Do the male martins roost in the nest

[Phil Crutchfield]

I have read a lot of the forum and have not seen any discussion on where the males roost. Do they stay in the nest with the young and female.

[chickadee]

Yes my males go inside with the family every night when their is eggs or young.

[Dick Sherry]

I think it depends on where you are. Our experience has been that the male will roost in the compartment or gourd until the female is well into the incubation period, and then the male starts leaving right before dark to go to a roost. I think this happens more when the colony is not far from an established roost site. I also believe that the males will then bring back SY males to the colony location when they return in the morning. This has happened many times, and for a few years there was a long-term roost location in our downtown area and there would be hundreds of male martins dawnsinging over the roost in the hour or so before sunrise. If you are in an area where there is not a roost nearby, I think the male will spend the night in the nest for a longer period, but once the young get bigger there isn't enough room for all of them.

[chickadee]

dick, this is interesting. the first time I have heard of this. I wonder if it depends on the size of the compartment? I was thinking they may do that if their is not enough room inside? I hope some others report what their birds do. this now has me curious.

[jr 2]

I read in nature society years ago when 6x6 compartment was popular and not enough room for male that he would roost in a separate compartment but now you have 6x12 and bo 11 gourds so there should be plenty of room for kids and parents;;last year mine all seemed too stay in same compartment as I have all 6x12 and bo 11inch. gourds;;;;jr2

[Dick Sherry]

If you do regular nest checks during the season, look for a small cup shaped area near the entrance. If the male is spending the night while the female is incubating, he will likely work his body into the nest material some, and make the cup. This would be in a large gourd or an enlarged room in a house. If the room is only 6x6, they will be almost side by side, and there won't be room for a second cup. Martin behavior will vary from colony to colony, and there will be variations among the birds at the same colony. They are amazing, and they keep us guessing.

[Louise Chambers]

As Dick says, things may vary. Our nest cams here show the males roosting with their mate and nestlings up through fledge age, and when Dr Gene Morton was doing DNA fingerprinting of martin families, he caught families inside nests at night, and found that majority of nests had male, female, and nestlings.

[chickadee]

thanks that's what I thought guys. my suggestion is for nobody to use 6x6. give the whole family room.