YOU are providing the food. If man is to maintain an artificial world for the continuation of the Purple Martin species than man MUST be responsible enough to understand that some will be given to the greater good of ALL nature. Those who disagree do not see nature as a whole. They only see what they want to see. That would be a world devoid of any creature which may be of harm to THEIR Purple Martins. These are sad individuals imagining a VERY sad world.
Mark Dietrich
www.michiganmartins.com
If a Cooper's Hawk could grab onto a gourd and pull a Martin out we would have seen multiple photographs of this actually happening. I have yet to see a single photograph that actually shows any raptor taking a Purple Martin. There is a lot of talk, but not a single photo, and I've seen a lot of great nature photographs (anyone want to submit just one that shows this seemingly common occurrence???). I'm sure that they take a few, but that's nature. The migrations (spring and fall) take many more. Raptors and other predators (snakes . . .) take a bunch in Brazil every winter. South America still uses DDT, which hurts the numbers reproducing here, wetland destruction reduces food supply, which reduces the number of fledged young and uneducated landlords kill more Purple Martins than all of the Hawks and Owls put together in North America!!! The simple minded fight against birds of prey is just that. Those who argue that by killing birds of prey we will somehow help the Purple Martin population in North America are living in a dream world and many are killing a valuable natural resource that controls the balance of nature. For those who disagree, consider the FACT that YOU provide a feeding station for birds of prey by supplying a concentration of food!!! YOU are the problem, not the Hawks and Owls. They are doing what is natural. YOU are providing the food. If man is to maintain an artificial world for the continuation of the Purple Martin species than man MUST be responsible enough to understand that some will be given to the greater good of ALL nature. Those who disagree do not see nature as a whole. They only see what they want to see. That would be a world devoid of any creature which may be of harm to THEIR Purple Martins. These are sad individuals imagining a VERY sad world.
Mark Dietrich
www.michiganmartins.com