I had some lookers should I open compartments

[jhcox]

I had 1 adult male and 1 sud-adult male stop by this morning. I was wondering if I should open some compartments or not. The TS have not started nest building nest yet and im afraid that they might try to take any that i may open up. The 2 PM I seen didn't stay around long they perched on a couple of the racks and landed on the porches on the gourds but that was about it.

[Okie]

Pretty much what mine did yesterday. They came & went all day looked in but did not enter.
Now this morning a male & female [which I did not see yesterday] sat in the cold rain on the porch then went inside & are still there.

[jhcox]

Do you think it would be OK to Open some compartments or should I wait until possibly a female arrives. I have the bluebird houses for the tree swallows but they've not begin to build a nest yet I'm afraid if I open the compartment they'll try and take it over immediately.

[rrmartins]

If you have them all closed, I would open a few, since you have martins there. Good luck to you this year.

[jhcox]

I hope your pair stays and brings more into your colony. I hear if you can get a pair to stay and raise their young that they will keep coming back year after year. Thats a nice thought.

[Doug Martin - PA]

Don't be afraid to go out and open things up when you see them show up. They may find that interesting and will investigate.

Try not to stare at them though. Just go about your business and whistle or sing a bit.

Close it back up if you have to. You have to give them a chance to set up shop there and get to know you.

Doug

[jhcox]

should I wait till they return to open them up or just go aheadand open them. And how many should I open up I have 12 gourds and 1 S&K House that I have modified with oversize rooms has six rooms total. What do I need to do if the tree swallows begin to try nest in them leave them open and tear the nest out or close them back up.

[Dave Duit]

Open them all up is my opinion. If you have them there already, it will only be about a week for a big increase, so it would only be a week to watch for the tree swallows.

[Doug Martin - PA]

If you are at home I would wait. But if you can not be there to keep an eye out those TS will likely take a gourd.

I always saved a gourd for the TS and put it on a hook about 40 ft away. They seem to prefer a gourd over a box.

You may be able to open the house. The TS may not be as quick to use that as they would a gourd. Then open the gourds when you see Martins.
Worth a try.

Doug

[jhcox]

To Dave Duit I don't have an established colony so theses may or may not just be passers by. Here in Tennessee we ate not showing alot of the sub-adults yet and thats what I need to be looking at my setup to start my colony right. Or could there be a chance that this adult male might coax a female in.

[jhcox]

To doug martin-pa i have Bb boxes and gourds along the fence row for the Bb and Ts but the Ts just don't seem to be interested in them.

[Foxie]

We have similar situation on our new set up. We are working to establish a new colony and rebuild on the site boxes, T14, and gourd rack.
A new Nature House box was just put up with round entrance holes and is about 14 foot off the ground looks good. Problem with the Starlings
as we have the house reduced from 6x6 on 12 to 6x12 for 6 holes open. Working to clean the Sturnus Vulgaris Out. It appears have to place SR
Doors or Clinger Doors on the house. T14 is down now but it has SR Crescents and they managed to get in Last Year and we had to move them
out...What a job! We are working hard to get the other houses up in view of over hauling etc. This is why we had 6 open 3 on each side.
Looks like the SRC will have to be added to the box or some other restricted hole over the round. Any suggestions along the same lines as
stated and or added comments for help appreciated. We had a colony in the early 70's and back fighting it out. Trash Birds got to go!

[jhcox]

Hey foxie that sounds like a ton of work. My S&K has cresents but the gourds have a restricter opening its like a modified cresent. I have hundres or more starlings but for the last 3 years that I have been trying to get martins all my trouble has been the tree swollows. For our sack i hope the PM move in soon. I cant wait gor the day thst I get to do a nest check and get to watch the first PM fledglings leave the nest.

[Kyler]

In 2014 at my house in town I started with a ASY pair but I only need with them. But last year was my second year at my new home. My colony was started with a ASY Male. He came and tried and tried to encourage a ASY female to stay and then she finally did. Then all the SY's came in and I ended with 5 pair. I have 10 Cavities open now. They were closed and then I had a ASY Male show up on the 21st of March and I haven't seen him again. But I left the Cavities open. I'm not like you I don't have Tree Swallows in my area so I don't know much about them.

Kyler,

[jhcox]

hey kyler luck for you on the Tree Swallows. They can be a pain to deal with. But on the other hand they are very fun to watch and a pretty bird. I just wish they weren't so aggressive. Good thing their protected if they weren't it would be like the Sparrows and Starlings.

Thanks JHCox

[barbiejoe]

Hey, Okie: I am in south MO and have had scouts every so often since March 20. Yesterday I saw two PM's once. Today when I got up there were 5 perched on the closed set of 8 gourds. I went out to ride my bike and only one was sitting there. He left, came back, then left and I have not seen him since.
So far this year I have not even seen a tree swallow. last year I had a pair in a gourd about 50 feet away from the PM's, and a pair of bluebirds in a BB house east of the PM gourds. Bluebirds have been here all winter.
I am thinking I might open up a couple of gourds tonight at dusk so they will be open IF the PM's come back tomorrow morning. I am keeping watch off and on today, too. SURE don't want a TS trying to nest in the martin gourds.
Good luck on your venture. barbiejoe

[Okie]

Wow you've had a lot of sightings. Mine came in on Tuesday exactly a week later than last year. I've always called him my #1 ASY male so I named him Uno. Thought maybe that could help us to bond a little more. Lol
Hard to tell right now how many will stick to the site. They come take a look several times then take off a hunting. But I know I have Uno & he had a female with him Wednesday morning. They both went in "his" compartment.

It is interesting to see some early on north of your own site & you [me] don't see a one till weeks later. Kinda hurts your brain trying to figure out the why's of that.
Glad you have activity at your site. That's a beginning
Good luck

[Cloudwalker]

I only have one house. I was having trouble getting Martins until last year when I plugged up some entrances and created larger compartments as I removed the plug in the connecting wall. I really think that is why they liked the sight. Who knows but I was so ecstatic as all of us enthusiasts are. I wanted to comment on the fact that you guys seem very dedicated with lots of houses and gourds. High winds bent my pole last year and it is annoying to look at. Anyone out there had some success in straightening poles. I was not aware if mine are wimpy but they must be.

[jhcox]

No sightings to day in Heiskell TN. I was outside most all day to hopeing my presence outside might make them fill comfortable seeing me out there. I saw my first starling trying to get into a gourd and my S&K house unsuccessful thankfully. I tryed to get a couple with the BB gun no luck thou. Hopefully as the temperature creeps back up maybe I'll start seeing a few more visitors.

JHCox

[Whizzo]

Hey, Okie: I am in south MO and have had scouts every so often since March 20. Yesterday I saw two PM's once. Today when I got up there were 5 perched on the closed set of 8 gourds. I went out to ride my bike and only one was sitting there. He left, came back, then left and I have not seen him since.
So far this year I have not even seen a tree swallow. last year I had a pair in a gourd about 50 feet away from the PM's, and a pair of bluebirds in a BB house east of the PM gourds. Bluebirds have been here all winter.
I am thinking I might open up a couple of gourds tonight at dusk so they will be open IF the PM's come back tomorrow morning. I am keeping watch off and on today, too. SURE don't want a TS trying to nest in the martin gourds.
Good luck on your venture. barbiejoe