hello everyone
I have 1 pair of ASY martins that just recently had 5 babies hatch out and they are really good parents. They have been feeding and protecting their babies perfectly until about 2 days ago a SY male shows up and at first reaction I was thrilled to see another bird show up and stay all day and night at my gourd rack. Now he is trying to steal the mama martin away from her mate. He watches for her to leave to get more insects for her babies and follows her in flight all the way back to the nest gourd only to run into daddy bird and there has been many fights to the ground. He is even putting nesting material in the troy horizonial gourd he picked out. He has really made it hard on the mating pair to feed their young. One always stays at their gourd to gaurd the nest. I am hoping he will find a mate so that he will leave mama bird alone. Anyone else had similar problem and what is end result? Any reply would be very helpfull.
thanks much
Chris
trouble in paridise
Be thankful that he's following her away from the site. As long as he's with her, he cant harm the babies. I had a very aggressive one last year that started throwing babies out the day they were born. Between me and the ASY male father, we got them raised. He's not going to hurt her by following her around. Good luck with your first pair, I know how excited you are!
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
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2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
T's so right. Look at you GT being able to give experience advice!
That's all I got!
No...yes this is normal behavior. Every growing colony goes through it. Mom n pop will get the babies fed. I'm sure when pop was a subbie he did the same thing. It's a good sign that that SYM wants to be at that site. He will snatch up the first sweet SYF that comes along when mom's rejection sinks in.
Keep an eye on the babies in case you need to replace into their nest.
Deb
That's all I got!
No...yes this is normal behavior. Every growing colony goes through it. Mom n pop will get the babies fed. I'm sure when pop was a subbie he did the same thing. It's a good sign that that SYM wants to be at that site. He will snatch up the first sweet SYF that comes along when mom's rejection sinks in.
Keep an eye on the babies in case you need to replace into their nest.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR