"Calling all Bird Brains"

[Bird Nerd]

Hello Bird Brains,

What is the best way to get the Martin's a custom to their landlord's standing underneath their penthouses in their skyscrapers simply for a closer look and a friendly visit without them busting out a beak full of passionate purple chirping and startling the feathers off of them as they fly away in a panic?

I walk pass them almost every morning and evening hoping they'll get use to me and realize that I am friend not foe.

Any

[Anthony Neira]

Howdy B.N, well next to having a life size picture cut out of yourself (?) , I have to ask, Was this the same set up you had before ? Or something new ? Mine know me but they still like to go all " Drama King & Queen" on me when I get too close! I think each one is trying to get credit for being the most "Watchful " of the group, maybe a " Hey Baby Look at ME, I'm good ALERT Breeding Stock !". Not to worry, they'll get use to you, just keep yourself visible to them, better than staying away all the time until nest checks, THAT would spook them a little more, either way, you're fine, just keep enjoying them! Good luck this season !

[Bird Nerd]

Howdy Partner,

Yes same set up although this is only my third year but I was fortunate enough that the Kings and Queens picked my little slice of the kingdom to call home on the very first year I started. Now I'm hooked, some (wife) would say obsessed, but that's another topic.

When I'm outside lounging by the pool they have no qualms about swooping in the pool for a drink of water or a bath I quess that's a good sign.

I think your on to something with the "showing off" theory. And I don't have a life size picture of myself only a life size statue.

Thanks for your input and I wish you a successful season as well.

Bird Nerd
Alex

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Stay in the general area as much as possible, they will get used to you. My birds will fly within a yard of me catching flipped food.

[Louise Chambers]

The more time you spend around them, the more they will get accustomed to your presence, and calm down. Nest checks are good for that, once a week or even every 4-5 days. Putter around the yard a bit in AM and PM when they tend to gather outside.

[Vern1]

As I approach my racks, I make a "kissing sound" with my lips and they get used to and recognize it.
I also made the same sound when I was flipping them crickets and they seemed to pick right up where they left off a few seasons ago when I had to feed them.
Since the colony sits next to a parking lot, I wanted a unique sound for them to associate with friend or food, not just people talking.

When I approach making the sound, they mostly just sit there and watch me walk by or take pics.
If I stroll by without "talking" to them, they still start about half the time and flush the rack.
My Wife has started doing it also and they mostly stay on the racks now as she walks by.

I have been spending a good bit of quality time with the Martins this week, checking for subbies, watching nest building, leaf plucking and checking for eggs and an occasional EHS nest clearing.
I even have a few pair that ride the rack down, watch me check the gourd with a flashlight, then ride the rack back to the top and step out on the porch to check me out.

[saltair]

As Vern1 said, I also make the same sound when I'm around them. Usually I'm wearing a hat and sunglasses when I'm outside and near them but if I don't wear the hat and sunglasses such as on a cloudy day they seem and act as they don't know me. The "kissing sound" seems to help calm them.

[twins]

dress up like a HAWK lol

[Anthony Neira]

Yup, Helps to wear my PURPLE ELVIS Costume ! ( am I Kidding, or Not ? ) Thank ya, Thank Ya Very Much !

[Bird Nerd]

Wow y'all are making me a little jealous.

I appreciate your insight.

Anthony I don't have an Elvis cape only a Minnesota Vikings jersey.

[Guest]

They get used to you I run my tiller in my garden that is 4' from the houses and a few of them fly away but some of them just sit up there and chirp and watch me. I talk to them because I am always in the garden I think they realize that you are not going to harm them.

[Anthony Neira]

All GREAT Advice here Alex ! I may be in Texas, but people are surprise how many Football teams I Like, Hey, Viking Purple is perfect around the PMs ! At least no one can say " You ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog !"

[terriergal]

I think I would start with sitting quietly in a chair quite a ways away, faced at about 90 degrees to the house so you are facing sideways. Make sure you are ignoring them, reading a book, doing nothing active or remotely threatening. And then when they are all there on the house, again not making eye contact, get up gently and walk further away and go into the house. Do this a few times a day if you have time. Eye contact is going to make them nervous. Sudden moves are counterproductive. Purposeful moves are also. Animals that are hunting for something move very purposefully and focus on their surroundings intently. Animals that are not a threat or not alarmed are a little bit random in their movement, not sudden, and they scan their environment without focusing long on any one spot. Prey animals can usually tell when a predator is hunting by reading body language.

Move the chair closer after a few days of them not startling. Not much at a time. Let them approach the house at their own speed. Any time you get a startle, back off. It may take a long time.

[Jose Rodriguez]

All good advice! I think I spend too much time out back with the Martins. Either I'm sitting watching them till sunset, or I'm mowing the grass around them, or tending to the BBs, or just picking up falling debris from nearby trees, or watering the grass since we haven't had any rain, or I'm tending to our compost that's close by, or I'm putting down weed and feed to the sad looking grass with a spreader, or I'm cutting up some nesting material with scissors as it falls to the ground for them as they stare at me and wonder what the heck am I doing, but always wearing the same big sun hat. But then again, I think they hang around mainly because they have become big hams, they seem to love the camera! Look at me! Look at me!

Good luck this weekend everyone!