My Colony of Purple Martins at dusk preparing and settling in for the night with a combination of parents and youngsters who at this point have nearly fully-fledged. Tonight, as they're preparing to settle in for the night, they can be seen here fidgeting and fussing amongst each other while each one will be entering their compartment/room for the night, which will provide the necessary coverage for the night.
There was a brief encounter here with the arrival of a Cooper's Hawk about 2 hours ago, but, I kind of foiled the Hawk's attack because I happened to be outside on my deck close by when the Hawk arrived, and I knew ahead of time that he was arriving by the sudden loud shrills and shrieks of the Purple Martins being on Red Alert signifying the Hawks' arrival just moments before I seen him just as he was gliding in, and so, I began yelling at the Hawk loudly while clapping my hands together! My yelling and clapping of my hands together provided a distraction to the Hawk, which then, helped in driving him away almost instantly, however, I must also, and even more so give credit to the Martins as well because all of the adult Martins scattered and then immediately pursued the Hawk fiercely and bravely, and they retaliated against the Hawk until he was gone so now, in the aftermath of that, they're a bit nervous tonight and they're just trying settle down and enter their compartments for the night where will enjoy the safety and serenity of their housing for the night!
Inside each compartment the Martin(s) find the safety and refuge away from any Predators grasp (Hawks/Owls) and their tucking away for the night will sustain them for yet another day!
Such is a moment in the Life of Purple Martins, and their offspring, and the Parents not only teach them flight, but, also survival strategies against Predators.
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