For the first time am having problems with either a Sharp shinned hawk or a Cooper's hawk . . . every 2-3 days we find the hawk perched on our gourd rack about 6:15 am. So far my 3 PM have not been his/her victim, but it could just be a matter of time. I chase it away in the AM and stand guard in the evenings when the PMs return, but obviously I can't always be there.
Do hawks attack only in the air as the PM take flight or do they actually attack them in the gourds or houses? I have a Lone Star "alamo" house with a gourd rack (Super Gourds) beneath, and wondered if I need to invest in "owl guards". If so, what type are effective for my particular set-up?
Thanks! Debba
Hawk problems!!!
We have a Sharp Shinned Hawk living nearby and we lost a beautiful male this morning to him!! We made a big,big mistake grain feeding the local population of birds during the winter. This character hangs out and even was perching on the 5ft high feeder table a month or two back. My wife and I were attached to him because they are so beautiful!!What a mistake!!
The loss of the male this morning was heartwretching and I was the cause. Normally, we can walk around,up to,closely,around our martin housing and the martins do not mind one bit!!! We have around 7to 8 almost pairs as of yesterday.However, our S&S trap had a starling flapping around and I went to take care of the immigrant. and the commotion had them in the air. I no more than had my hands around him and my wife screamed "hawk" and he was gone with a beautiful male in his clutches. He has been observed "hiding" in the privet bushes where the HOSP roost and hangout. I personally cannot believe the hawks could stand the taste of one of those nasty starlings!!! Much less the hosp's.
Everyone please be aware that the accipters are real problems to martin colonies and interfering with nature by feeding and caring about the other species should be considered before trying to have Martin Colonies.
We also encounter other hawks and hoot owls besides the everpresent starlings and hosp's.
No more winter feeding for us as long as we have the martin housing!!!11
The loss of the male this morning was heartwretching and I was the cause. Normally, we can walk around,up to,closely,around our martin housing and the martins do not mind one bit!!! We have around 7to 8 almost pairs as of yesterday.However, our S&S trap had a starling flapping around and I went to take care of the immigrant. and the commotion had them in the air. I no more than had my hands around him and my wife screamed "hawk" and he was gone with a beautiful male in his clutches. He has been observed "hiding" in the privet bushes where the HOSP roost and hangout. I personally cannot believe the hawks could stand the taste of one of those nasty starlings!!! Much less the hosp's.
Everyone please be aware that the accipters are real problems to martin colonies and interfering with nature by feeding and caring about the other species should be considered before trying to have Martin Colonies.
We also encounter other hawks and hoot owls besides the everpresent starlings and hosp's.
No more winter feeding for us as long as we have the martin housing!!!11
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loco for purple
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:06 pm
- Location: arlington/texas
Debba,
I had the same problem with an immature coopers last year.It was at a time when it rained for a few days.I would run out with a stick in my hand as fast as I could. Had a pm flushed I,m sure the hawk would've caught. The hawks are faster than pms at accelerating at the begining. That hawk left after about three days.That has been the only hawk to ever do this,and I have alot of hawks.It left after about three days,and hopefully yours will too.
mgstei1,
I hope you don't quit feeding the birds. I understand were your coming from, you feel you caused the martins death by feeding the birds. I feed the birds and will continue to do so.I feel the more birds that are around the more likely one of them will see the hawk aproaching and give a warning call. When you have more than ten martins making a lot of noise around the colony that is going the get a hawks attention anway.That is regardless if you are feeding birds.With more birds around I hope that maybe the hawk will zero in on a dove or blackbird.It will give the martins enough time to escape.Also, I would watch that privet bush.When a hawk is successful ,it will attack again from the same location.On Saturday I had five attacks, none successful. This morning between eight and eleven I had four atacks,again none successful.Each time they were warned he was coming in, or they saw him appraoching.
I had the same problem with an immature coopers last year.It was at a time when it rained for a few days.I would run out with a stick in my hand as fast as I could. Had a pm flushed I,m sure the hawk would've caught. The hawks are faster than pms at accelerating at the begining. That hawk left after about three days.That has been the only hawk to ever do this,and I have alot of hawks.It left after about three days,and hopefully yours will too.
mgstei1,
I hope you don't quit feeding the birds. I understand were your coming from, you feel you caused the martins death by feeding the birds. I feed the birds and will continue to do so.I feel the more birds that are around the more likely one of them will see the hawk aproaching and give a warning call. When you have more than ten martins making a lot of noise around the colony that is going the get a hawks attention anway.That is regardless if you are feeding birds.With more birds around I hope that maybe the hawk will zero in on a dove or blackbird.It will give the martins enough time to escape.Also, I would watch that privet bush.When a hawk is successful ,it will attack again from the same location.On Saturday I had five attacks, none successful. This morning between eight and eleven I had four atacks,again none successful.Each time they were warned he was coming in, or they saw him appraoching.
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Debba,
This is a night mare that all of us landlord's go through, what i have done for year's and it seems to work for me is i bought several Decoys from the pmca and keep them on all my housing & gourd rack all year long, at first a few were taken but after getting plastic a few times rather than a hot meal the attacks stopped, i have always said that the Hawks will go after the slow and weak of any species (aka/The Decoys).They have worked for me here at my location and i would hope that they would work for you.
Good Luck this Martin season
This is a night mare that all of us landlord's go through, what i have done for year's and it seems to work for me is i bought several Decoys from the pmca and keep them on all my housing & gourd rack all year long, at first a few were taken but after getting plastic a few times rather than a hot meal the attacks stopped, i have always said that the Hawks will go after the slow and weak of any species (aka/The Decoys).They have worked for me here at my location and i would hope that they would work for you.
Good Luck this Martin season
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]
K.C., from what I read the Sharp Shinned has habits to stay close to bird feeders and where birds gather. We've had euras doves,mourning, and even white wings all winter long that this character had feasts on.
Hawks wait for the right time and martins are no match for them when they are blind sided.
I'll have to debate about the feeders, but as of today the grain is gone!!
Thanks for the tips!!
Hawks wait for the right time and martins are no match for them when they are blind sided.
I'll have to debate about the feeders, but as of today the grain is gone!!
Thanks for the tips!!