Peculiar Martin Habit Question From a Newbie LL

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handyman315
Posts: 300
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
Location: SW Ohio
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.

On more than one occasion I've noticed some of my Martins sitting/perching with their heads pointing straight up (beak up) especially in a light rain, and often for several long minutes, maybe 10 or 15 minutes or more at a stretch, and sitting nearly perfectly still.

What are they doing? Are they young birds remembering that food came from that direction? Getting a drink? Watching for bugs? Napping? Or just being goofy? :shock:

Thanks.
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
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

We'd all like to know why birds do what they do. I've lived with 3 parrots for 19 years & still wonder why they do some of the things they do.

I would guess they are letting the rain wash their face & beak clean. If you've seen them wiping their beak on power lines, perching rods, etc., that's the only way they can clean it. By letting the rain rinse it off they also are washing away mites, lice, etc. from their face & head.

If they are doing this & it's not raining...I have no clue. Could be they are just resting.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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handyman315
Posts: 300
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
Location: SW Ohio
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.

ToyinPA wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 22, 2018 5:46 pm
 We'd all like to know why birds do what they do. I've lived with 3 parrots for 19 years & still wonder why they do some of the things they do.

I would guess they are letting the rain wash their face & beak clean. If you've seen them wiping their beak on power lines, perching rods, etc., that's the only way they can clean it. By letting the rain rinse it off they also are washing away mites, lice, etc. from their face & head.

If they are doing this & it's not raining...I have no clue. Could be they are just resting.

Toy in PA
Thanks for the reply.

I also live with a parrot, but this beaks-up behavior by the Martins was new for me, one bird in particular. Have only seen it in the rain, so your answer is as good as any I have. And it also looked like she might have just been resting . . . Something tells me they're going to do it when it's not raining . . . :shock:
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
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