Still Trying in SW Missouri

Jeff Robinson · Tue May 05, 2009 10:43 pm

This is my second year trying - had some occupants 1st year but no luck on little ones. I'm trying all the lures in the book including open location, great housing, 2 Natureline Gourds, SRES, feeding station, perches, premium shredded straw in all compartments, Dawn Song, and Daytime Chatter;

HOWEVER, does anybody have any input on whether the martin decoy on top of one of the houses could be working against me??? The males are always swooping at the decoy - should I leave it or take it down? Decoy worked great last year in drawing 2 Cooper's Hawk attacks from other martins sitting on the perches - almost knocked one of the hawks completely to the ground when he tried to grab something that didn't give, then males chased him long away. I also have bluebirds nesting in boxes close by, and lots of other birds in yard on feeders, but none closer than 60 feet from houses

stan davison · Wed May 06, 2009 6:08 am

I think you will definitely get martins. Your site looks very open. Is it close to your home as well? Good luck.

stan davison · Wed May 06, 2009 6:12 am

Forgot to mention that personally i would hold off on the decoys until you have that first bird or two settling in. Some martins accept them some don't.

John Miller · Wed May 06, 2009 6:37 am

Wow...This is a beautiful site -- just a matter of time.

We all have a little uncertainty about decoys when martins seem to be annoyed by them. I'd probably take these down now -- at least the one on the house. One year when I was starting a new site, there was a pesky mocking bird that would sit on the housing. Whenever the male martin would attract a female to look things over, he'd then go crazy chasing the mocking bird. The female martins he would attract, seemed to me, not to stay because of the commotion. But he did eventually get one to stay...still, if you see this scenario, then I'd remove the decoys.

John M

Jeff Robinson · Wed May 06, 2009 8:05 am

Yes Stan, Martin garden about 66 feet from my back patio. Hey, I really appreciate the input from everybody. That decoy's coming down when I get home from work tonight, just n case that is the one thing that's hanging me up. We've had TONS of rain over 9 day period, and during that time frame, I'd only seen one SY male. I figure the folks up the road with substandard housing, no predator guards, tree limbs within 6 feet of the house, yet lots of PMs from previous years I guess, probably didn't take care of their martins during all the rain, and probably lost a few in addition to loosing some from Starlings. This morning when I was changing my Dawn Song CD to daytime chatter, I noticed the most perfect looking ASY male sitting on my perches and checking the Goliad several times to see if anything was living there - spent about 15 minutes with us before flying off for food that these birds need pretty bad. You can imagine my anxiety today! Wish me luck - can't wait to get home. Thinking about putting in streaming video so I can watch anytime from anywhere.

KathyF · Wed May 06, 2009 8:39 am

Hi jrob,
Welcome to the forum. You have a great site! I agree with the others, try removing the decoy. The subadults are coming in right now in larger numbers, so now would be a good time for you to get more!

Good luck this year....if I go to Springfield this summer, perhaps I could stop by to see your beautiful site!

Keep us posted on your progress!

Jeff Robinson · Wed May 06, 2009 8:51 am

Thanks for the input Kathy, and yes, you're more than welcome to stop by anytime. We're on the backside of Leabrooke Estates which lies off Highway B on very north end of Rogersville - can't miss us with the only visible Martin housing up. Just yell if you need directions. Decoy's coming down tonight!!

Guest · Wed May 06, 2009 9:30 am

Hi jrob,
I'm doing the same as you. Every lure available with no results. But it's not over yet. A neat place to watch martins is at Justice Jewelers, Woody has a great site with lots of birds. My office is on the east side of 65 near there and sometimes I simply pull into there parking lot and watch them for a few minutes.. Wish I had some at home..
Good luck to you..

jspurgin · Wed May 06, 2009 1:29 pm

jrob
I live in south central Missouri. I had martins visit and hang around most of the season for two years, and then finally had seven pairs nest the third year. If they are staying I think they will eventually nest, any way they did at my place.

drdoo55 · Wed May 06, 2009 4:41 pm

jrob-I just have one suggestion if I may,a few years ago I had landscaping under neath my housing too and was not getting any martins a pair and sometimes a sy bacholor but didnt seem to go anywhere ,so I then got rid of the pretty landscaping and made it into grass and I now have a thriving colony.Last year I had 27 pair and this year I am at about 20 so far.Not to say that is the reason but it is something to think about. Tony

Jeff Robinson · Wed May 06, 2009 9:35 pm

Hey everybody, I'm soaking up all your suggestions and encouragement. But I also have good news. That ASY male that showed up this morning while I was changing martin cds brought an ASY female in and has been here all day, in fact had her in the Goliad for the night, then right before dark, he flew off. Dang it if she didn't come out and sat there waiting for about 5 minutes before she flew off too, and here I am 45 minutes later and they haven't come back. I recall my ASY male doing the same thing last year, but I don't understand it. Does anyone have any input on this? BTW, I never did get the decoy off the Coates house because of all the activity tonight. Heree I sit wondering and waiting again, anxious to hear if he's overhead singing the dawn song tomorrow morning when I go out to play the dawn song cd.
Tony, I'd already been thinking along the lines of exactly what you brought up, so will keep all updated on how I do. Thanks for the input.

Jeff Robinson · Thu May 07, 2009 10:52 pm

Second day in a row male ASY stuck around all day with mate, then flew off with her right before dark. He's also bringiing back an SY throughout day, but it doesn't stay too long. I'm farily sure ASY will be back again tomorrow since he doesn't seem to have problems getting her in the Goliad SREH, except it's going to rain AGAIN! She definitely prefers the Goliad over the Natureline Gourds. Anybody have any input on this nighttime departure and where do they go at night?

Bob Rogers · Sat May 09, 2009 9:25 pm

jrod427
When martins first arrive at a site in spring, they are fickle --- even at well established sites. The martins leaving at dusk, make me think your PM's have not been at your site this year far very many days. They are probably nesting in trees not too far away. If they continue to show up in the AM, they most likely will stay. They will stay at the colony for a good portion of the day once mate and cavity selection is complete, and almost all day during nest building --- hunting period exempt. Males may roost in an adjacent cavity or with the female in hers during this period. Once eggs have been laid, the males will often let the female take charge of the eggs/nestlings by herself at night, and sometimes assist during the day. Males will start spending more time at the colony when the fledglings need flight lessons, but, I have found the the adult males (ASY & SY's) will leave the colony for migration, a week or two ahead of the females and her young. Good luck!

Jeff Robinson · Mon May 11, 2009 9:56 pm

Great news and thanks to all for the suggestions - I have a pair staying for 3d night now in one of my two Naturline Gourds; ASY male and female. I also have another female that stayed overnight last night, but although she followed them back tonight, I never saw her come in. One question for all the pros - male is doing ALL the nest building, bringing in nesting materials on top of the premium shredded straw I already had in there. Why isn't she helping? Last year the nesting pair we had (failed nesting??) shared in nest building.

KathyF · Tue May 12, 2009 7:09 am

jrob - cuz he drew the short straw.

He's just trying to entice her. She's not quite ready probably so he's getting a jump start on the building. Her hormones will kick in soon and she'll start helping.

Jeff Robinson · Tue May 12, 2009 8:36 am

Gotcha Kathy - thanks! Female's finally the first to enter gourd at night Vs him having to entice or push her in. Now, if my male Bluebird would stay off the Goliad and perches and stop pestering other martins that've been visiting and checking out houses, I might actually a get few more to stay. Bluebird hatchlings should fledge from box this Thursday or Friday, so maybe papa Bluebird will leave martins alone after that.
Jeff