SY & ASY Male behavior/aquiring additional birds

[Bob Flam]

I've noticed something over the years. As alot of people are seeing with sy's showing up, is the fighting going on. Which is pretty typical. In a place with alot of birds it's hard to see whats actually going on. But since I'm starting a new colony again, I've noticed something I seen at the other site starting it also.

A little back ground of whats happening here presently. I have 3 pairs of ASY's and a single ASY male without a girl. Have for a week or more. There was a very mature asy girl that thought strongly about staying with him, but for some reason she's changed her mind and he's been alone again for last couple days. I think hes a young asy and she was too mature to chance it with him. Anyway that's not what I'm talking about tho.

I have had other asy males that come over, and some new sy males just the last couple days. These new males are not welcomed at all! Sy or ASY.

But my lone male got a girl today..a sy girl that went in with him tonight. The other males even seemed to assist him in getting her to stay. She'd go over by them and they'd scream at her...drag her over to the rack by him...then they'd go back to their spot. I've seen this numerous times before.

Now the behavior I'm talking about. Now thats he's got his girl, another male will be welcomed. In a couple days you'll hear me say it on here too that theres a new one. And it will start again...no more males will be welcomed till he gets his girl.

Of course this is mainly at new sites. Once the site is proven successful and if they want to be here bad enough...they will. And even then theres a pecking order...1st males here get 1st new girls showing up. I've seen this starting the last 2 colonies. You'll have a single male or two and no more are welcomed until they get girls. Once they do, and the others that are paired already even help, then more are welcomed..if theres room of course

bob

[Daniel Airola]

Interesting observation, Bob. It makes sense that the lone males are viewed as competitors until they have females to keep them busy, and then they become allies in keeping the colony aware of predators, and by helping to attract SY males, who then can be cuckolded if they can attract a female. Amazing birds, aren't they?

[Guest]

That is very interesting Bob,when you say the males with tenure help by bring her back how do they do that,,,I'm not clear on this

dick

[floridasunshinegoddess]

Bob, thanks for posting this.... a very interesting observation. I will keep my eyes open and see if I see the same at my colony!

[Bob Flam]

It's sometimes tough to see this going on. It's easier to see this behavior if you have 2 seperate poles of housing. In my case here, the 3 pairs are nesting on one pole while the new male stayed his distance and chose a gourd on the gourd rack. Which he pretty much defends the entire thing against any new males. The other males do too, but not as hard. You can also see it if you only have a couple pair starting out. One pair on one side of a house and the other on the other side.

Theres a few reasons for this behavior.

1 & 2. Daniel touched on a couple about more birds helping protect the colony and competition is a major factor in why only so many new males are allowed.

3. Another reason other mated males help new males get girls is called "extra pair copulation". Where a male forces copulation with other males girls.

Steve Kroenke has touched on forced extra pair copulation before. Heres one link to a post where he has brought it up, and I think there may be others.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=

Dick

when you say the males with tenure help by bringing her back how do they do that

The other males would like the new male to get a girl. It gives them a chance to force theirselves on her later. Plus increase colony size and safety. The best way to see this is when the new male goes in his chosen cavity and is trying to lure the new girl inside also. The other girls are usually in their cavity looking out or right by it as if to say...this ones mine. The other males are usually close also..sitting by the their room or on the gourd arm above their gourd.

What I've seen happen is while the new male is in his chosen cavity, the girl might fly over to another occupied gourd or room. I've seen this because the girl would probably like to be with this other certain male...maybe a very mature bird, but he already has a mate. There she is immediately scolded, then the male will fly over to the rack where the new male is still in his gourd. After she follows him back over to the rack, he will go back to his pole/cavity with his mate. If she flys away not only will the single male chase her to bring her back...the other males will also sometimes. Again though, once shes back again, the other males will stay their distance. At least until the testoserone kicks in and they just want to force themselves on her.

If a new male shows up with a girl already. They will be immediately welcomed, if theres room. It's the single males that are limited.

bob

[Guest]

Bob - I understand completely what you are saying. The same thing is going on at my colony also. An ASY male showed up about 2 weeks ago. As of last week-end he did not have a mate. Even the SYs were giving him fits - hopefully when we get back there tomorrow he will have found a mate.


Good luck this year



Lanell

[Bob Flam]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Just now my 4 pairs looks like it just went to 5

Theres a pair of SY's here male and female.

They are not being harrassed at all. The 4 pairs are by their perspective gourds and room, while the 2 new sy's look around. The only time they are being yelled at is when they land on an occupied gourd or room. Other than that..they are be welcomed. Bet it wouldn't be the case as much if it was 2 males!

bob

[Bob Flam]

Wanted to throw out another observation that just happened.

The sy girl went over by one of the ASY's gourd. The ASY male then flew over to an empty gourd on the gourd rack. When the sy girl came over he jumped off the porch, up onto the canopy and just stood there while she looked in. When the sy male came over an landed by him, on the canopy also, the ASY male flew down to the ground where I put out nesting material.

Like he's telling them...you can stay here...and hurry up and build your nest...right heres the stuff

Man I love these birds

bob