Be gentle with me. New to PMs. Got gourds last summer. Had one visitor for a day and that was it. This year, we had a couple visitors about a month ago (north Alabama), so I opened everything up. The visitors ended up moving on. I left the gourds open hoping to get more visitors.
Not surprisingly, the tree swallows showed up. I should've closed the gourds back up, but was doing a lot of work travel, so didn't. I did a lot of chasing the TS off and removing a nest out of the gourds they picked.
Well, this past weekend, had 3 pairs of PM show up. And they seem to have taken up residence! Been in and out of the gourds every day. But the TS are being aggressive towards them. The PM seems unfazed, but what should I do? I suspect the TS might have gotten another nest built in the gourds during a work trip last week. Should I remove the gourds that the TS seem focused on and hand it somewhere else? Don't want to lose my fledgling colony!
Tree Swallows run off by PM?
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Jones4381
- Posts: 840
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
2026 65 pair- 220+/-
I would relocate it about 20- 25 feet from your rack on a shepherds hook or something similar.mrigney wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 5:27 pmBe gentle with me. New to PMs. Got gourds last summer. Had one visitor for a day and that was it. This year, we had a couple visitors about a month ago (north Alabama), so I opened everything up. The visitors ended up moving on. I left the gourds open hoping to get more visitors.
Not surprisingly, the tree swallows showed up. I should've closed the gourds back up, but was doing a lot of work travel, so didn't. I did a lot of chasing the TS off and removing a nest out of the gourds they picked.
Well, this past weekend, had 3 pairs of PM show up. And they seem to have taken up residence! Been in and out of the gourds every day. But the TS are being aggressive towards them. The PM seems unfazed, but what should I do? I suspect the TS might have gotten another nest built in the gourds during a work trip last week. Should I remove the gourds that the TS seem focused on and hand it somewhere else? Don't want to lose my fledgling colony!
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
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Jones4381
- Posts: 840
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 10:54 pm
- Location: Southwestern VA
- Martin Colony History: 2020- 0
2021- 1 pair-5
2022- 5 pair-20
2023 34 pair-44
2024 30 pair-122
2025 54 Pair -178
2026 65 pair- 220+/-
If you're uncertain about the nest or the situation always feel free to share a photo. The Martins will be fine with a gourd removed and be grateful that the TS are now neighbors at a proper distance. Good luck
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu