Good day All,
Last year I had 3 pair that took residence at my gourd rack. In the beginning I took my stereo speakers and set up on the front porch and set the stereo on timer to play the Dawn Song early every morning. My kids did not enjoy being woke up every morning to Dawn Song blasting by their bedroom windows but it worked and attracted some PM's. When the scouts are near my area should I play the Dawn Song again this year or just wait to see who shows up? I think my kids hid my cd this year
SEMPER FI
2014- 20 pair
2013- 9 pair
2012- 6 pair
2011- 3 pair
2010- 1 Pair
You will find mixed answers to that.I ran mine for the 1st 6 years but I had a hawk dive on the player with me sitting beside it last year so I'm done with the dawn song,LOL.
I have had a full house now for nearly the last three years but I used it early to get the lookers and believe it helped.There are many that will say let the resident PM do their own singing.
ha, I had a run-in with a neighbor years back over my dawnsong broadcasts
I would think that with three pairs, successful fledging of young last year, you don't need dawnsong this year. Until the birds do it for you, once they have reached egg-laying stage.
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 used it as a greeting or kind of as a form of communication and recognition to my site. My first, second and third years.
Rather than playing it real loud through the horn I played it through the stereo speakers mounted on my deck.
Just to let them know they are welcome and I speak their language too.
Not sure what I will do this year as I now have 17 pair plus a dozen SY males coming back. I will probable play it occationally just for the heck of it when I go out on the deck.
It shouldn't matter either way. You could still use it when your group is out feeding and new visitors are likely just to hold their attention till the others are around. Maybe while out cutting grass or working outside. Low volume is fine.
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.
I would not play it early on. If the scouts have arrived in your area and your's have not returned yet then you might start it up. With only three pair it is not a guarantee that they survived the migration.
An intersting note, my subbie pair showed up last year AFTER I quit playing the Dawnsong/Daytime Chatter C/D's.
I am not saying that they dont work, I have played them for years and they DID bring in a LOT of visitors, I will recomend them to anyone trying for martins.
This year though, I think I will just play the Daytime Chatter unless I think that nothing is coming back and I have to start all over again.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
If you do play the Dawnsong, recommend you stop it as soon as you recognize "your" martins have arrived - they'll take over from there!
Personally....I don't use it anymore since I'm well established, but more so, because I love to hear that magical churtle of my own first arrivals!
Have a great 2012 season!
In 2006 at a previous residence and first attempt becoming a landlord there was an abuncance of birds in the area and we were blessed with two pair the very first year. At our current residence beginnng in 2007 it took two years and playing the Dawn Song CD all day long to lure my first two pair. I my opinion playing it this time of year may also attract ASY birds that may have lost their previous years nest site.
Proud to be a fourth generation Purple Martin landlord.
Originally had mine mounted on our house and the PMs kept landing on the roof. Then mounted an outdoor speaker on the PM house.
It no longer confused the PMs and with it away from our house and pointed skyward we did not hear it much.
