Visit From Another Colony
-
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:47 am
- Location: Small Town Buckhead, GA (not ATL Buckhead)
- Martin Colony History: 2018: 1 pair, 5 fledged
2019: 3 pairs, 10 fledged
2020: 3 pairs, 13 fledged
2021: 13 pairs, 46 fledged
2022: 22 pairs, 89 fledged
2023: 20 pairs, 85 fledged
Twice over the past week, a flock of about 20 PM's have circled above my PM housing about 20 minutes before dark. They circle once then head back in the direction they came from - towards another colony of PM's about 2 miles away. I have not seen any interaction between my birds and the flock. Any ideas about what their purpose are intentions are?
GEAUX TIGERS!
Cheers!
Terry
Cheers!
Terry
-
- Posts: 2879
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair,
PMCA member
Terry, how close are your chicks to fledging? May be getting ready for a fledge party!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
-
- Posts: 1029
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Yep terry. I don’t know how nearby martin colonies know, that you have fledglings that are getting close to flying day, but they do! Every year, when my fledglings are getting close to their first flights, scores of other martins , join mine to circle round and round, causing a raucous … enticing the chicks to fly.. it’s a great show, and definitely my favorite part of Martin season.
Enjoy,
Rob
Enjoy,
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
-
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:47 am
- Location: Small Town Buckhead, GA (not ATL Buckhead)
- Martin Colony History: 2018: 1 pair, 5 fledged
2019: 3 pairs, 10 fledged
2020: 3 pairs, 13 fledged
2021: 13 pairs, 46 fledged
2022: 22 pairs, 89 fledged
2023: 20 pairs, 85 fledged
Thanks folks, but eggs have just hatched, so they are nowhere close to fledging. I've seen the fledging parties in the past and this isn't nearly the same thing. It's as though the other colony is either wanting some of my birds to follow them OR they are checking out my housing. Which, by the way, is far superior to what I've seen at the colony where I think the flock is coming from. I could be wrong, but I doubt if the small gourds are cleaned out over the winter or if nest checks are done there. However, from the looks of it, that colony/housing has been in existance much longer than mine.
GEAUX TIGERS!
Cheers!
Terry
Cheers!
Terry
-
- Posts: 2879
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair.
HOSP: 52 Starlings: 29
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 6 room trio mini castle with troyer tunnels and enlarged compartments.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair,
PMCA member
Well that would be interesting wouldn't it? If they started to abandon? Have to be really falling apart though. Hooe they do go your way, be in much better hands.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
-
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:47 am
- Location: Small Town Buckhead, GA (not ATL Buckhead)
- Martin Colony History: 2018: 1 pair, 5 fledged
2019: 3 pairs, 10 fledged
2020: 3 pairs, 13 fledged
2021: 13 pairs, 46 fledged
2022: 22 pairs, 89 fledged
2023: 20 pairs, 85 fledged
I haven't seen the visting flock since my last post. The population of ASY birds in my colony has remained the same - only a few SY birds have arrived. So the "visits" remain a mystery for now.
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
![Confused :???:](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
GEAUX TIGERS!
Cheers!
Terry
Cheers!
Terry
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2023 two gourd racks 24 gourds ,kept no records. Became an official landlord. 2024 28 gourds keeping records.
I believe I witnessed my first fledging party this evening. It was getting close to sunset and the martins were all out and in flight. They were circling and chirping like I and never seen before.I first thought a predator had entered their airspace,but couldn’t see one. I do have birds close to fledging. Would they have a party that time of evening?
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2023 two gourd racks 24 gourds ,kept no records. Became an official landlord. 2024 28 gourds keeping records.
Thank you Brent. It was very exciting to watch. I have 28 gourds on two racks. My last nest on 6-3-24 yielded 73 hatchlings and 37 eggs. This is my second full year of being a landlord. I am still green but love learning about these wonderful birds.
-
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:42 pm
- Location: Fernandina Beach FL
- Martin Colony History: 34 Cavities offered.
24 unit gourd rack with Troyer Horizontal and Vertical Gourds. Sunset Inn aluminum house with 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds.
2020- 1 pair, 4 eggs, fledged 3
2021- 3 pair, 15 eggs, fledged 8
2022- 5 pair, 26 eggs, fledged 21
2023- 10 pair, 53 eggs, fledged 27
PMCA Member
It’s VERY exciting to witness and hear! Soooo loud! Enjoy it!
Phil
Phil
PMCA member
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fernandina Beach, FL