Late season visitors

[Birdiegirl]

I'm enjoying my new 'colony'- just one pair of SY. They have five young that began hatching on June 25 and are busy making feeding trips.

Since Saturday, we've had lots of new visitors stopping by- including two ASY males and some SY males.. probably some females in mix. They fly around, vocalize, inspect the houses and gourds- and perch on the power lines. I've seen them as early as 7:30 but sightings happen throughout the day- sometimes as many as 10 birds. I've gotten pretty good looks when they perch on the utility lines, I don't think any of them are this year's hatch.

So- what's up with the visits this late? Are these birds that are finished nesting elsewhere, or could they be unattached birds? Either way, I hope they remember my site next year.

I've noticed a couple of threads on this forum about how SY birds harass nestlings getting ready to fledge. I hope my SY parents can defend the young they have. Are the visiting ASY likely to cause trouble?

[Martintown33]

They’re probably getting ready to help get the chicks to fly, when that day comes.. as your chicks near first flying day, the visitors will fly in circles, round and round,, sounding the alarm chirp, and generally make a racket.. they help each other, even at different colonies, like this, assisting each other to excite the fledges into taking their first flight. Enjoy the show! To me, this is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining moments of being a landlord !
Good luck when fly day comes..
Rob

[Martintown33]

P.S. .. the ASY birds are most likely there to help on fledge day. They’ll keep coming back each day (in the am), til your fledges fly.

[Birdiegirl]

Well that definitely sounds exciting- bet that makes for total chaos at large colonies! I had no idea birds from other sites might join in. Amazing how they know there’s still nestlings inside. Thanks!

[Martintown33]

It is amazing how the asy birds from other colonies know.. but they do!
Enjoy,
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

I think they like your site, expect to have many more pairs next year. Sounds like you keep a close watch, thats good. Its a ton of fun too. Are you planning on improvements for next season? Once you start on figeting with the house or gourds, you eventually need a good roll of duct tape and handcuffs to stop.
Its always good to try to improve, the martins seem to reward us.

[Birdiegirl]

Hey there Tom- oh yes, we do keep a close watch. Even with just one successful pair, the activity this year has been so much fun (except the storm part... but we learned a lot). I absolutely have a case of purple fever.

We do have improvements in mind for next season. The straight line winds that toppled one of our houses also permanently damaged both tri tel poles. They are stabilized, but won't lower properly now and we will replace them. We're thinking stronger- possibly square poles, and a winch system. Ideally something that doesn't take two people to safely lower.

My husband is a wood worker, so we've been eyeing the T-14 house plans. I LOVE the look of them, and think it would be extremely rewarding to have martins build homes in something we'd made. Just trying to figure out the logistics of a predator guard with that set up.

I've been reading the pros/cons/suggestions on all the different housing types and there's just so much out there. If we do make a T-14, we will likely keep one of our S&K barns and some of our Bo 9 gourds up so the site looks familiar- just in case we get returning birds. I don't know of ANYONE near us that has a T-14. Most folks around here put up barns or gourds, and aren't particularly active landlords.

As always- I'd love to hear suggestions. I'm learning so much from this crew

[C.C.Martins]

I don't have a t-14, but like their look as well, very sharp and safe for martins, plus there is a ton of room for your colony when it takes off. It will be very rewarding!!!!
Definitely want a square pole, especially with a t-14, winch systems are soooooo much easier. Its also safer for you. A predator guard will fit just fine, even if you go with a 3 inch square pole.
Winds are a worry here as well, its all about the base. I learned here to dig a deep hole, create a bell at the bottom so its wider than the top...if you have sandy soil may need a deeper hole. Our soil is a heavy clay, dug down 36 inches deep, 10 inches around at the top and like I said earlier belled it out. We had some 1 foot lengths of rebar which I put in the bottom and sides about half way in. The ground sleeve was put in it, used 100 maybe 110 lbs of quick Crete. End of season we lift it off the ground sleeve and cap it.
Next year, will move our pole about 6 feet, hole and ground sleeve is ready but put in a support post for added stability.
Sure you guys have already thought of this, but never hurts. Can't wait to see your set up!
Tom

[Martintown33]

When cementing in my ground sleeve, I put a piece of heavy duty pipe, right next to it, that sticks up about 3 to 4 feet above ground level, so that when the base pole goes into the sleeve, I can use metal hose straps, and tighten them together.. the extra base pole strength helps to prevent sway in the pole.
Good luck,
Rob

[Martintown33]

T14’s are great houses. But I always thought 1 improvement could make them even better. Instead of having 1 door panel that opens all 3 compartments in a column, I think each compartment in a column, should have its own hinged door. That would make nest checks easier, especially in preventing fledglings from a different compartment bolt, while you’re checking a different compartment in the same column.
Just a thought,
Rob

[Birdiegirl]

Hey Tom and Rob- thank you so much for the suggestions! We've been giving a LOT of thought to the anchoring because wind really can be an issue here. It helps so much to hear what other folks have done.

Tom- our soils are horrible- pretty much hard clay and rocks, so the hardest part will be digging the hole deep enough! Definitely want to do it right the first time.

Rob- I like the idea to add the extra anchoring pipe. And your suggestion to modify the single door panel to three certainly makes a lot of sense. No problem to make some extra cuts and buy additional hinges.

I have seen some T-14 modifications online that add tunnels to the openings and attach dowel rods as owl guards. Also something we're considering. We will definitely do SREH. We have TONS of starlings and also battle house sparrows- a pellet gun has been very helpful there.

One more question regarding the predator guard- I've seen some T-14s photos where the predator guard appears to be right beneath the housing platform- perhaps so that it lowers with the house? Most of the guidance I've read on predator guards suggests mounting them closer to the ground. Currently we have ours (a 2' section of stove pipe, the diy plans from PMCA) about four feet off the ground topped with 'snake netting', but still well below the gourds/house. I suppose if we keep a lower mounted predator guard, it will need to detatch from the pole before we could fully lower a T-14 house?

Laura

[Whippy]

T14’s are great houses. But I always thought 1 improvement could make them even better. Instead of having 1 door panel that opens all 3 compartments in a column, I think each compartment in a column, should have its own hinged door. That would make nest checks easier, especially in preventing fledglings from a different compartment bolt, while you’re checking a different compartment in the same column.
Just a thought,
Rob

Right on.

I've also thought this would be a great idea for the T-14. I did nest checks and made sure my son was with me just in case I had to retrieve babies while holding others in.

As I look at my T-14 I think all it will take is a quick cut and a few hinges added as well as the hook and eye to keep them closed. If I do it I will post photos.

Coolwhips

[Whippy]

BirdieGirl,

It gets better every year. Every morning I have about 20 to 40 Martins hanging around on the gourds and in the sky. The babies that are near fledging hang out of the gourds and watch them. Some of the babies venture out onto the porches. So I have dubbed these Martins as "The First Flight Committee". They are not all Martins from my colony but a mixture of visiting Martins, new Fledglings and concerned residents. I took this photo last week. Those perched on the rack are less than half of the Martins that are in my airspace. If you are experiencing this you'll have a good season next year.

Coolwhips

[C.C.Martins]

Good morning!

Regards to your predator guard question, ideally you want it 4 feet off the ground so you are spot on, PMCA sells some that snap together with a hinge on the back. Snake netting over that. They are good ones! That way when doing nest checks you can unsnap it, take it off and lower the house. and yes, Iv seen those pictures of the guard way up near the house as well, Im sure they are effective. Your life will be much easier and you'll wonder why you didn't do it before if you go with the hinged one.

One thing you mentioned was using dowels for owl guards...suggest avoid wooden dowels. You'd be better protected from owls with aluminum. Or if you buy the right SREH tunnels, there are owl guards that go right on the front of the tunnel.

Sounds like you have quite the project!

Tom

[Birdiegirl]

They just keep coming- yesterday 12 birds, three male ASY! Mostly subadults- I tried to attach a picture to this post. The only pair I have continues to bring in food to the 5 nestlings, the others just hang out and watch.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the plan is to upgrade to a T-14 next season. How important is it that I leave up one of the existing style boxes/gourds for returning birds next year?

[Martintown33]

It’s advisable to leave up some of your old housing. When the martins return next year they will be looking for the familiar housing at your colony site. You may want to close off most of the entrances, but leave a few open. The martins that don’t get the older housing will start checking the new compartments. Put some mud stains on the entrances of the new T14, and some pine needles inside. Martins are encouraged by the sight of successful prior nesting. Then the year after, if you wish, you can take old housing down, if you no longer want to use it.
Good luck!
Rob

[Jones4381]

They just keep coming- yesterday 12 birds, three male ASY! Mostly subadults- I tried to attach a picture to this post. The only pair I have continues to bring in food to the 5 nestlings, the others just hang out and watch.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the plan is to upgrade to a T-14 next season. How important is it that I leave up one of the existing style boxes/gourds for returning birds next year?

Same here birdiegirl. I counted 11 this morning circling the gourds and skies...Only 1 pair with 3 chicks at day 25 by my count. Looking to fledge any day now. Guessing it will be sad in a week or so when it goes quiet. Been going on for 5 or 6 days now. Started out 2 then 4, 5, 8, 10, and today 11 I think I counted...anyway its been a fun first year. Good luck. Saw off 2 BB chicks and my TS fledged 7 babies from a small natural gourd about 30 feet away from PM's housing. Been a great year for all birds in my area...fairly dry but enough moisture over the last 2 months to keep everything fairly green. Peace.

[Cjs180]

It’s advisable to leave up some of your old housing. When the martins return next year they will be looking for the familiar housing at your colony site. You may want to close off most of the entrances, but leave a few open. The martins that don’t get the older housing will start checking the new compartments. Put some mud stains on the entrances of the new T14, and some pine needles inside. Martins are encouraged by the sight of successful prior nesting. Then the year after, if you wish, you can take old housing down, if you no longer want to use it.
Good luck!
Rob

2nd this. We had our first pair last year and and when they left I upgraded our housing from an old aluminum house to a PCMA 12 gourd rack on a square pole. This spring what we believe to be our pair from last year showed up, hung around for a day or so and left. Then we has a SY pair show up and laid 4 eggs. Still waiting for them to hatch.

I did have to revert to round holes on half our gourds as all the visitors would not go in the sreh. After they laid eggs I converted back to sreh and in about 2 minutes of peek-a-boo they went in to check the eggs.

Good luck. Chris