Second Year Questions

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the 2016 Purple Martin season!

For the past thirteen years I have been managing six public colonies, each with 20-30 pairs. During this time I tried, unsuccessfully, to attract birds to my home site. I then purchased a new house and moved to a more open area of the neighborhood.

Last year was my first year at my new home site and I was able to attract two pairs, ASY male/SY female and an SY pair. Each fledged four young. I also had several bachelor males hanging around nearly everyday. This is now the second year for my very new and very small colony. I've be eagerly and anxiously awaiting their return.

I've started and managed several colonies for many years; however, being public sites I'm only able to check on them every few days. With my home site I've been watching very carefully. I really have no direct experience as to how things play out at such a young and small colony so early in the season.

Here's what I've seen, which I find odd...

Early on April 30th, four days ago, around sunrise I noticed an ASY male pop out of a compartment on my T-14. The compartment he came out of was the same compartment that housed the ASY male/SY female last year, whom raised four young. I immediately thought "Yes!" he has made it back! Unfortunately, after sitting a while on the porch, hew flew around, then back to the compartment to peer in, then left. Not to be seen for days.

This afternoon I heard the familiar and welcome call of a martin. I watched out the window as an ASY male flew directly to that same compartment on the T-14. He peered in, seemed leery, then very quickly left.

These are the only two occasions I've seen activity at my site. Is this normal spring activity for such a young colony, this early in the year? I certainly thought they would hang around the site more after their return. I very well could be seeing different birds than the ASY male from last year, but would find the odds quite low of an ASY male investigating the same compartment twice that housed a successful pair last year. Especially when there were only two pair last year out of 52 compartments.

After trying for 13 years to attract a colony of my own, I'm certainly on edge waiting for the birds to return! This normal activity? Likely the bird from last year or random birds just investigating the site? Those who have witnessed the situation I'm currently seeing, I'd appreciate hearing your observations!

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

They do sometimes act strange during the first 2 weeks or so, they sometimes leave and you do not see them for several days. Also, they are very easy to miss, they come in late and quickly, often nearly dark. The ASY males probably look for a female partner, but we really do not have all the answers. However, I think that all will be fine.

[John Barrow]

Hi Daryl,
I would venture to say that the male you see is one of the two from last year. One driving force of the earliest of arrivals is safety in numbers. The very earliest arrivals will spend most of their time trying to attract other martins to your colony. Their success will be governed by the attractiveness of your site, food availability, competition of other sites in your area and number of martin arrivals. If the male is the ASY male from last year he will likely attract a female and other arrivals as he did the SY pair last year. If the male is the SY from last year, he will have less experience making his odds more dependent on the other factors.

The behavior you see is not strange, including temporary absences, but pretty normal. A good source of early arrival behavior is diccussed in my PMCA Update article, "First Stop USA, a Look at Migration Along the Texas Coast"; the content of which has largely been confirmed by geolocator and other studies.

As I posted earlier today, migration and nesting is running 2-3 weeks later this year, and there should be plenty more arrivals in MN. Best of luck to you. You have done a lot to help martins in the far north.

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Thanks John and Emil!

Shortly after sunrise this morning while eating breakfast, I heard the welcome call of a martin. An ASY male quickly swooped to the T-14 and without hesitation entered the same compartment. Stayed inside for a minute or two, exited, flew a quick loop and then left. I'm not sure where he's staying at night, but I'm encouraged that he's returning to check on the site! With southerly winds forecasted for today and tomorrow, I hope it brings in a few more birds!

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Thanks everyone! When I returned home from work this afternoon, the ASY male was back! I'm pretty confident it's the same male as last year... Now I hope he can pull in more birds!!! I've been trying to start my own colony for sixteen years! Im not sure what's more agonizing... Waiting for the first birds, or waiting for birds from last year to return! ; ) After two successful pairs last year, I'm really hoping for enough pairs to build my confidence that a colony has indeed started!

[John Barrow]

Great news Daryl!! I have a good bit of banding data to support the reuse of the same compartments by ASY males. Very little from females. Sounds like your older guy is back and hunting some company. Subject to the parameters set out above I suspect he will be able to pull in his share of arrivals that reach your area. Thanks again for your many years of efforts!!

[DebA]

This is exciting to read. Very fascinating and I can't wait to hear of your outcomes. Fingers crossed.
Deb

[Luv Ya Purple]

I had my first pair last year and I also think the same two came back and are nesting in the same compartment. The reason why I think they are the same is because a sparrow had built a nest in the same compartment they had fledged four in and when I removed the sparrow nest they moved in right away. As far as I know they were the only martins at my site at the time. They also look and act the same as the two from last season. I don't know for sure, but it sure seems like the same two. The only thing different is the nest, this year the nest looks well built out of grass compared to last year when it was built out of twigs.

[Ryan]

Has there ever been geo locator data compiled while the martins were at their nesting sites, as in how far they travel from their home in a day, especially like this early season behaviour?

I'd love to see those numbers as it would be a help in people like me in the Martin scarce north, to see what kind of miles they'll put on throughout the season.

[avesrun]

Hi Daryl:

Not to worry. At my satellite site which got started last season and now my home site which has an asy pair the martins are doing what they didi last season. I do not see them all day for the most part and they sneak in to their cavities at the last inch of daylight. As John Barrow mentioned, the asy male should be able to recruit additional martins. At my home, the asy male as of yesterday has attracted another asy pair that's coming in to check things out; they could be from my satellite site 2.5 miles away. Time will tell if they stay. Best of luck this season at your home colony and satellite sites.
TimG

[Okie]

I have a pair that come to visit but not every day. They land on the pole perch or roof of bird house but have never seen them checking out the compartments. Have not quite figured out if they are looking for a place or already have one & are just visiting.
Would love to have another pair as the 2 I have now are from last year I am sure.
Okie

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

I woke this morning around 5:45 to the sounds of martins chortling! I had an two ASY males and one ASY female. They peered into compartments on all sides of my T-14 and New Creation House... didn't see them enter. The female left, the two ASY males have stayed all morning, entering many compartments. They new seem relaxed, sitting in compartments which just their beaks sticking out... Hope they can bring in some females! Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

[Dave Sig]

Morn n Daryl...glad to hear of your success on your new colony....and your returning martins....Did you play the dawnsong or the daytime chatter or both to get you started...ive been playing jut the dawnsong from just before daylight till 6 or so in the evening....haven't seen a martin yet this spring but I'm hang n tough....Dave Sig

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Morn n Daryl...glad to hear of your success on your new colony....and your returning martins....Did you play the dawnsong or the daytime chatter or both to get you started...ive been playing jut the dawnsong from just before daylight till 6 or so in the evening....haven't seen a martin yet this spring but I'm hang n tough....Dave Sig

I did not play the dawnsong/chatter consistently nor did I add decoys. I tried the CDs for brief periods last year, but I don't think they had any impact on getting birds to stay at my site. At my previous home site I tried for many years, blasting the dawnsong all day long... birds would come in, but they always looked skittish and leery. However, the hearing the dawning comforted ME, as I felt I was doing something instead of just the dreadful wait. Played at the appropriate pre-dawn hours at a modest volume I think it may have some benefits; however, I feel it can be over played and actually become a detriment to attracting birds. Just my anecdotal observations...

Best of luck Dave... I know the wait is tough!!! I'm still waiting for birds to settle in this year...

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

Activity has been increasing at my site. Today, I had three ASY males early in the morning, claiming their compartments. Throughout the day, two more ASY males came... then chaos erupted as they called in a female. It was amazing watching the males, call, circle, and the dive to their compartments, hoping the female would follow. This continued for about 45 minutes until she finally settled. Unfortunately, I had to leave so couldn't watch the rest of the show. When I returned for the evening, the five ASY males were preening on the perching rods. Didn't see the female... hope she returns tomorrow!

[tor]

Thanks John and Emil!

Shortly after sunrise this morning while eating breakfast, I heard the welcome call of a martin. An ASY male quickly swooped to the T-14 and without hesitation entered the same compartment. Stayed inside for a minute or two, exited, flew a quick loop and then left. I'm not sure where he's staying at night, but I'm encouraged that he's returning to check on the site! With southerly winds forecasted for today and tomorrow, I hope it brings in a few more birds!

I am willing to bet he is staying overnight in your T14 :-).

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

I thought I should give an update...

The ASY male that first arrived at my home site on April 30th has paired with an ASY female... they have chosen a compartment on the opposite side of the T-14. I also have three SY females, two appear to be paired to ASY males... the other just arrived today. There are also about 4-6 ASY males. Last year was my first, with two successful pair. They didn't show up until May 30th. It sure has been a joy seeing all the activity, especially after trying for 13 years at my previous site!

[Okie]

Exciting pics after 13 years. Congratulations

[Daryl Lindstrom - MN]

I now have six females, at least six ASY males, and my first SY male. Lots of activity and nest building is underway this morning!!! So exciting to see my young, small colony grow in its second year!!!