Hawk Gets Martin
A hawk grabbed a martin off a perch on the martin house as I watched this morning. Very sad day! The hawks have caught several martins here over the past years and I do not know what to do about this. Perhaps I should take down the houses because this is not a safe zone for the martins.
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Tom Teague
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:39 pm
- Location: Trophy Club, TX
I had the same issue with cooper hawks year before last. I lost a couple that was picked off my mini castle. I wrapped the house in 2x4 wiring and have not lost one since. In fact the hawks quit even trying. Did not witness one attack last year. Good luck.
Tom
Tom
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Ravens5281
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:14 pm
- Location: Seymour, Indiana
- Martin Colony History: PMCA Member:
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
Hey Tom do u mind posting a pic so I/others can see how u did this!! Please & Thanks!!
Stu III
Stu III
PMCA Member: From Seymour, Indiana
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
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Tom Teague
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:39 pm
- Location: Trophy Club, TX
Stu....enlighten me again on how to get photos out of photobucket. Been awhile and it appear that I have forgotten. Thanks
Tom
Tom
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Ravens5281
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:14 pm
- Location: Seymour, Indiana
- Martin Colony History: PMCA Member:
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
Haha 
ok Tom no problem!! Just go to the app click on the photo then u will see a i with a circle around it at the bottom left! Click on it & that will take u to a page with 4 addresses on it & u click on the one at the bottom that says IMG: it will say link copied then come back to the form & paste & ur all set!!
ok Tom no problem!! Just go to the app click on the photo then u will see a i with a circle around it at the bottom left! Click on it & that will take u to a page with 4 addresses on it & u click on the one at the bottom that says IMG: it will say link copied then come back to the form & paste & ur all set!!PMCA Member: From Seymour, Indiana
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
Name: Stu Silver III
Begin trying to start a Colony since 2014
Had 2 Martins Visitors stop by (2014)
(2015) 2 Martins Visitors passed through
(2016) 35 Days that Martins Visitors/Stopped by but didn't nest
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Graue,
Not sure if the hawks that are attacking your martins are coming from the same direction, but if they are is there a tree or something that could be removed to allow more open space around the martin housing so that the martins have more visibility? It could also be true that right now you have some northern hawks around your area that should be leaving soon to head back north, so that will alleviate your situation. I am not a lover of hawks, and feel that they should have the ban removed from them, but they require food as well and hopefully for every martin they get they get 2-3 starlings.
Not sure if the hawks that are attacking your martins are coming from the same direction, but if they are is there a tree or something that could be removed to allow more open space around the martin housing so that the martins have more visibility? It could also be true that right now you have some northern hawks around your area that should be leaving soon to head back north, so that will alleviate your situation. I am not a lover of hawks, and feel that they should have the ban removed from them, but they require food as well and hopefully for every martin they get they get 2-3 starlings.
Bill Wenger
Building the Purple Martin population one bird at a time!
Building the Purple Martin population one bird at a time!
Several years back, I was in our breakfast nook, looking out at my PM house & gourds. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hawk appeared, caught a PM on the fly & landed about 50 yards away. By the time I got out the door, he was gone with dinner.
Not a pretty sight. Haven't seen one around since.
Not a pretty sight. Haven't seen one around since.
'18-- 8 nests, 39 eggs, 19 fledged
'17-- 10 nests, 40 eggs, 38 fledged
'16-- 9 nests, 47 eggs, 41 fledged
'15-- 9 nests, 42 eggs, 21 fledged
'14-- 8 nests, 38 eggs, 35 fledged
'13-- 5 nests, 23 eggs, 19 fledged
'12-- 4 nests, 19 eggs, 13 fledged
'17-- 10 nests, 40 eggs, 38 fledged
'16-- 9 nests, 47 eggs, 41 fledged
'15-- 9 nests, 42 eggs, 21 fledged
'14-- 8 nests, 38 eggs, 35 fledged
'13-- 5 nests, 23 eggs, 19 fledged
'12-- 4 nests, 19 eggs, 13 fledged
The best deterrent I have found is the use of pm decoys. Put two or more decoys on your racks or houses and the hawks will attack them instead of your live martins. Your martins will all escape in time leaving the decoys behind. After several frustrating failures the hawk will move on to other prey. Also a bluebird house nearby will help since they often sound an early alarm when a hawk is seen on the attack. Unfortunately its too early for bluebird to be nesting this time of year but they are helpful all summer.