My numbers are down...

[hoopsnut]

My bird count is down dramatically from last year. I should have 30+ pair by now, as of last night I counted maybe 20 pair.

This does include a couple of subbies.

Is anyone else having a similar season?

I'm thinking that Katrina and Rita may have caused greater losses than first believed.

[Bob Flam]

Hello fellow Iowan,

I can't really answer your question since I moved a month ago and cut my housing in 1/2 in town. Theres not as many there as I figured there would be. But it could be because of the major site change and me moving also.

But here at my new place I counted 16 just the other night. I would have to say that there hasn't been any major decrease in numbers around my area in S.E. Iowa. In fact theres alot more than there used to be 10 years ago when I started the colony in town.

You may have lost a portion of your birds for a number of reasons, but I don't think any major losses have happened in general.

Keep a close eye on your colony this year. There may be something going on right there at your place that made some leave?

bob

[Guest]

Mine are down too. I had 7 pairs last year. Total of 20 -22 living here. I only have 3 pairs now, all asy. I have seen one or two sy's. I think I still have time maybe to pick up a few subbies. Just have to wait and see.

For me though, "It's not the quantity, its the quality". And with only three pair hear, you won't hear me complain!

Good luck!
Craig C

[Mary Dawnsong]

Hi,

Numbers are NOT down here!
I've had the fastest start ever this year. Virtually all 48 gourds were claimed by ASY males by the third week in April. Usually my housing is not full until mid-May.

How many of your breeding birds from last season will return?
Banding studies tell us that only 50% of our breeding birds survive and return the next season. From "Banding Purple Martins" - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/BandingPM11(3).pdf

Adult and subadult breeders have strong site-fidelity and about half of them will return to their previous colony site the following season. The other half presumably died or breed elsewhere.

Mate fidelity is low in the Purple Martin. The vast majority of martins have a different mate each breeding season, even if the old mate is present again the following season.

So it is possible that the expected 50% of your ASY birds have returned, but you have not picked up additional ASYs. The additional ASYs would be birds who have abandoned last season's sites because of failure to breed there -or- they could be last year's SY birds who didn't even attempt breeding.

Will your fledglings from last year return?
From the same study:

Of every 100 nestling martins banded, anywhere from no subadults to 13 subadults will return to their natal sites the following year. Small colonies tend to get a lower percentage back. Larger colonies, and sites that add additional housing each year, tend to get higher percentages back.

"Post-fledging Wandering by Hatching-year Purple Martins: A Color-banding Study" found a 4% return of subadults to their natal colony. - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/10(4)fledge.html

There is still plenty of time to attract SY birds. I surely hope you are blessed with many to fill in the gaps.

Good luck, Mary

[Mary Dawnsong]

Excerpt from an email I received this morning from a landlord located in southwestern Indiana. He has been a wannabe for several years and 2006 has proven to be his year. He has been blessed bigtime:

Just thought I would send you an update. My 3 pairs have finished nest building, my 3 adult males were dawn singing Sat. morning so I would guess that egg laying has started. I had 16 subbies show up Friday the 5th of May, alot of fighting going on. 13 of them are males and 3 are females. Also have a subbie pair that starting nest building today, they have been here for a week now. I got my troyer put up Sat. but the subbie arent paying any attention to it. I had to many martins come to bed tonite to count. I really dont know how many I have now.

[Bob Flam]

Banding studies tell us that only 50% of our breeding birds survive and return the next season.

So it is possible that the expected 50% of your ASY birds have returned, but you have not picked up additional ASYs.

I can relate to that. At my colony in town after my 2nd year. I had 7 pair, all ASY's except for 1 girl. My 3rd year, I had only 4 or 5 ASY pair return, even with housing additions. I was a lil puzzled. When it was all said n done though, I did end up with 13 pair. Most were sy's that year.

bob

[T K I]

Well I cannot say if the numbers are down or not, but I have not seen a single visitor yet!! I am really getting disappointed this year. I thought this would be my year, but to no avail I have not had a single visitor! Its getting frustrating!!

[hoopsnut]

I will keep watching and let you know what is going on after my first nest count in a week or two.

Hang in there Tyler, like I've said before I was waitng 13 years for my first pair.

I understand your frustration, but the wait is worth it.