Merlin troubles

[SSMartin]

I have a Merlin that literally sets on the racks waiting for a Martin to make the mistake and exit a gourd. This is a daily occurrence and is really getting old.

This guy needs to migrate Northbound.

[flyin-lowe]

Are you seeing the merlin take martins, or just harassing them? I have them in my area but have never seen them pay any attention to the martins. The don't perch on the martin housing but are always on the power lines nearby.

[SSMartin]

He has caught one but I managed to get him to drop it by chasing after him. He wanted to land since he didn’t have a good hold and the second time he flew off the martin slipped away and escaped.

The fact he is here daily tells me he is being successful and I am not here to watch all morning.

Are you sure you’re seeing Merlin’s and not kestrels? The kestrels are here in the winter and tend to perch on everything but the martins pay them no attention unless they land directly on the gourds. They won’t even dive or buzz the Merlin on the gourds they are really afraid of him.

[jhcox]

Buy an air horn and whenever he lands on the rack or near the rack, blow air horn just carry him off he’ll get the picture. You could also shoot some bottle rockets in that general area to scare them off.

[Spiderman]

I had a Merlin kill a female Martin in the backyard a few years ago. He struggled bringing her down but once on the ground it was over quickly.

Merlin’s are very fast and agile, they can out fly the speed of the Martin and out maneuver them too.

Good luck getting him to leave.

[flyin-lowe]

Now that you say it I was mistaking the merlins and kestrils. Disregard my previous comments....

[Martintown33]

Shoot bottle rockets at Him everyday. He will get the message.. they can be ordered online in most states..
Good luck,
Rob

[Thomas Maddox]

X3 on the bottle rockets!

[birdman in buckhead]

Another thumbs up on bottle rockets and air horn from me! I know hawks cannot stand load noises and will quickly head in the opposite direction when I blow the air horn. The PM's don't really like it but they don't stay gone for long, especially if they have eggs or chicks. I'm sure most females don't even move off of the nest if she has eggs or chicks. I would think the merlins or any other bird of prey will react the same way that *cooper's hawks do.

* I can't help but say I hate them and wish they would all get eaten by big redtails! But just like PM's they're too agile for a redtail to catch. I'm originally from south Louisiana, not that I believe in voodoo, but have tried putting a voodoo gris gris hex on them, but it did no good, LOL! Maybe next time I go to NOLA I'll bring back a voodoo doll, write cooper's hawk on it, stick a few pins in it and hang it from a gourd....HA! Seriously, my mother-in-law is a very religious women of the Methodist faith. I gave her a cheap $1 voodoo doll once as a gag gift and she refused to keep it in her house! She buried it in her backyard!

[dsonyay]

* .:.but have tried putting a voodoo gris gris hex on them, but it did no good, LOL! Maybe next time I go to NOLA I'll bring back a voodoo doll, write cooper's hawk on it, stick a few pins in it and hang it from a gourd....HA! …

Hahahaah. I live in south La and can relate.

[Conrad Baker]

Bottle rockets shot out of piece of pvc about three feet long. You can get the bottle rocket close enough to them to get their attention and persuade them to go elsewhere.