Such A Thing As A Colony Matriarch?

[rjm2]

I am enjoying a very interesting 2nd year. I currently have 3 nesting pairs with 8 young at various ages. I am wondering if anyone has ever noticed an adult female acting like a matriarch for the colony. I noticed what I believe to be the oldest female that nested the earliest with the only adult male going into the other 2 SY nest to (I assume) check out the other younger babies! She spent maybe a minute inside each nest before returning to her own nest. I have seen others looking into the other's nest from time to time, but are quickly chased away by the nest's male and never actually go inside. This adult female however seems to have the other SY pairs trust and respect.
Just wondering...

[C.C.Martins]

If a martin (male or female) goes into another martins nest, whether there are chicks or eggs, its not to nuture young. They do not care for others chicks, not a whit. Nor would a visit when adults are around be tolerated. I cringe when I see another martin go in an unguarded nest.

[rjm2]

Yes, that makes sense...

Thanks Tom.

[C.C.Martins]

What the older birds do fairly early on in the season is to call the colony in at night, the oldest male will lead the charge and rally them up if they are out feeding.
They may also assist SYs in nest selection, primary reason is they will draw the females in. All in hopes of mating with them.
Sounds like you are watching close, thats always good it helps to see problems. Plus its just plain fun. Our colony is somewhat small so I can focus in on them. martins get up to all kinds of mischief, some fun to watch some not so much. We have a very late nest, female lost her mate so she's been feeding her 3 chicks like crazy. They make lots of noise and draw the attention of the older martins that fledged their chick's already, they even go in the cavity with the chicks when she's gone. I do like that one bit, don't know what they are up to but its not good. Yesterday, an ASY was in there, was going to go back in and I scared him off the porch.

[rjm2]

Interesting. Wow, 28 pair and you consider your colony somewhat small. I was excited to get 3 pair this year!

My 3 oldest babies fledged yesterday and I noticed that other ASY and SY martins are chasing them and attacking the babies. Dad is busy protecting the 3 babies and chasing off the other martins that get too close to the kids. I even noticed a visiting ASY male that is very interested in the babies with dad chasing him off as well. One ASY actually attacked a baby who had his/her mouth open thinking it was going to be fed...again, Dad came to the rescue. Any idea what this is all about?

[C.C.Martins]

Congrats on your fledges, just you wait, a few short years ago we started with 4, you are doing very well! it will boom, it looks like chaos but you will pick out common and uncommon behavior quickly.
what your describing is perfectly acceptable behavior in a martin colony.
Well, its rough when they fledge. These are my thoughts:
The chasing is necessary to get them airborne, their lives depend on it. Those that dont are doomed.
The fledges don't have a clue as to boundaries, the adults are very protective of their space, especially nesting sites. Chicks will try to go into any cavity they can to escape the other's, or rest. The adults in another nest or on another porch will defend it and pull them off porches, sub adults just plain try to drive them away. Its a lesson they need to learn in a colony and living with other martins.
Its all about breeding, sub adults want to have that cavity, they know that if they are successful in driving them off they may have a chance. Its why they try to disrupt nests and drag chicks out. Not out of plain meanness, they want to have chicks. My buddys belief is the subadult male is bonded to the female in that cavity, and tries to disrupt the nest.
The adults that have fledges are very busy trying to gather them up, subbies try to drive them away...if a chick runs afoul of another older martin, they get rough treatment. Just a bird defending its nest, its not uncommon for an older chick to go into a nest and get fed. Why porch dividers are great.
What you will notice soon is a chick standing up to an older bird by not backing down, opening their mouth in a threat gesture. Its a chick that has a bit more confidence, but its a general defense. Say if they happen to be on the same perch, if they land on a porch, whole different matter.
Sorry this was long, hope iv answered some of your questions. They are so interesting, but there are times at end of season i go inside so as to not watch.
Again, congrats on your success!
Tom

[rjm2]

Thanks again for your response. I appreciate your insight. It is so interesting watching their behaviors and family/colony interactions. I started watching my alpha male more closely after your comments and I believe I also see him leading my tiny colony. He seems to always have the highest point on my houses when keeping watch. He also seems to be leading the other 5 adults flying around and around at times during the day. This morning I was a little concern not seeing my new family until I spotted them sitting on a power line with mom and dad! Now looking forward to the fledging of my remaining 5 babies! Thanks again.

Randy