I have had a male subadult hanging arond my PM house for the last few days. He is chasing away other birds from the compartments (sparrows and tree swallows, etc.). What does that mean exactly? Is that a good sign? No females yet though.
thanks in advance.
Dave
question on a subadult
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orbit1
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
- Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Columbia Station, Ohio
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Hi Dave,
It is a great sign!
It means he's claiming your house and may become your founding male. 
Even if he isn't able to find a female, he will try & try and if unsuccessful for the season, he will probably be back next year as an adult and will have a better chance of attracting a female (ask Jennifer in TX about "Freckles"
).
Anyway, once he does find a female, he won't have the time or focus to run off the sparrow so dispose of the sparrows and any starlings if you have them as soon as possible. Otherwise your headaches will increase. Even though I've killed 11 HOSP this year, I've still got occassional HOSP that stop by do "hit & runs" - they destroy an egg then leave before I can get out there with a gun. Beware - they are very destructive and will be THE deciding factor as to whether or not you keep your PM's.
It is a great sign!
It means he's claiming your house and may become your founding male. Even if he isn't able to find a female, he will try & try and if unsuccessful for the season, he will probably be back next year as an adult and will have a better chance of attracting a female (ask Jennifer in TX about "Freckles"
).Anyway, once he does find a female, he won't have the time or focus to run off the sparrow so dispose of the sparrows and any starlings if you have them as soon as possible. Otherwise your headaches will increase. Even though I've killed 11 HOSP this year, I've still got occassional HOSP that stop by do "hit & runs" - they destroy an egg then leave before I can get out there with a gun. Beware - they are very destructive and will be THE deciding factor as to whether or not you keep your PM's.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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orbit1
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
- Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.
Thanks for the info. I was hoping that this was encouraging. I'm keeping a watch on the sparrows, but I work during the day, so this is going to be hard.
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Columbia Station, Ohio
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Guest
Last year i had 2 sub males come and claim my site and stayed till fathers day. neither found a mate to bring back.sadly :(
I dont have martins anymore they all froze in april 2007.
BUT in town is a 6 room house on a 10 foot pole 5 feet away from a garage and is surrounded on 3 sides with big trees in a small yard.
Last year i hung 2 gourds on the existing house and now the site has 4 pair of martins and the other rooms are full of sparrows.
I dont have martins anymore they all froze in april 2007.
BUT in town is a 6 room house on a 10 foot pole 5 feet away from a garage and is surrounded on 3 sides with big trees in a small yard.
Last year i hung 2 gourds on the existing house and now the site has 4 pair of martins and the other rooms are full of sparrows.
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starling shooter
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
Great sign!
I would get rid of the sparrows ASAP and try to get the TS to accept different housing. They are extremely territorial. The key is getting your colong started. Then the TS won't be a problem.
Sparrows can be easily trapped by using feathers.
I would get rid of the sparrows ASAP and try to get the TS to accept different housing. They are extremely territorial. The key is getting your colong started. Then the TS won't be a problem.
Sparrows can be easily trapped by using feathers.
A couple of years ago, I had a banded SY from NJ come and visit my colony. He was unsuccessful in attracting a mate but did show up the next year and fledged 4 young. Unfortunately, that was the last time I saw him.
The fact he is hanging around trying to claim a cavity is a good sign!
The fact he is hanging around trying to claim a cavity is a good sign!
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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orbit1
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
- Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.
Thanks for the input. The tree swallows are nesting in a Bluebird box, so I just have to deal with the sparrows. The male has been there everyday, and is working on trying to get the females to stay, but no success yet. I'm not sure if the SREH entrances are causing the problem, but the male gets through the hole and calls from within it. So, I'm not sure what the problem is.
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Columbia Station, Ohio