Dawn Song second year

[Buckeye658793]

Last year was first year with Martins second year trying I had six pair 27 eggs 17 hatched and 17 fledged my question is the sy birds are just now showing up here in NW Ohio I have my houses up but only two holes open was wondering if I should play dawn song?

[flyin-lowe]

I think you mean ASY birds arriving not SYs in northern OH. It won’t hurt to play the dawn song but if you had 6 pair last I would assume you will have some of them return so the dawn song probably won’t be necessary.
One of the pluses of finally getting an established colony is not having to mess with the dawn song.

[Buckeye658793]

Yes I meant ASY birds should I open all the cavities or just a few I have not seen many hosp but I have been dispatching the ones I do see. Thanks for your reply

[deancamp]

It's not going to hurt playing the dawn song so why not even though you probably don't need to. I would open them all if you don't have trouble keeping the invasive birds out. Great to hear of your success last year.

[Dave Reynolds]

... Buckeye ... Go ahead and play it.. probably can’t hurt... This will be my fourth year. Last year I played it until the second and third pair showed up.. After that I let the Martins bring other Martins in, with out the Dawn Song. Good Luck and keep up posted how thing are going..

Dave

[flyin-lowe]

If you don't have a lot of pressure from competitors it won't hurt to open them up. If you start to get others trying to move in before the martins arrive you can close them off. If you have returning martins to your site they won't leave it if the holes aren't open the minute they show up.