Subadult females

[lynnh]

We had a few SY females arrive here yesterday
at our colony in New Sharon,Iowa for those of
you who may want to know.

Last year we had 121 successful breeding pair.
For the 2019 season we are offering 136 compartments to start with. We have 100 pair
here so far give or take a few. If the Asys continue to fill us up I will be adding more housing to keep the SY pressure in check.

[phldave]

Lynn,
Another way to look at, it’s also our job as conservationists to spread their territory and density elsewhere. So, when the asy birds drive off the sy birds the youngsters will have more of a chance to make their way to we folks still trying to do our part. So, for our sake please don’t hog ALL the fun. Please excuse me getting on my soapbox but my patience is wearing thin.
Your friend, Dave

[lynnh]

Hey Dave I can certainly feel your pain as far as patience goes and I hope you can get your colony started this summer. I fledged just over 500 last year only a small percentage of those come back to their natal colony as you know.
So I would think there still be plenty to go around.

Sincerely ,your friend Lynn.

[Curtis Reil]

I’m trying something in regards to this for this season. I believe another landlord was on board to try this too but we haven’t touched base since last fall.

Anyway, I’m leaving 20% of available housing closed until SY birds start arriving. Part of the reasoning behind this is in regards to something the other fellow noticed - being that he has noticed cycles where it seems his colony gets “old” and he sees a drop in occupancy. We were thinking that if we would allow only so much room for ASY birds at our colonies. Thinking this would force some of the experienced ASY birds to seek housing elsewhere and leave plenty of options for SY birds to move in. Hopefully reducing some of the pressure that SY birds can put on the ASY pairs that are well into the nesting process. Also cycling in new birds on an annual basis.

Might be thinking way to far into this but I’m interested to see what transpires. I’m about as big as I can manage properly offering 60 compartments so besides rearing a good number of fledglings each year, this could also be a good method to help a neighbour or two establish colonies. Could be a complete failure as well. Proof will be in the pudding.

[phldave]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I wonder what the experts would think? It makes good sense to me as a way to help nature out in keeping your colony viable and healthy. Kind of like how hunting helps keep some species thinned out.

[Curtis Reil]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I wonder what the experts would think? It makes good sense to me as a way to help nature out in keeping your colony viable and healthy. Kind of like how hunting helps keep some species thinned out.

Hi Dave. Appreciate the fact you don’t think I’m nuts! I’m not sure what the general consensus is but I welcome opinion. I agree with your hunting analogy. Can certainly help enable a healthy, strong and balanced age structure. If it proves to be a poor notion, then so be it and it will be abandoned. There is open, modern housing available either side of me within a mile, so any and all birds that may be displaced have some fine houses and eager people that would love to have them if they aren’t here.

[bootjack farm]

Dave, I share your perspective. It might be worth reaching out to well established colony landlords, say within a 5 mile radius of you. See if they would be willing to give up a little to spread the wealth.

[SMJohnson]

Anyone know the statistics on what percent of surviving
SY birds return to their natal colony?

[Dave Duit]

Hi Lynn,
I just posted your SY arrival on our Iowa website. Thanks.
Dave

[lynnh]

Thanks Dave Duit.
Hey,Steve if I remember right it’s like 10% or so .

[deancamp]

Curtis,
I am not at the point where I have had an issue with unavailable rooms. Hopefully my colony will continue to grow and I will have to deal with this in the future. I like the idea of keeping the colony fresh with younger birds each year. I hope you will report back as you learn more about your experiment throughout the year and future years as well.

[Dave Duit]

Each year that goes by the survival rate increases. Survival is lowest at the earlier years. Average lifespan is 5-7, but oldest recorded banded martin was 13.9 years.