TRES are back and this time I'm ready
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Guest
Last year it took five days from first sighting to when they found my sight. I have my TRES gourd out with a swallow flasher, what else can I do to let them nest in the designated housing?
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
If you have the housing out they will find it. The problem is for them to start nesting. I have had TS back now for at least 4 weeks maybe more and they are just now starting to show some signs of nesting. They went in and out of the gourds a few weeks ago, but now the female is spending some time inside and the male is visiting, I can't tell if hes bringing her nesting material or not.
My problem the last couple years was I opened my T14 up when I had some visitors and the TS immediately went to it. I wait until I see them bringing in some feathers to the built nest, but it is hard when you have PM's visiting.
The other important factor is the distance from your PM house to your TS gourds. If it is to far away then when you open your PM house more TS will come and nest in it. It should be between 30-50 feet away and the nesting TS will defend that area from other TS and not let them nest in your PM house.
My problem the last couple years was I opened my T14 up when I had some visitors and the TS immediately went to it. I wait until I see them bringing in some feathers to the built nest, but it is hard when you have PM's visiting.
The other important factor is the distance from your PM house to your TS gourds. If it is to far away then when you open your PM house more TS will come and nest in it. It should be between 30-50 feet away and the nesting TS will defend that area from other TS and not let them nest in your PM house.
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Guest
Now that the TRES are here my set up is back in the garage and the Dawn song is silent. I still have a good 3 weeks before the Subbies start looking around Lexington. My SY last year was not around until end of May so I'm not too worried now.
It sounds like you are doing all the right things, JL. The advice and geometry from flyin-lowe is RIGHT ON! The only other "idea" is to make Tree Swallow housing scarce over whatever territory you control.
I would not put the designated TRES housing further than 35 feet from your martin rig. The territory they "defend and protect" for you might seem much bigger right now; but it shrinks considerably as they get busy with eggs and chicks.
Hang in there! In central Indiana the "timing rule" for TRES is "an egg by mothers day -- fledging about fathers' day." These are "latest dates" and you are farther south; so you can probably expect to see feathers any day now and an egg within a few days.
Feathers in the nest and dive-bombing are very good signs of their commitment... but an egg is the only SURE sign. Be very watchful if you open your martin housing before you see the first egg.
Good Luck! ~Dan
I would not put the designated TRES housing further than 35 feet from your martin rig. The territory they "defend and protect" for you might seem much bigger right now; but it shrinks considerably as they get busy with eggs and chicks.
Hang in there! In central Indiana the "timing rule" for TRES is "an egg by mothers day -- fledging about fathers' day." These are "latest dates" and you are farther south; so you can probably expect to see feathers any day now and an egg within a few days.
Feathers in the nest and dive-bombing are very good signs of their commitment... but an egg is the only SURE sign. Be very watchful if you open your martin housing before you see the first egg.
Good Luck! ~Dan
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Christopher Norris
I had a pair of tree swallows last year and they returned this year on Feb. 27, I was really suprised to see them that early here in Indiana>
They went to the same gourd that they had there young last year and have had a nest and white feathers for 4 weeks now and still no eggs> I figure its becase of weather>
My trees and blue birds do there share at keeping the S&S in check before the martins return>
I had my first ASY male show up on the 19th of april, now I have 4, but no females yet> Martins and tree swallows seem to get along fine
Chris
They went to the same gourd that they had there young last year and have had a nest and white feathers for 4 weeks now and still no eggs> I figure its becase of weather>
My trees and blue birds do there share at keeping the S&S in check before the martins return>
I had my first ASY male show up on the 19th of april, now I have 4, but no females yet> Martins and tree swallows seem to get along fine
Chris
Hi Dan!Dan Drew wrote:It sounds like you are doing all the right things, JL. The advice and geometry from flyin-lowe is RIGHT ON! The only other "idea" is to make Tree Swallow housing scarce over whatever territory you control.
I would not put the designated TRES housing further than 35 feet from your martin rig. The territory they "defend and protect" for you might seem much bigger right now; but it shrinks considerably as they get busy with eggs and chicks.
Hang in there! In central Indiana the "timing rule" for TRES is "an egg by mothers day -- fledging about fathers' day." These are "latest dates" and you are farther south; so you can probably expect to see feathers any day now and an egg within a few days.
Feathers in the nest and dive-bombing are very good signs of their commitment... but an egg is the only SURE sign. Be very watchful if you open your martin housing before you see the first egg.
Good Luck! ~Dan
Thank you so much for putting together the great web pages. The information you've made available to everyone, has no doubt greatly helped many, many folks.
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Guest
I've had a couple of high fly-overs already. Looks like the TRES season will be getting going soon.
Hi Dennis.Dennis/N.Illinois wrote:Whats a swallow flasher?
If you go to the following link, you'll see about halfway down the page, a little section about the "McKinnon flasher".
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/E ... gency.html
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Guest
Cool, Thanks. I just put up a house for the Tree Swallow today. Had a few already checking it out.