Survived My First Hawk Attack
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Bird Brain
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
- Location: Highland Village, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair fledged 4, 2025-9 pair
I knew it would happen eventually. Finally did. Mr. Cooper darted over the neighbors roof and tried to surprise my Martins. They saw him in time and took evasive maneuvers. It really freaked them out! They wouldn't land on my pole for at least an hour after the attack. I think this was actually a positive. Hopefully now, they will have their head on a swivel stick and pay attention. I think my martin pole has street cred now. I have 6 nests now and 11 eggs. Have about 15-18 martins, I think. Still more new arrivals showing up almost daily. Still have SY's trying to pair up. Love this hobby. Never a dull moment. I'm sure Mr. Cooper will be back.
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Jones4381
- Posts: 789
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
right on! Glad they did the alarm and scatter drill and zero casualties. Happy for you and sounds as if your colony has exploded with growth this year. Good deal!
Interesting note here...Witnessed a Coopers 3 attempts over a week but haven't seen him in over 2.5 weeks now...I wonder if the Crows (large flock about 12) that gather here in our large White Pines or the breeding pair of Red Shouldered Hawks ran it off? Not that well versed on Hawk behavior and territorial habits but I need to learn.
Interesting note here...Witnessed a Coopers 3 attempts over a week but haven't seen him in over 2.5 weeks now...I wonder if the Crows (large flock about 12) that gather here in our large White Pines or the breeding pair of Red Shouldered Hawks ran it off? Not that well versed on Hawk behavior and territorial habits but I need to learn.
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
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Phil01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:42 pm
- Location: Fernandina Beach FL
- Martin Colony History: 34 Cavities offered.
24 unit gourd rack with Troyer Horizontal and Vertical Gourds. Sunset Inn aluminum house with 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds.
2020- 1 pair, 4 eggs, fledged 3
2021- 3 pair, 15 eggs, fledged 8
2022- 5 pair, 26 eggs, fledged 21
2023- 10 pair, 53 eggs, fledged 27
2024- 26 pair, 125 eggs, fledged 83
PMCA Member
Jones,
I wouldn’t doubt those crows ran him off or at least keeping him at bay. The crows here are all over the hawks. Just a couple hours ago martins sounded the alarm and took off fast, two crows were going crazy in a tall live oak. Sure enough, here comes a hawk across the field being chased by two crows, a Blue Jay and a bunch of martins… Go team! It was great! lol
Last season had a red shouldered hawk here with 2 young for a month, maybe longer… Calling to each other every day, multiple times a day, all around the field where the housing is. At first the martins were nervous but after a bit they payed them no mind… I was nervous but never saw them go after a Martin or fledgling (while I was watching anyway) and the martins were acting normal. During that time I saw no coopers or sharp shined hawks around… So maybe the larger hawks can be an Allie.
Phil
I wouldn’t doubt those crows ran him off or at least keeping him at bay. The crows here are all over the hawks. Just a couple hours ago martins sounded the alarm and took off fast, two crows were going crazy in a tall live oak. Sure enough, here comes a hawk across the field being chased by two crows, a Blue Jay and a bunch of martins… Go team! It was great! lol
Last season had a red shouldered hawk here with 2 young for a month, maybe longer… Calling to each other every day, multiple times a day, all around the field where the housing is. At first the martins were nervous but after a bit they payed them no mind… I was nervous but never saw them go after a Martin or fledgling (while I was watching anyway) and the martins were acting normal. During that time I saw no coopers or sharp shined hawks around… So maybe the larger hawks can be an Allie.
Phil
PMCA member
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fernandina Beach, FL
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Jones4381
- Posts: 789
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
LETS GO Red Shoulders and Crows!!! allies indeed! Thank you Phil...I agree with this from my limited observations.... Those coopers and sharp shinned are serious threats.Phil01 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:32 pmJones,
I wouldn’t doubt those crows ran him off or at least keeping him at bay. The crows here are all over the hawks. Just a couple hours ago martins sounded the alarm and took off fast, two crows were going crazy in a tall live oak. Sure enough, here comes a hawk across the field being chased by two crows, a Blue Jay and a bunch of martins… Go team! It was great! lol
Last season had a red shouldered hawk here with 2 young for a month, maybe longer… Calling to each other every day, multiple times a day, all around the field where the housing is. At first the martins were nervous but after a bit they payed them no mind… I was nervous but never saw them go after a Martin or fledgling (while I was watching anyway) and the martins were acting normal. During that time I saw no coopers or sharp shined hawks around… So maybe the larger hawks can be an Allie.
Phil
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
I've had two successful coopers hawk attacks this season, a pair of starlings that breached my starling resistant entrance gourds, (I finally got rid of the pair)
and last but not least..several crow attacks! I've walked out twice to a crow hanging onto the porch/predator guards on my supergourds, martins raising hell all around them and with my help and chased them off. They are always patrolling. I'd never had an issue with crows until last year when my next door neighbor saw a crow fly off with a baby martin in it's clutches.
I put on predator guards on in the off season.
They are a good deterrent.
Crows are NOT our friends.
After this season, I'm going to remove all the porches from my gourds and reinstall them so that they are even with the bottom of the crescent shaped entrance.
My gourds are 20 years old.
The newer gourds come with the drill dimples already set for the elevated porch and apparently don't have that issue.
I called the PMCA thinking I needed new gourds and a lady there told me about raising the porches.
That should keep the starlings from getting in.
It's amazing what our little friends have to endure!
and last but not least..several crow attacks! I've walked out twice to a crow hanging onto the porch/predator guards on my supergourds, martins raising hell all around them and with my help and chased them off. They are always patrolling. I'd never had an issue with crows until last year when my next door neighbor saw a crow fly off with a baby martin in it's clutches.
I put on predator guards on in the off season.
They are a good deterrent.
Crows are NOT our friends.
After this season, I'm going to remove all the porches from my gourds and reinstall them so that they are even with the bottom of the crescent shaped entrance.
My gourds are 20 years old.
The newer gourds come with the drill dimples already set for the elevated porch and apparently don't have that issue.
I called the PMCA thinking I needed new gourds and a lady there told me about raising the porches.
That should keep the starlings from getting in.
It's amazing what our little friends have to endure!
Have a great season!
Plantation, Florida
PMCA member
Plantation, Florida
PMCA member