I have a pair of ASY that have 6 babies they hatched Monday. But I have
noticed some odd behavior, at times the female will not let the male in the
gourd, he will fly up hang on to the outside and I can see a small insect
in his mouth so I know this is her mate and I have seen her bit his beak
and hold on till he could break loss, and I have seen him get in the gourd
and the gourd would go to rocking and out he would come, she would
then leave and he would go in. And other times they will go in and out
with no problem. Whats up with that? Just thought this was a little odd.
Has anyone ever noticed this behavior?
Aggressive Female Toward Mate.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Most males of all kinds have experienced this behavior. With six mouths to feed, maybe this particular female martin is just a little overly stressed.
John Miller
John Miller
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Hey April,
This anti-mate behavior by a female martin toward a male is rare, but does occasionally occur. I have seen it happen several times this season at my colony. In one case, the female had completed laying her clutch and seemed overly protected. She would not let her mate roost in the gourd with her and expelled him the first night. Maybe she considered him a possible threat to her eggs. She is now OK with him and they roost together.
In two other cases, SY females would not let their SY male mates roost with them for several nights. The males tried and tried to enter the gourds, but each time the females chased them out. Now they are OK. Why? Perhaps the bond between these males/females was initially weak and the females considered the males intruders. Then after more association together during subseqent days the pair bond perhaps became stronger. Once the bond was finalized then the pair could roost together.
I have seen several other cases like the one you have observed. In these situations the young had just hatched and the females were extremely protective of them. Perhaps the females initially considered their mates as possible threats just like they would view a bachelor SY or even ASY male. These females may have just been overly protective mothers or maybe they had experienced previous infanticide behavior by male martins and were cautious. However, in all these cases, the female stopped her anti-mate behavior quickly and the male assumed his role as father. Happy endings!
Martins never fail to entertain and educate us, April!
Steve
This anti-mate behavior by a female martin toward a male is rare, but does occasionally occur. I have seen it happen several times this season at my colony. In one case, the female had completed laying her clutch and seemed overly protected. She would not let her mate roost in the gourd with her and expelled him the first night. Maybe she considered him a possible threat to her eggs. She is now OK with him and they roost together.
In two other cases, SY females would not let their SY male mates roost with them for several nights. The males tried and tried to enter the gourds, but each time the females chased them out. Now they are OK. Why? Perhaps the bond between these males/females was initially weak and the females considered the males intruders. Then after more association together during subseqent days the pair bond perhaps became stronger. Once the bond was finalized then the pair could roost together.
I have seen several other cases like the one you have observed. In these situations the young had just hatched and the females were extremely protective of them. Perhaps the females initially considered their mates as possible threats just like they would view a bachelor SY or even ASY male. These females may have just been overly protective mothers or maybe they had experienced previous infanticide behavior by male martins and were cautious. However, in all these cases, the female stopped her anti-mate behavior quickly and the male assumed his role as father. Happy endings!
Martins never fail to entertain and educate us, April!
Steve
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
April,
Just like Steve said.....same Type activity here at my colony.
Just like Steve said.....same Type activity here at my colony.
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]
Hey Steve, they are doing much better now, but now that I read your
post he would sleep in a empty compartment in my trio house right above
his gourd some nights. Maybe that was because she would not let him
roost with her every night. Her behavior is much better today. I was just
curious because I had never seen this before. I am learning more and
more each day, Thanks
Klcretired, maybe the females at your colony will settle on down to.
post he would sleep in a empty compartment in my trio house right above
his gourd some nights. Maybe that was because she would not let him
roost with her every night. Her behavior is much better today. I was just
curious because I had never seen this before. I am learning more and
more each day, Thanks
Klcretired, maybe the females at your colony will settle on down to.
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member