Yesterday while nest checking I came across a gourd with scratching sounds and bird sounds locked in mortal combat. The birds didn't seem to notice my lowering the 8 vertical gourd unit or the 3 gourds I checked before coming to the fourth gourd where the battle was going on. I opened the observation cap and the 2 martins were in a full scale brawl. After several seconds they flew out of the observation hole. They were either 2 females or 2 SY males. Does anyone have a guess as to what the most likely scenario was? Two females or 2 males?
Dan
Brawl in gourd
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3206
- 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. 185 fledged
2025:
HOSP: 26 Starlings: 20
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 36 PMCA excluder gourds, 4 natural gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
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, 181 fledged
2025:
PMCA member
Hi Dan,
Boy when they are in fighting mode, not much bothers them does it?
Could go either way i think, males or females fighting...if I had to guess...males. those subadults are just full of vinegar!
Boy when they are in fighting mode, not much bothers them does it?
Could go either way i think, males or females fighting...if I had to guess...males. those subadults are just full of vinegar!
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
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birdgardener
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2024 8:00 pm
- Location: Buffalo, MN
Thanks for your opinion. I have 14 martins hanging around my 8 gourds now. They are starting nest building.
Dan
Dan
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1238
- 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
Agree with Tom.. probably SY males..females will argue for a short period but I’ve never seen them in a full blown fight.. it’s usually the males ..
Good luck
Rob
Good luck
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La