Having had martins for many years, I've seen a good many squabbles. I watched one today that literally lasted for hours! Two males were fighting over the same compartment from early this morning until around 4:00 this afternoon. I watched them repeatedly become entagled with one another on the porch and fall to the ground where they were a snarled mass of flapping wings and locked claws. During one battle I timed them. They rolled around the ground, feet locked, turning heads over heels for a full five minutes. This happened over and over again. They only took short breaks to feed and then they were at it again. If dragonflies gives you that kind of energy, I might have to start downing a few! The weather was warm with very light winds. I think nesting is about to start. They were on the houses most of the day today.
Patrick
What a fight!
I watched a Katz fight today. 
Seem Elvis has gone old world Morman on me! 
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Hey Patrick,
I have had the same kinds of fights here at my colony also , even with my Cat sittin' right under my Gourd rack & Housing they will fight all the way to the ground ,our cat has no front claws but swats and runs at the fighting Martins but the PM's recover and continue to do it time after time. I offer plenty of housing so i think it's just a territory or Dominance thing.I have also listened to squabbles from inside my housing and Gourd's and just wondered who actually won the fight???.
I have had the same kinds of fights here at my colony also , even with my Cat sittin' right under my Gourd rack & Housing they will fight all the way to the ground ,our cat has no front claws but swats and runs at the fighting Martins but the PM's recover and continue to do it time after time. I offer plenty of housing so i think it's just a territory or Dominance thing.I have also listened to squabbles from inside my housing and Gourd's and just wondered who actually won the fight???.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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Guest
The fights are so fun to watch. I have tree swallows and boy can they fight!! I had a simliar fight to yours, lasted forever! At times they would be locked onto each other in the grass and would be sitting very still, probably trying to catch their breath before the next wave of energy allowed them to whoop some butt!! Tree and cliff swallows and purple martins seem to be very burly birds and extreme fighters. It's always fun to watch another male cliff swallow go up to another nest and all of a sudden a head pops out and grabs the intruder and the intruder hangs from the other's beak for a few minutes.
Blake
Blake
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Guest
Being that it is my first year to host martins, I have seen the males fighting constantly. I have 4 pair and an extra male. The poor extra male has been sent to the Heath. The females sometimes go over and sit with him but in the end are more than happy to go back to their gourds. These males definitely tie up and go to the ground fighting. I think maybe if he gets a mate they will let him live in a gourd, especially if the female likes it enough 
Another thing that I have witnessed is something you landlords have talked about and that is when they are ready to come home after an afternoon of eating. They all come in together, flying rather high, and slowly eat their way lower and lower. All of a sudden they come down in almost a swirl and into the gourds. If I'm not looking, I miss how many came in. I also was watching a martin feeding not too far from the lake house - He started decending to catch a bug and did a head first sommersault and back up to catch it. Great flying! And the last thing I saw that I did not know is that when the martin dips down into the lake to get a drink, the only thing that touches the water is his beak - his neck is arched and he skims his bill only to drink. They are such amazing birds, and I am ejoying them so much.
Just got home today from the lake and will going back on Wed-Sun.
Can't wait to get there!
Hope everyone is having a great martin season!!!
Lanell
Another thing that I have witnessed is something you landlords have talked about and that is when they are ready to come home after an afternoon of eating. They all come in together, flying rather high, and slowly eat their way lower and lower. All of a sudden they come down in almost a swirl and into the gourds. If I'm not looking, I miss how many came in. I also was watching a martin feeding not too far from the lake house - He started decending to catch a bug and did a head first sommersault and back up to catch it. Great flying! And the last thing I saw that I did not know is that when the martin dips down into the lake to get a drink, the only thing that touches the water is his beak - his neck is arched and he skims his bill only to drink. They are such amazing birds, and I am ejoying them so much.
Just got home today from the lake and will going back on Wed-Sun.
Can't wait to get there!
Hope everyone is having a great martin season!!!
Lanell
I think the offender has left and things are so much quieter around the houses the past couple of days. My 5 pairs seems to tolerate each other's presence well. I have seen them chasing starlings, bot not nearly enough. They are amazingly tolerant of any house sparrows that light on the houses...but I'm not! I imagine when the sub-adults begin to show up there will be more battles to watch. It's all part of the fun.
Patrick
Patrick