Folks, It didn't take long B-4 Mr. Hawk again found my Martins , This year I did not play the Dawnsong/Daytime Chatter Cd;s but it did not make any difference the Hawk came anyway, Martins are always so Vocal when fighting over nesting rites that Hawks can detect them from afar This is why it is so so Important to keep Decoys up (as Many as you can)
Todays Attack did not take any Martins but sure did spin the Mounted Decoy upside Down...I hate to Harp and i know people get tired of Hearing about the Decoys but yet again My Martins were Saved because of the Decoys, I was Helpless and defenseless , The Attack was so fast I did not have time to React , by the time i got my defense ready the Hawk was long Gone.
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,
Thanks for the Kind words JL ,
I am using a Canon Rebel XT Digital with a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens
Ron Vasser has the best pictures i have ever seen but for me to do what he does i would have to spend alot more money than what i have, lol,lol.
Folks, Being Retired I am able to constantly Monitor my Colony , can you Imagine a working person not able to do what I do and how many times the Predator's hit their colonies without them even knowing it ???? , This is why we keep talking and Posting on this site trying to convience everyone how to help better protect our Beautiful Martins , everytime a Martin is Lost it just Breaks My Heart this is why I personally try to Help Keep Martin Land Lords Informed.
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,
Hi Tom, It was a Coopers definitely , The coopers are larger than a Sharp-Shinned Hawk...anyway Now Let The Battles Begin , even on this cold day today 2/26/13 my Martins are Loud andBickering but at least the sun is out so i have a full day of protecting my birds ahead of me
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,
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied. Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Hi Connie,
I use several Tactics , for one i have a pump up pellet gun that i use w/o loading a pellet , when it discharges it makes a Loud noise and the percussion usually scares off the Hawk , another is I have up Doves , one is called The "MoJo" his wings Flap like he is taking off, another is I use the Eco Blast which is rechargeable holding 100 psi(see picture Below) and of course there is always Beating Pots & Pans and Screaming your Head off, lol,lol,lol. The Items I told you about can be purchased thru Cabelas/Bass pro shop. a Picture of My Doves are on the link below
Connie,
The can of ECO Blast that i use puts out 115 Decibels
here is a decibel Chart below to give you an Idea How Loud The ECO Blast is, 115 is just before Ear Pain Begins at 125 so you can Imagine what it does to the hawks keen hearing.
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,
Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied. Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Thanks KC!
My grandson loves doing the hollering and screaming part for me which is good because I am sure my neighbors already think I'm nuts. Every year they get to see me do the "happy dance" and if they come closer, hear me telling my martins how glad I am that they are back and what good care I am going to give them.
I never thought about the air horn though. That's a great idea. I was planning on purchasing a few to use on my phone marketers after giving them fair warning. The mojo dove is also very cool!
Thanks for the great info....the decibel chart was very interesting reading also. Don't think I've ever seen that before.
Thanks again,
Connie
With the sun out even tho the temps are still hangin' around the low 50's my Martins are very busy FUSSIN" & DISCUSSIN" fighting all the way to the ground over nesting Rites and females , I am still ever watchful of the Hawks and will do anything possible to Protect my Colony
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,
Wow...reading this post has been an eye-opener! I haven't had the experience of Hawk attacks...just little ol' starlings (which are driving me nuts). Good luck! Hope you have a successful season!
