Last year I had my first pair. I was really looking forward to 2013 to see if my colony would grow. Apparently, it did not. I seem to have a single pair once again. They have returned to the same gourd and have built a very large nest, quite a bit larger than last year's. They have brought in green leaves so I'm expecting eggs soon.
But I'm wondering, how common is it to only have a single pair two years in a row? I realize that I don't have the most ideal site and there are a few trees that I can't do anything about. One side of my housing has definitely got a good open flyway and that's the side that they are occupying.
Has anyone else had a single pair for multiple years?
A single pair - for the second year?!?
Hello...tcg
I have had only one pair for the past three years this would be the forth
year but either my martin is two weeks late or something happened to
him.
But the years that i was blessed with him showing up have been very
enjoyable. He always choose the same gourd to nest in. and they where
able to fedege babies every year.
But every year i thought my colony would grow but none of the babies
ever came back. While my martins where here their was always a lot
of visitors that would stay about all day with them.
My gourd location is pretty open with good flyways but for some reason
i just haven't been able to get a colony.
But i sure wish you better luck with your martins. But at least you still
have a pair and that is great
I have had only one pair for the past three years this would be the forth
year but either my martin is two weeks late or something happened to
him.
But the years that i was blessed with him showing up have been very
enjoyable. He always choose the same gourd to nest in. and they where
able to fedege babies every year.
But every year i thought my colony would grow but none of the babies
ever came back. While my martins where here their was always a lot
of visitors that would stay about all day with them.
My gourd location is pretty open with good flyways but for some reason
i just haven't been able to get a colony.
But i sure wish you better luck with your martins. But at least you still
have a pair and that is great
1990 -2009 trying
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
I'm on my third consecutive season with just one pair, who only returned in the last day or two (so far anyway, the season ain't over yet). ;-)
I'm in the same predicament with the trees. The first season I put my house up, it was sitting on top of a 14' telescoping pole and I had no tenants. The following season, for ease of maintenance and nest checks, I converted the house to free hanging, suspended by a rope and some pulleys. To give prospective tenants better security, I changed to an 18' fixed pole and cut back the closest "decorative" trees to below bird house height. But I still have fruit trees within 50' of the house, which are somewhat higher than the house but don't "tower" over it," that I'm not willing to cut back.
That same season I got my first tenants, an SY pair that built a pretty scrawny nest. They returned last year and built a nest that looked like a bunker in comparison. If I'm not mistaken, they moved back in just yesterday. At least the new tenants are in the same apartment as my old tenants used two seasons running, one of 12, so it would be pretty coincidental if these weren't the same birds.
Somewhere I read a story -- sorry, can't recollect where -- about colonies of PUMAs being DNA tested. If memory serves, it concluded that PUMA offspring didn't show a great tendency to return to the same apartment where they were born, which would mean your colony doesn't fill up from the offspring of your original pair. But your pair in residence is still the best advertisement you could have for recruiting SYs to move in to your other gourds.
I'm in the same predicament with the trees. The first season I put my house up, it was sitting on top of a 14' telescoping pole and I had no tenants. The following season, for ease of maintenance and nest checks, I converted the house to free hanging, suspended by a rope and some pulleys. To give prospective tenants better security, I changed to an 18' fixed pole and cut back the closest "decorative" trees to below bird house height. But I still have fruit trees within 50' of the house, which are somewhat higher than the house but don't "tower" over it," that I'm not willing to cut back.
That same season I got my first tenants, an SY pair that built a pretty scrawny nest. They returned last year and built a nest that looked like a bunker in comparison. If I'm not mistaken, they moved back in just yesterday. At least the new tenants are in the same apartment as my old tenants used two seasons running, one of 12, so it would be pretty coincidental if these weren't the same birds.
Somewhere I read a story -- sorry, can't recollect where -- about colonies of PUMAs being DNA tested. If memory serves, it concluded that PUMA offspring didn't show a great tendency to return to the same apartment where they were born, which would mean your colony doesn't fill up from the offspring of your original pair. But your pair in residence is still the best advertisement you could have for recruiting SYs to move in to your other gourds.
I'm in the same predicament. I have a fairly large river birch that provides shade for my house from the afternoon sun. If I cut it, my power bill will really get out of hand so I'm not willing to do that.BirdBrain wrote:trees to below bird house height. But I still have fruit trees within 50' of the house, which are somewhat higher than the house but don't "tower" over it," that I'm not willing to cut back.
I know what you mean by "bunker". I was shocked when I opened my Bo11 a few days ago and saw the size of the nest they had built. This one had lots more mud that last year's.
I suspect my pair is the same as last year's too. They knew exactly where to go and started going in and out the SREH entrances like they had been doing it for years.
One of the larger sites close to me has fallen into disrepair because the owner passed away. I was hoping to pick up some of his birds this year. Maybe we'll do better next year.
Chris
PMCA Member
2010 -- 0
2011 -- 0
2012 -- 1st pair, 5 eggs, 4 fledged
2013 -- 1 pair, 4 eggs, 3 fledged
PMCA Member
2010 -- 0
2011 -- 0
2012 -- 1st pair, 5 eggs, 4 fledged
2013 -- 1 pair, 4 eggs, 3 fledged
That's part of the problem with only having a single pair. A friend of mine in Decatur had 8 pairs last year, so he was pretty sure at least some of his would return. With only one pair, you never know.Aaron H wrote:Hello...tcg
I have had only one pair for the past three years this would be the forth
year but either my martin is two weeks late or something happened to
him.
Chris
PMCA Member
2010 -- 0
2011 -- 0
2012 -- 1st pair, 5 eggs, 4 fledged
2013 -- 1 pair, 4 eggs, 3 fledged
PMCA Member
2010 -- 0
2011 -- 0
2012 -- 1st pair, 5 eggs, 4 fledged
2013 -- 1 pair, 4 eggs, 3 fledged
I should also note I have a PUMA decoy mounted on the house and I play the Dawn Song every morning, so I'm applying all the "realtor's tricks" to make my less than ideal accommodations look ne-plus-ultra. But at this point, I'm grateful just to have the one pair.
As luck would have it, the guy who bought the house also happens to be a PUMA landlord, but he only had one house to put up, using one of the three poles he previous owner had left behind. So I'm thinking there won't be enough digs to go around, and the displaced birds might look my way.
Which brings up an interesting question. Does "nest fidelity" extend to the colony? When the birds show up to find their houses are gone, will they tend to crowd into the one remaining house, or will the ones who can't find their house also abandon the colony to look for a new home?
More parallels. The "big hitter" in my neighborhood had three apartments, each with four gourds. I'd guesstimate he was landlord to maybe 6-10 pairs. But he died, his heirs sold his house, and they took all the PUMA houses with them (but left the poles).tcg wrote:...One of the larger sites close to me has fallen into disrepair because the owner passed away. I was hoping to pick up some of his birds this year. Maybe we'll do better next year.
As luck would have it, the guy who bought the house also happens to be a PUMA landlord, but he only had one house to put up, using one of the three poles he previous owner had left behind. So I'm thinking there won't be enough digs to go around, and the displaced birds might look my way.
Which brings up an interesting question. Does "nest fidelity" extend to the colony? When the birds show up to find their houses are gone, will they tend to crowd into the one remaining house, or will the ones who can't find their house also abandon the colony to look for a new home?
-
GeneP
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
- Location: Kansas, Lawrence
- Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.
My first two years I had a single pair. The third year I got a second pair. What I noticed was that the new male was way more aggressive at attracting other martins to the site. The first male seemed happy enough once he had a mate.
The fourth year I jumped to 5 pairs. Last year I started with 5 pair but there were problems and only 3 pair nested successfully. Waiting to see what happens this year. So far 3 males and 1 female. They are all ASY's so I'm sure the males will find mates.
I too have a site that is compromised by neighbors trees.
The fourth year I jumped to 5 pairs. Last year I started with 5 pair but there were problems and only 3 pair nested successfully. Waiting to see what happens this year. So far 3 males and 1 female. They are all ASY's so I'm sure the males will find mates.
I too have a site that is compromised by neighbors trees.
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
We have a heavily wooded area. The only place we could put our 3 level condo was in the round about where the power pole is. For 2 years no martins. Then 1 pair. It has increased to 10 pair 2012. It amazes me as we have so many trees. But they love the electrical wires and I have 10 swallow boxes as they are companion birds and all fly together. They warn the martins when there are hawks around.
I also premake all their nests. So after a long trip to northern canada they can fly in and have a warm nest right away. Perhaps having some swallows boxes will help??
I also premake all their nests. So after a long trip to northern canada they can fly in and have a warm nest right away. Perhaps having some swallows boxes will help??
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair