I moved last year and am starting a new colony. I've been playing the Dawnsong all day beginning at 4 AM and ending at 6:30 PM (5-7:30 after the time change). I finally started getting an ASY Male spending the night four days ago. He had an ASY female for at least one night, but it looks like she may be gone. I've stopped playing except from 6-7 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM and was wondering if this should be fine. I want to make sure other Martins still find my house and gourds. The male sings a little, but nothing compared to the recording.
I don't have any problem with hawks. I've got some Osprey's in the area who keep this problem down.
Playing Dawnsong when Martins Start Spending the Night
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
This question gets discussed here with different opinions, but I think most folks think you should not use the vocalization recordings when you have a martin in residence. I've personally observed it seems to distract him and I suspect when he attracts a female and the dawn song is playing, she'll not pay attention to the real guy....she may be more skittish and not settle in and check out the nesting options. He also may not act normal if he brings a female in and the recording is playing; rather than "court" her, he may turn his attention to looking for his competition.
I had a hard time one year getting a site established because of a mocking bird that used the housing as a perch. Each time the male martin brought in a female, he'd start fighting with the mockingbird and the female martin would fly off..who wouldn't. A mocking bird is not the dawn song recording, but may be an example of a similar distraction.
John M
I had a hard time one year getting a site established because of a mocking bird that used the housing as a perch. Each time the male martin brought in a female, he'd start fighting with the mockingbird and the female martin would fly off..who wouldn't. A mocking bird is not the dawn song recording, but may be an example of a similar distraction.
John M
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I am a 20+ year veteran when it comes to dawnsong. I certainly have seen it's hi points and low points. Every Martin seems to have it's own opinion on it. Probably doesn't matter what my opinion is.
I have seen it almost ignored and I have seen other Martins spend all their time just trying to figure it out. Ignoring the housing completely.
The one thing you leave out is the volume in the equation. You can use the dawnsong as background music or you can call in airplanes with it. My point is there is probably an acceptable volume that you can leave it play during the morning hours that won't offend or distract the birds that visit .
Only call in the airplanes at high volume when you can be there to observe and then turn it down lower when you get customers. You want your male and his potential mates to think he is the dominate figure at your site not the loudspeaker.
Personally I think the early morning till about 1:00 in the afternoon is pretty good time frame for coaxing in local birds that make their rounds to local colony sites. This is when they are active doing this. I have not seen much benefit to playing it in the afternoon or evening. Morning is when they think about nesting activities for the most part.
If he is staying the night be careful not to step on his toes with it. Use it especially when he is away from the site. Turn it down when he comes in. Is he doing a great job bringing birds in? If so don't play it. It can interfere with him bringing in birds on his own. Use it to make your site seem inhabited and friendly not as a beacon or distraction. He should do most of the real work.
I have seen it almost ignored and I have seen other Martins spend all their time just trying to figure it out. Ignoring the housing completely.
The one thing you leave out is the volume in the equation. You can use the dawnsong as background music or you can call in airplanes with it. My point is there is probably an acceptable volume that you can leave it play during the morning hours that won't offend or distract the birds that visit .
Only call in the airplanes at high volume when you can be there to observe and then turn it down lower when you get customers. You want your male and his potential mates to think he is the dominate figure at your site not the loudspeaker.
Personally I think the early morning till about 1:00 in the afternoon is pretty good time frame for coaxing in local birds that make their rounds to local colony sites. This is when they are active doing this. I have not seen much benefit to playing it in the afternoon or evening. Morning is when they think about nesting activities for the most part.
If he is staying the night be careful not to step on his toes with it. Use it especially when he is away from the site. Turn it down when he comes in. Is he doing a great job bringing birds in? If so don't play it. It can interfere with him bringing in birds on his own. Use it to make your site seem inhabited and friendly not as a beacon or distraction. He should do most of the real work.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Keith
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:45 pm
- Location: Missouri/Ava
- Martin Colony History: 85 pair in 2020. Seems fairly consistent the last few years.
Hello,
I totally agree with rdfalk on use of the Dawnsong. It can easily be "over-used" as far as I'm concerned, but can be helpful at certain times too.
Keith
I totally agree with rdfalk on use of the Dawnsong. It can easily be "over-used" as far as I'm concerned, but can be helpful at certain times too.
Keith
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Thanks Keith,
I'll send out that 20 bucks right away
Doug
I'll send out that 20 bucks right away
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.