what is happening ?

jacekstaszak · Mon Jun 13, 2022 8:32 am

Finally after years of trying, I have a couple of martins that are spending most of the day around my setup. I have a gourd rack and a T14 with 4 gourds about 25 ft from each other. One of them is SY male and the other, I am assuming, is a SY female. The male gets really excited when they arrive and tries to invite her into his favorite gourd. That is were the confusion starts. He flies in really fast into his gourd but she doesn't follow him and instead flies into the house compartment and stays there usually for a while, sometimes she would poke her head out but quite often you just can't see her. It seems that the male is confused and doesn't know where she is. He nervously looks around the sky and after a while flies away in search of her. She then flies off and looks for him.... and it just keeps going on for days now.... will they finally figure it out or should I do something ? close his or hers compartment? I just worry they will get tired of playing hide and seek and leave. Has anyone experienced anything like that ?

C.C.Martins · Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:41 am

Oh boy, well he has chosen one, she the other. Dont worry and don't be surprised if they choose another compartment altogether. My bet is he will go where she goes. Congrats on your pair, although living in separate compartments. Looks disjointed, but part of the process, actually it could get even more interesting if they attract others!
Tom

jacekstaszak · Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:11 am

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:41 am
Oh boy, well he has chosen one, she the other. Dont worry and don't be surprised if they choose another compartment altogether. My bet is he will go where she goes. Congrats on your pair, although living in separate compartments. Looks disjointed, but part of the process, actually it could get even more interesting if they attract others!
Tom

They seem to be on the same page when flying, I have seen him feeding her in the air. They never come in for the night but show up first thing in am. and hang around for most part of the day, leaving then coming back, sometimes not together but just single bird making a pass. She disappeared for a couple of day and I thought it was over but now they are back for the last 3 days.

C.C.Martins · Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:20 pm

Feeding each other, thats interesting! Well I hope they stay for you, is there a colony nearby? Sounds like they like your location, just have to commit, when they stay the night you have them most likely.
Wish you the best, and they pair up.
Tom

Ryan · Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:34 pm

Nice story, I like clicking on these threads. More interesting as well as you're only a couple hours south of me. Hoping they stay for you, sounds promising that they keep coming back. I can only imagine the excitement.

How long have you been trying? Year 12 here. When did they first show up?

C.C.Martins · Mon Jun 13, 2022 5:12 pm

One PS for you: the subadults aren't the best at attracting a lady, they go into a cavity and don't sing from the cavity, nor do they pop in and out and generally dont carry on to attract her. They try but if he has no competition and feeds her....thats a nice touch by the way...he should be in luck!

jacekstaszak · Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:32 am

Ryan wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:34 pm
Nice story, I like clicking on these threads. More interesting as well as you're only a couple hours south of me. Hoping they stay for you, sounds promising that they keep coming back. I can only imagine the excitement.

How long have you been trying? Year 12 here. When did they first show up?

Hi there. The SY birds arrived into the area later this year, on May 25. I have a number of colonies that I manage and have not observed any young birds until that date. "My" male also showed up on May 25th and showed increasing interest since. A couple days after he was just around constantly. It is now almost 3 weeks , seems like he has a mate and they just can't figure things out. I have never seen a martin so loud and dedicated like this one so it will be really disappointing if this doesn't work out.
Good luck to you, I've seen several of your posts and was wondering how things are working out for you this year.
Cheers,
Jack

jacekstaszak · Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:47 am

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:20 pm
Feeding each other, thats interesting! Well I hope they stay for you, is there a colony nearby? Sounds like they like your location, just have to commit, when they stay the night you have them most likely.
Wish you the best, and they pair up.
Tom

Yes, I started a number of colonies and it seems like they are just testing my patience at my private house. I have an active growing colony ( 6 pairs) about a mile away and I know the all hang out together because "my " birds are flying toward it. I have another growing colony one about 2 miles away ( probably will hit 30 pairs) that I managed and improved with new housing over last couple of years. My third and fourth are a bit further, about 15 miles and they are at 25 and 9 pairs so far. Then sill a bit further about 20 miles a "super" colony with 100+ and smaller with about 40 pairs. Also looking good for another 2 sites they are just starting.
I also know of a couple medium size colonies that are not too far away.
Number of martins increased significantly ever since I started this project :-), I am just waiting for that one pair that would stay at my location...

jacekstaszak · Tue Jun 14, 2022 10:45 am

I have been trying for 7 years.

C.C.Martins · Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:23 am

Multiple active colonies, very impressive! Very nice, iv one satelite colony about 4 minutes from my place, i get help from the wonderful staff but the systems keep me hopping. Have to prioritize.
Man, I hope you attract them. You know I wonder if the one closest to you is keeping the martins from going to yours? Martins attract martins. Have you tried the dawn song?

jacekstaszak · Tue Jun 14, 2022 12:45 pm

C.C.Martins wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:23 am
Multiple active colonies, very impressive! Very nice, iv one satelite colony about 4 minutes from my place, i get help from the wonderful staff but the systems keep me hopping. Have to prioritize.
Man, I hope you attract them. You know I wonder if the one closest to you is keeping the martins from going to yours? Martins attract martins. Have you tried the dawn song?

yes, most sites I have started with the down song but they are also ideal locations right at the water edges. Mine is good but is not right on the water ( about 400 meters away). I am sure since other colonies are growing they probably prefer those sites but at some point they have to break off and start new. There is plenty of room left at the colony 1 mile away but for some reason this one male wants to start a new site, and I think the female as well they just can't agree on the compartment. Same thing all morning again today, he goes into the gourd and she flies right into the T14 compartment, and at this point none of them knows where the other one is.. it seems like that anyway... I turned the down song off so they have a better chance communicating... seems like at this point the down song doesn't really matter they are here regardless if its on or off.