Need a little help?

Phil Crutchfield · Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:28 pm

Hello to all: Last year I put a house up and had a couple of what I thought were purple martins. Over the winter I really dove into the society to see what I needed to know. Well, the birds I thought were martins are tree swallows. I built a new T-14 martin house, and had all the holes blocked off until April 1. Praying martins would show up. Well the tree swallows are back and I am looking for someone with the same type of delima to to tell me what to do.

Berndog · Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:11 pm

I had the same dilema several years ago,i simply built several bluebird houses which the swallows quickly accepted ! they usem every yr now.this should solve your problem,good luck

Emil Pampell-Tx · Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:36 pm

This is from the internet:

The Solution: Follow Dr. Daniel Drew's protocol for avoiding interference.
Over the years Purple Martin enthusiasts have developed some effective techniques for reducing interspecific competition. The Purple Martin Conservation Association web site is one excellent resource, but the best reference for persons concerned by bluebird and swallow competition with martins is Daniel Drew's very detailed page on
the subject. Dr. Drew states that it is essential that bluebirds and Tree Swallows be prevented from settling in new or unestablished martin houses. If these non-target species appear to be starting to nest, all martin compartments should be closed at once or the houses completely removed temporarily. A single nest box built to the smaller birds' specifications should then be erected no more than 25' to 35' away from
the martin site (see below), with its entrance facing the martin houses. The pair of bluebirds or swallows should be allowed to occupy this box, but only when there is evidence they have truly committed to it (nest building and egg laying) should the martin houses be reopened. Once committed to the single box the bluebirds or swallows will usually prevent others of their own kind from moving into in the nearby
martin compartments, which they consider within their own territorial space.

pmlover · Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:36 pm

Yes I did the same thing The tree swallows love bb houses put them in 25 yard increments away from the t-14s and you will be okay. Just tap the t-14 pole if they fly on top of it. They are a wonder bird. I love them almost as much as the martins.
dick

KathyF · Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:40 pm

Phil, read this - I had the same problem my first year and I followed these directions to a "t" and it worked!!!
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/ ... GENCY.html

Emil Pampell-Tx · Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:02 pm

KathyF wrote:Phil, read this - I had the same problem my first year and I followed these directions to a "t" and it worked!!!
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/ ... GENCY.html

Kathy, I think something is wrong with your post, its not a DRUG problem

KathyF · Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:03 pm

LOL - well, it *could* be, Emil! Let me try this again...

http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/T ... GENCY.html

I must have messed it up with the URL tags...

DakotaLady · Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:41 pm

This all happened by accident. I have a lot of Troyer gourds and purchased the traps that work with the Troyer gourd tunnels. I had a pair of tree swallows that wanted to nest in my gourds and there was nothing I could do to stop them. I also had a pair of sparrows that wanted to nest. This was all taking place prior to my martins arriving...I put a bunch of gourd traps and accidentally caught the tree swallow female. After I let her go she no longer wanted my gourds and was much happier in one of my blue bird boxes.

Perhaps you should try catching one of them in a trap and then letting them go? It worked for me.