New vs. old colony

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Dan G
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: PA/Bellefonte
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.

We are located in central PA and helped raise 2 healthy chicks from one pair last year. The first Martin that returned to a well established colony about 4 miles away from us, was on March 29 this year. And there are now lots of martins there. As I wait for martins to hopefully return to ours, I’m wondering. The older ASY birds return first. But, do martins that are 5-8 years old, return weeks ahead of a 2 year old? Not sure if there is any absolute correct answer. Or if it would be consistently that way. I’m just hoping that that is the case, and we see some soon.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Bird Brain
Posts: 327
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
Location: Highland Village, TX
Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4, 2025-10 pair, fledged 42

I believe the answer is yes. I have martins of various ages. The only reason I have older martins already is because they abandoned someone else and came to my sight. The older ASYs arrive much sooner than younger ASYs. Seems to me the older the martin, the sooner they arrive. My older ASYs arrived 2 weeks before the younger ASYs. You can almost gauge how old the martins are simply by their arrival date. But I only have 3 years experience. Maybe someone else will opine.
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