Martin behavior question
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Guest
I have a question for you more knowledgeable landlords. I know that the males are loyal to their colonies, but what about the females? Do the martins mate for life or just for the season? Do the same females return? Thanks in advance for any responses!!
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geneinmurphy
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:09 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Murphy
The females normally return; they do not normally mate for life.....
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Daniel Airola
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:11 pm
- Location: Sacramento
I recently summarized data on between-year nest colony and nest cavity fidelity by martins that Stan Kostka and I captured and color-banded at bridge nesting sites in Sacramento, CA. Thirty-one (89%) of 35 birds resighted in subsequent years were found at the colony where they had nested in the previous year. while the other 4 moved to new colonies 0.8-2.2 miles away. Of 14 color-banded birds recaptured at nest holes, only 4 (29%, including 2 males and 2 females) renested in the same cavity.
Most of our banding occurred at a larger colony (c. 30 pairs per year). Return rates to small colonies (especially those newly colonized by subadult males) are lower, as they tend to give these new sites a try and then apparently often get attracted back to the larger colonies when they reach ASY stage.
We don't have enough instances of captures of both pair members and subsequent relocation of them to address the degree to which pair members renest together. From all I have heard, it is not common, but given the high colony fidelity and moderate nest hole fidelity we saw, I would predict that it happens somewhat more often than would be expected by chance.
Most of our banding occurred at a larger colony (c. 30 pairs per year). Return rates to small colonies (especially those newly colonized by subadult males) are lower, as they tend to give these new sites a try and then apparently often get attracted back to the larger colonies when they reach ASY stage.
We don't have enough instances of captures of both pair members and subsequent relocation of them to address the degree to which pair members renest together. From all I have heard, it is not common, but given the high colony fidelity and moderate nest hole fidelity we saw, I would predict that it happens somewhat more often than would be expected by chance.
Dan Airola - Sacramento CA