Year two, 6-gourd in East Winnipeg

[flyin-lowe]

Without reading through all your old threads I don't know but guess you are playing the danwsong? If so I would keep that up next spring. In my opinion the dawnsong is probably the best attraction tool out there to get them to find your place. Once they find it, it is up to them if they choose to stay or not. I would not get too concerned about the water not being real close by unless you are in an area that has no bodies of water for miles and miles. I would guess if you looked at Google earth there is a body of water or river somewhere with a few miles. Obviously the utilize water that is near by but a short flight to get to it is not a deal breaker.

[atrauzzi]

Yup, doing the dawn song every morning.

I do wonder if I'm playing it loudly enough. I'm playing from a small JBL Clip speaker which I point upwards on the rack.

I'll also sometimes allow it to play through the day, just in case. But I'm not sure if that helps, hurts or does nothing at all?

[flyin-lowe]

I would leave it play and I would guess it is plenty loud enough. Some people don't realize how far sound travels, especially early in the morning before there is a bunch of background noise. I would let it play as long as you want, even later in the day, if a martin was flying by it would likely be curious and drop down to see where the sound is coming from.

[tor]

Yea keep playing that Dawn song. They less than 2% of the fledglings for any colony return to that site I’m guessing to prevent in breeding. So those young’s that make it back have to go somewhere to start a new colony or add to the population of a current colony that still has room. I have 80 cavities and had 74 or 76 nesting pairs last year so I’m pretty much full up so the overflow of Martin have to go somewhere. Not to mention the nearly 400 that were fledged from just my colony most find house of this year. So the birds and out there isg have get them attracted to you site. Once you get a couple nesting pairs they will do the rest of the work for you when it comes to attracting more. And the numbers will go up quickly year after year. And once you get them, your problem is figuring out how many you can successfully landlord once you get that goal met you’re helping your neighbor

I think I remember talking with you a good while ago, when you first started up. Wow, you have come a long way. Great colony.

Good luck with the 2025 season.

Merry Christmas

Tor - Marlboro County, SC

[Mstan]

Yes, the one thing I have learned with being a landlord is how it can benefit other potential landlords. If I have a strong percentage of fledglings then I can be a factor in someone trying to start a new colony. The forum has taught me a lot about landlording the martins. The joy of watching them come into their gourds at evening time as you wait for that last bird. The excitement when you see the first scout go in and out of your gourds in the spring time. The martins are special. Then with that comes the responsibility of being a good landlord for their benefit. I am anxiously awaiting their arrival and hope we all have an abundant amount of birds and fill our nesting boxes.