What's your opinion?

Gobbler T · Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:25 am

My founding male returned last Thursday, & last night was the first night that I know for a fact that he stayed the night. (he may have & I didn't know it, but I don't think so) If my female didn't survive the winter, how long do you think he will hang around? I know he won't stay all summer without a mate, eventually nature will win out. I'm not panicking about the female. I know it takes time for all the birds to return. I just wondered how strong their loyalty is to one site. Of the 5 I've seen there is only one female & she doesn't live here!

Any thought's?

DebA · Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:50 am

She may have survived and they got divorced in Brazil. Maybe she will still show and pair with another and flaunt it. Then you will have two pairs! They will have very strong site fidelity. He will recruit. He may bachelor until he can lure a sub-adult female. Sweet young impressionable thing she is. After subbie arrival and he's still single then yes she might lure him elsewhere. You know what they say that men think with. So there's a chance of that but...I would only worry about that at this time as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Just go tell him to get it together because the whole country is rooting for him!

Deb

John Miller · Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:04 am

Tony

I'm gonna' get long winded. It's what I do.

The banding studies have found that returning birds almost always take new mates. This is one way colonies grow, drawing in mates. If your male nested there last year, very likely he will remain loyal and bring in a new female, even if it takes a few weeks.

If there is a larger colony very close by that tends to be favored by martins, then yes, there is some risk. He might opt to go there if the female that captures his heart this season says that's where she wants to live. Martins do sometimes consider housing in close proximity to be one big colony. But even then, you'll like have martins as the location had successful nesting pairs previously and now in the martin world has been certified as a good location.

John M

Louise Chambers · Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:32 am

Gobbler T, that's GREAT that you have an ASY male back! He will definitely want to stay at your site, and will work hard to attract a female and more buddies. If the female survives, she'll return to your site too.

Aaron H · Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:49 am

I don't think you will have to worry the second year male will
have a mate before you know it.
I would be more worried if the male had not shone back up.

I had a male for three years that came back to his same gourd
at around march 1st he always got a female by the 15th of April.

But he didn't make it back for the fourth trip

but in the three years he helped to raise about a dozen babies

but for some unknown reason no young ever came back and he never
attracted any other martins to stay their

so now I am trying to start all over again.

Hang in their you know it takes most women forever to
get ready for a trip

chickadee · Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:12 am

Last year I had a female back first. Year before a male and I would see him go after other martins trying to get them to stay. He will get the job done.

Gobbler T · Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:53 pm

Thank you to all 5 of you, You have made me feel a lot better about this. I wasn't in a worry mode (YET) but you know how the mind works. Actually I was hoping for the "taking new mates" That would mean more birds for me!

After watching all the males, and how they react in years past, I know exactly what Deb's talking about as in "how they think" and that's what made me ask the question. But I also know he's competing with 3 other ASY males for the only female close by at this time. Just curious what this year will bring.

eyeamtheman · Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:03 pm

An ASY male rarely goes without finding a female. And their site fidelity is VERY strong. I too, think you'll be fine. Try to be patient dude...

Chuck4 · Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:43 pm

Tony,

Man I am right there with you as far as anticipating what may be causing what I am seeing at my housing this season (and stress

). This season has triggered far more anxiety for me than I ever anticipated it would. I think my main concern is acheiving my hope of progress over last season. For me (and I think you too) it means getting more martins than last year, and hoping for the safe return of the breeding pair from last year. I think the odds of the same breeding pair coming back to a new colony is pretty low. That bums me out. I have so many expectations for my colony, that I decided I just have to step back and be patient. I have also acquired a new hobby of HOSP eradication...

This year has been so much worse than the previous two regarding HOSP infestation. It's like the HOSP saw the success of the martin's last season and have decided it's their turn! Regardless of the issues I'm dealing with, I feel very positive about this season's prospects...I wish you great success and less stress my friend down south.

Gobbler T · Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:07 am

Thanks guy's
Chuck, sounds like you need a vacation!

You know, I'm really not stressed like I have been in years past. Once I got my first pair last year, I knew I was on my way so the stress level dropped a lot. I guess my question should have been "how strong is the MALES site fidelity" In years past I've seen males that wanted to be here bad, but the female's and their wooing ways, they just couldn't stand waiting any more so they went where she wanted. I hope my returning birds do get a new partner, that would mean a growing colony for me.

Good luck man, it will be alright.

Chuck4 · Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:31 am

Gobbler T wrote:Thanks guy's
Chuck, sounds like you need a vacation! You know, I'm really not stressed like I have been in years past. Once I got my first pair last year, I knew I was on my way so the stress level dropped a lot. I guess my question should have been "how strong is the MALES site fidelity" In years past I've seen males that wanted to be here bad, but the female's and their wooing ways, they just couldn't stand waiting any more so they went where she wanted. I hope my returning birds do get a new partner, that would mean a growing colony for me.

Good luck man, it will be alright.

If your male can't attract a female by nest building time, he will go somewhere he can, or he'll go where the female he chooses decides to nest. Up here that means as late as mid mid May. That's why the "worry game" isn't over for me yet until I see another female and nesting going on. However, seeing my ASY from last year brought me happiness yesterday. I think your odds are very good since there were other visitors that saw your first pair's success.