Hello Everyone,
I haven't posted in a long, long time. It's been 4 years since I put the house up on the property and I have only had 1 confirmed fly by.
I had many Tree Swallows using the gourds but no martins so this year I am taking down the house and using only gourds. I ordered a
real nice pole and rack system to see if I can entice some birds to roost. On a wing and a prayer.
I'm starting Honey Bees this year and I added a Chicken Coop to the yard too with 8 chickens. I'm hoping for allot of activity this year.
Good luck to everyone.
Welcome back to the forum. Since you already have the house, I would leave it up, close to your gourds. A lot of people have started colonies with only gourds but, I think you will increase your chances by offering both kinds of housing. Best of luck too you, hopefully this will be your year!!
Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.
From another PM landlord wannabe - I feel your pain and GOOD LUCK!
Agree on leave them both up . . . not that I am any expert, and not that I yet have a nesting pair, but have had lotsa visitors and even one SY-M who clearly claimed my site last year despite not finding a mate.
You really oughta try to relocate those Tree Swallows. Despite being in the same family as PMs, and being beautiful in their own right, they will fight the PMs and generally try to drive off the PMs. Lotsa good advice on the Forum regarding how to "encourage" Tree Swallows to nest in cavities OTHER than PM gourds or housing.
Again, best of luck this year!
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
You should not let any other birds in your housing, especially at an unestablished site. I would keep everything closed up until you start seeing martins at your housing. Tree swallows will run off martins that do not have site fidelity. I too have bees and chickens also. Good luck getting a colony started, it is not uncommon to wait five years or more this far north. Don't get discouraged.
I had no birds until I started playing morning sounds of Martins and I had birds within 10 minutes and I simply played it on computer with exterior speakers. They are on youtube. You can google to find the sounds.
