I, along with the local audoubon club installed a 12 unit gourd rack on a city lake. It has a walking trail, wide open, near perfect spot.
Went to check on it and there was a helluva fight going on. In a span of about 4 minutes, I saw a tree swallow and a PM go all the way to the ground grappling twice. Another ASY male was in another gourd and another PM was flying around the rack. The pair of tree swallows were putting up a heck of a fight.
Since it is a 12 unit gourd rack, any chance they can coexist? Or will the tree swallows win out? Due to the heavy traffic from a walking trail (30feet away), I'm afraid if I installed housing for the tree swallows they would get messed with.
Thought it was perfect spot for PMs.... The rack has 10 troyer horizontals and 2 gourds with round holes.
Has anyone seen them coexist?
Tree Swallows/PMs fighting over new gourd rack. Advice?
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RandallRash
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:52 pm
- Location: TX/Rockwall
I always have coexistence but I don't condone it. I keep tearing out the sparrow nests because once eggs are laid they get very aggressive (as all birds do I suppose). I just want all my Martin homes open for late arrivals. It may not be favorable of you to be seen ripping "poor little birdie nests" out in front of people, and a few Sparrows will have their homes, but Martins will just give them dirty looks and go about their day.
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starling shooter
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
trust me...if it was sparrows, they'd be gone. But...they are tree swallows. It appeared one ASY was in a Troyer horizontal with SREH while another ASY was duking it out with the tree swallow pair.
Anybody got any similar experience?
Anybody got any similar experience?
SS,
The presence of tree swallows in and about the PM cavities at an unestablished martin site is usually considered an "emergency" and should be managed as such. From what you describe, you have some martins there who are inexperienced and thus far unable to "take control" of the site... or never really intended to!
Based on the skirmish you described... and the knowledge that you are dealing with a completely new martin set-up; I would predict that the percentages on success at getting martins there is in single digits or decimals... unless you are VERY VERY LUCKY and the martins who showed up happen to be experienced ASY's who (for whatever reason) are "out of luck" at their intended colony and are TRULY HOUSE-HUNTING!
You will know by morning whether there are still martins there... and I'm betting against it. If there are martins (even 1) at that site, consider yourself exceptionally lucky! If my hunch is correct, the martins will be gone and you should begin the TS INTERFERENCE PROTOCOL without hesitation or delay.
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/E ... GENCY.html
Site loyal returning martins at established sites do NOT take any guff from tree swallows; and seem to know just how to dominate them with little or no skirmishing. TS (and BB) INTERFERENCE just does not seem to occur at established martin colonies.
By the way, I "grew up" in Sedalia (1948 - 1954.) Are you anywhere near there?
Best regards,
Dan Drew
Indianapolis
The presence of tree swallows in and about the PM cavities at an unestablished martin site is usually considered an "emergency" and should be managed as such. From what you describe, you have some martins there who are inexperienced and thus far unable to "take control" of the site... or never really intended to!
Based on the skirmish you described... and the knowledge that you are dealing with a completely new martin set-up; I would predict that the percentages on success at getting martins there is in single digits or decimals... unless you are VERY VERY LUCKY and the martins who showed up happen to be experienced ASY's who (for whatever reason) are "out of luck" at their intended colony and are TRULY HOUSE-HUNTING!
You will know by morning whether there are still martins there... and I'm betting against it. If there are martins (even 1) at that site, consider yourself exceptionally lucky! If my hunch is correct, the martins will be gone and you should begin the TS INTERFERENCE PROTOCOL without hesitation or delay.
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/E ... GENCY.html
Site loyal returning martins at established sites do NOT take any guff from tree swallows; and seem to know just how to dominate them with little or no skirmishing. TS (and BB) INTERFERENCE just does not seem to occur at established martin colonies.
By the way, I "grew up" in Sedalia (1948 - 1954.) Are you anywhere near there?
Best regards,
Dan Drew
Indianapolis