Well it finally happened here too

[Jones4381]

Like Brent and Rob in LA, and many others have discussed, the smaller of the hawk family has decided to investigate the area and hunt the swallows. I suppose it's unavoidable as when a food source begins growing in numbers, a worthy predator is bound to show up. This Coopers Hawk has made 2 attacks that I've seen, either going after the TS or PM's as it was sudden and quick around the grove of loblollies in an ambush. A swarm of 15+ TS' and PM's did the scatter and fly arounds and it appears both attacks were unsuccessful but honestly I couldn't tell as the Coopers quickly retreated or celebrated as it went into the pine thicket (always amazes me how they can navigate a woody area at high speed). I've had an enormous explosion in tree swallows and added more housing up against the lob lollies and I suspect this area made a great hunting advantage for the hawk.

The Red Shouldered pair continues to glide effortless over the PM housing late or sometimes early am going to its perch's for pond or field mice hunting...the PM's and TS's don't really pay a lot of attention to this big pair anymore. They do have their hands full now with this Cooper's...we will see how it goes. I'll be curious to see if the Red Shoulders and Crows allow it to stay or how this all fits together. I suppose with 40 birds squawking and raising Cain this day had to come...just hope its a nomad but I fear it may find a mate and take up residence....I'm worried mostly about the Great Horned Owl...I heard a pair early am in the dark walking the dogs on the fields edge late last fall doing their calls...Now this concerns me and I'm hoping for the best but Owls and Snake intrusions can be the death of a colony as I've read. Is this true of Great Horned owls? I have majority of gourds with owl guards but not all. Baffles defeated 2 snake attacks last year I witnessed, I'll be adding netting this year as I don't need to tempt fate any longer. Sometimes I feel like Icarus in my attempts to create the most desirable of habitats and ecosystems...maybe It's to much to wish for. Best wishes and season to all this year.

[LCM]

Good morning. Trying hard not to be a pessimist, it’s always something. Seems like to enjoy these magnificent pm babies, it comes with a great cost on our behalf to protect them.
Praying you are successful in getting all predators gone.
God Bless You
Sincerely,
Linda Moore Many La

[C.C.Martins]

Hard to avoid, you may have an avian ally in those crows, they may not tolerate the hawk one bit. Hope they nest cose by?

GHO is a top predator, something to keep in mind however it sounds like it has alot to choose from food wise and may not be a bother.

[Martintown33]

Damn hawks! That’s all I have to say!
Best of luck, friend..
Rob

[brent]

The Great Horned Owl has attacked my martin house on March 14th at 6:41 am. I witnessed it. Scared the heck out of me. Too dark to see if it took a martin but I assume it did. I get up early every morning and since that time it visited 6 more times. It perches on a trellis near the houses and waits for the birds to start to exit in the very early morning. When I see it I use my very bright flash light that I flash right at it and charge toward it yelling “get out of here!!!”. I’ve heard that owls will bang their wings against the house scaring the martins out. So far, I haven’t noticed that that is happening. This owl’s behavior is to wait for the opportunity to attack. I’m hoping my efforts pay off. So far so good. Good luck!! Brent

[Martintown33]

Hi Brent. That’s got to be alarming to see a big GHO attacking your housing. These birds of prey learn fast. Best of luck keeping him at bay.. keep harassing him as much as you can!
Good luck
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Holy smokes Brent! There are cages that can be put up, wire 2 x 3 inch square, some openings nearest the entrances can be widened. Can make it so it will go up and down.
Have to close the top as well tho.

Man thats scary! Saw and heard one this morning on a light pole near the house, they are huge!

[brent]

Yes it is scary. Hey C.C., do you have the cage around your housing? I’m very interested in doing something for the next season for sure. Whether it will be a hawk cage or owl cage or both. Rob, you plan on a hawk cage, right? I hope to do something. Had a hawk attack yesterday. It flew in and hit the decoys. The martins alerted that there was danger and sure enough there it was. Blew the air horn. No birds taken. It’s a challenge each day it seems. Tomorrow is my first official nest check. Expecting at least a couple of nests with eggs. Brent

[Martintown33]

Hi Brent. Good luck on your nest checks tomorrow. I did one 2 days ago. Many nests look complete and egg laying should start any day. I suspect you’ll find similar.. Agree, it’s been a tough season. I’ve had 4 hawk attacks in the last couple weeks, myself. The last 3 were unsuccessful, frontal attacks. The martins flew at the last second as he was making his attack. Luckily , I haven seen anything in the last 6 days or so. To your question, Yes, I plan on making a modified cage system similar to Dave’s awesome design, but no roof or floor, and much lighter. It will be a framed box made of 3/4 inch pvc pipe, and 3/4 inch aluminum bars, with the wire rope strands , running vertically from the top and bottom of the framed box. My friend 4 miles from me has been getting hawk attacks at his site too. These hawks are getting too plentiful and brazen. I hope you have a great nest check tomorrow and the damn hawks move on.
Good luck
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Yes it is scary. Hey C.C., do you have the cage around your housing? I’m very interested in doing something for the next season for sure. Whether it will be a hawk cage or owl cage or both. Rob, you plan on a hawk cage, right? I hope to do something. Had a hawk attack yesterday. It flew in and hit the decoys. The martins alerted that there was danger and sure enough there it was. Blew the air horn. No birds taken. It’s a challenge each day it seems. Tomorrow is my first official nest check. Expecting at least a couple of nests with eggs. Brent

Brent,
I built one for the old trio castle at our public site, but never put it up. Used garden fence 2x3 inch wire squares, cut out every other square to make them 4x4, filed away the sharp edges, painted the whole thing green. Then used aluminum strips in an "x" as support at the top and bottom, zip ties to close it up and zipped the cage to the aluminum support. Had to drill holes in the aluminum for the zip ties and riveted the aluminum at the top and bottom "x" to give it more support.
Tricky part is i needed it 12 to 18 inches away from the house, not flush with the entrances.
It can be done on the fly too. It was going to go up and down with the house.
I never got the support here to put it up, the vector was its all part of nature.
I work at the public martim site now, get here before dawn look and listen for things amiss...we have a pond and racoons. Never heard an owl. Just witnessed a hawk make a dive but we've two colonies set up, about 100 yards apart and the alarm went up in time.

[Jones4381]

Darn Brent, that's nightmare scenario stuff but glad you're colony is surviving and you're investigating mitigating it. You said it all Rob "Damn Hawks"...had me spitting out my coffee when I read it this early am... Thanks CC your positive attitude, wisdom, and support are like security blankets for so many within this site. Counted 18 TS and around the same PM's yesterday...I like it when it gets to the point it's no longer worth counting but only know the numbers by actual nest checks in the coming months. Keep us updated Brent (will be rooting for you) and best wishes to you guys and all advocates of the swallows....Damn Hawks!