My Purple Martin houses have been invaded twice in the last two weeks, at night. By what I don't know. Maybe an owl? Maybe a coon? Have lost ten babies, and maybe some adults but I don't know.

I've got the all night spot light on the houses now. I hope it helps.

Have any of you had owl or coon problems? My fourth year and this is the first time I've had any problems.

how high are your houses off the ground?I'd go at least 12 feet,16 or more would be better.

They're 13 to 14' but it won't stop an owl. I put some 5' tall 8" stove pipe around the poles yesterday and tried to stay up on watch but gave it up in the wee hours.

The rest should be fledged soon and I can quit worrying about it this year.

It is probably coons. Got the coon trap set but nothing last night.

Thanks for the advice.

Maybe put up a trail camera?

Thanks guys for your help.

No sign of predation the last three nights. I think all but a few babies have fledged. Hopefully they will get out before it is too late.

I am at fault to some extent if they are coons for not getting up the pole guards sooner but never had a problem in the past.

I have twenty rooms but I think I will add some gourds next year as they have to be safer from the coons if hung by wires.

For those that have an interest, it turned out that to be a hawk that was/is raiding the Martin houses.

Saturday morning about 7:30 a.m., I was looking out at the houses and there was the biggest Coopers hawk I have ever seen doing it's damndest to pull open one of the room doors, by trying to fly backwards. I ran outside to scare it away.

Next year the houses will be reinforced and going to replace a couple houses and add more sites with a bunch of gourds which should be much more predator proof/resistant.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
For those that have an interest, it turned out that to be a hawk that was/is raiding the Martin house.

Next year the houses will be reinforced and going to replace a couple houses and add more sites with a bunch of gourds which should be much more predator proof/resistant.

Try adding a single vertical dowel rod in front of each hole to block the hawk from reaching in.

New versions of Martin houses use a deeper nest box 6" x 12" instead of 6" x 6" so the Martins can nest deeper in the house away from the opening. Existing boxes can be modified.