Questions about returning pair
It looks like the pair that I had last year has returned. They perched for an extended period on some powerlines overlooking my housing. Last year I moved and relocated some of my housing. I had one pair that fledged three young. My first question is: does a mated pair return together; can I assume that both are the ones that were here last year? Second, I've been playing the Dawnsong for several hours 4-6, 10-11, and 5:30-6:30PM. Can I continue until they start spending the night in their housing? Can I continue after they start spending the night? Last year, when I had a single male, I was told that it was best to stop the Dawnsong so that the male could attract the female himself. Since he already has a female, should I be able to continue until others start speinding the night and make a racket on their own?
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I don't think that martins mate for life with the same female so it could or could not be the exact same pair. I will turn my dawnsong off once I have some martins spending the night at my site. While the dawnsong is a powerful tool it can't do the work of real martins when it comes to attracting new birds to your site. Some people think that martins are confused by the dawnsong. When I was trying to attract martins to my before I had any nesting pair I would turn it down if I had some visiting or checking out my housing.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Leandortree
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:10 pm
- Location: Saskatchewan/Grenfell
Hello,
Just my 2 cents worth; I would not play the dawnsong ever .I think martins use their eyes to locate nesting sites .
People have played the dawnsong for many years and not attract martins
I say provde good housing ,and control nest cavity competing species .
The Amish people do not play the dawnsong !
I hope you have an excellent 2011 Martin year
Leandor
Just my 2 cents worth; I would not play the dawnsong ever .I think martins use their eyes to locate nesting sites .
People have played the dawnsong for many years and not attract martins
I say provde good housing ,and control nest cavity competing species .
The Amish people do not play the dawnsong !
I hope you have an excellent 2011 Martin year
Leandor
Saskatchewan "The land of living skies"
Leandortree colony
2012-46 pair 200+ Fledged
Leandortree colony
2012-46 pair 200+ Fledged
I would stop playing the Dawnsong as soon as you get a PM that stays overnight. Once you have a "boarder", you won't need the Dawnsong anymore. He or she will attract other Martins to your site. In my experience, the Dawnsong also attracts hawks, so that is another reason why you would want to stop it when you have a PM in residence.
Jeanne
Jeanne
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."