Hello Forum,
Several days ago I opened the compartments of a new Trio MSS12-R located on a local golf course, across the street from houses but also near a woodsy area. I have it all tricked out with dawnsong playback, mirrors, dirt on the porches, pine needles inside, and four decoys.
The good news is that on Saturday I saw two subadults checking it out.
The bad news is that this morning I discovered that a decoy I had put on the roof of the house was lying at the base of the house, apparently having been attacked overnight, probably by an owl. The tussle atop the house was so violent that one half of the aluminum perch was pointed skyward!
So, first thing, I'm not putting that decoy back on the roof, and later this week we will take the house down for a few minutes to set things right.
Question: Should I remove the roof perch entirely? I certainly don't want real martins on that perch to be grabbed by predators.
Or is it more likely that at dusk and dawn the martins are not likely to be sitting on top of the house? In which case I could leave the perch in place.
Input appreciated!
Thanks,
Stuart
Predator attacks martin decoy on roof perch
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Martins are going to perch on top of the housing somehow or another. So you might as well provide them a perch, as they do enjoy them. The good news is your decoy is doing it's job. I would keep putting it up, it is possible the predator will attack it a few times and then move on to hunt a different location and leave the real martins alone once they arrive.
I remember years ago a member on here discussed playing "martin noise" at night all year long while trying to establish a colony. The thought was the owls in the area would come check it out and find nothing and once they did establish a colony the owls would not even come to investigate any longer. I am not sure how the experiment played out.
I remember years ago a member on here discussed playing "martin noise" at night all year long while trying to establish a colony. The thought was the owls in the area would come check it out and find nothing and once they did establish a colony the owls would not even come to investigate any longer. I am not sure how the experiment played out.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
An owl or hawk will take a Martin of a porch as well as a perch on top. I see the decoy as help to attract Martins as well as keeping them safer. A decoy on top might take a hit from an owl because of it beeing slower than a live Martin. With owls or hawks in the area you will need some kind of a destraction or deterent and a decoy is a starting point.
Jeff