Yesterday (Father's Day) I received what possibly might be one of the best gifts ever. We came home from church and an ASY pair of martins were sitting on the peak of my roof. The female flew off but the male stayed around a long time, all afternoon, and ignored my Trio house with gourds hanging from it but focused on a gourd rack.
The main problem was that I allowed a pair of tree swallows to nest in one of the 4 gourds on the rack and they would chase the ASY male off when he landed. He didn't seem that intimidated though and finally I decided to remove the guard with the tree swallow nest in it and located it about 25 yards away. The TS's found the new location quickly and stopped defending the gourd rack.
I live in Bloomington, IN and just started to try and establish a new colony. I always figured that if I had any remote chances of starting a colony this year an SY male would do it. I play the dawnsong constantly and have seen quite a few visitors but not any ASY males. During the afternoon the ASY male attracted another ASY male and 2 females and they flew around quite a bit but didn't stay.
Just wondered if anyone else had an ASY male start a colony so late in the season in the midwest. The ASY male was back this morning with a female and he seems to be at least partially bonded to the site. I'm guessing maybe something happened to his original site or some storm that came through may have ruined it.
Anyway it's very premature at this point as this may be just a passing thing and I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. If nothing else it's been exciting just to see some activity at my new site this year.
New Colony Establishment in Indiana?
-
bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Roger,
That's great to hear for you. They say never give up, and always keep your site free of sparrows and starlings. A lot of times we just don't know what triggers the arrival of an ASY pair or even a SY pair.
It could have been a storm, or a predator attack, who knows, but the big thing is that they seem to now be interested in your colony. Hopefully they keep coming back and renest, which is probably the case.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Bill
That's great to hear for you. They say never give up, and always keep your site free of sparrows and starlings. A lot of times we just don't know what triggers the arrival of an ASY pair or even a SY pair.
It could have been a storm, or a predator attack, who knows, but the big thing is that they seem to now be interested in your colony. Hopefully they keep coming back and renest, which is probably the case.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Bill
-
flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Under normal circumstances it would be too late for an ASY to arrive and start a new colony. However that doesn't mean that they didn't have an issue at their established site and are now looking for a new place to live. I haven't heard from anyone in Indiana who has fledged their martins already this year so it seems unlikely that they have fledged and are preparing to go south. Keep your fingers crossed.
2026 HOSP 27
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.
That Dawnsong will bring them in at any hour of the day that is for sure. Hard to say what will happen at your site but either way it goes sounds good for you. You either have a renest attempt this year or you know you have several martins that will probably be looking at your site next year. The adult male definitely sounds interested, and that's how it got started at my place.
Dennis D
Thanks for all the replies. All the comments seem to make sense. I agree Dennis that the Dawnsong is really effective in bringing them in but this ASY male pays no attention to it which I think is a good sign. He goes for the gourd pole, not the aluminum house that has the speaker under it.
Just a brief update. The ASY male has shown up in the morning the last 3 days but doesn't stay the night. This morning he brought in a pair of SY's who flew around a bit and landed on the house but didn't stay long. The ASY male is definitely calling and diving into a gourd and attempting to get others to stay.
Any chance it may not be a renesting nesting attempt but an ASY male that never paired up and is still trying? Can he still be bound to the site but not stay the night? I'd feel more confident if he did.
Like Dennis said, if not this year maybe next. I have a colony of 30 pair in Indianapolis but inherited that colony and didn't start it from scratch. It's been fun no matter what happens to hear the real martin sounds the last few days instead of the tape all the time.
Just a brief update. The ASY male has shown up in the morning the last 3 days but doesn't stay the night. This morning he brought in a pair of SY's who flew around a bit and landed on the house but didn't stay long. The ASY male is definitely calling and diving into a gourd and attempting to get others to stay.
Any chance it may not be a renesting nesting attempt but an ASY male that never paired up and is still trying? Can he still be bound to the site but not stay the night? I'd feel more confident if he did.
Like Dennis said, if not this year maybe next. I have a colony of 30 pair in Indianapolis but inherited that colony and didn't start it from scratch. It's been fun no matter what happens to hear the real martin sounds the last few days instead of the tape all the time.
Roger Lee