Martins vs tree swallows?

[Guest]

I have had a house up for 3 or 4 years, and have had some lookers in the past, but this year I have at least 5 birds roosting at night in my 12 room house. I think I have Martins, but am not sure. From listening to the vocalizations, Tree Swallows are possible. But I hope they are martins. I have one bird that is black/purple all over and 4 with grey/white under and dark upper. How can I know for sure? I have barn swallows under my porch. Do Barn Swallows ever get in Martin houses? I don't think the birds in the PM house have a tail as forked as the Barn Swallows.
And my next issue, is my fear of checking the nest. I'll have to have my husband help, but can you really do this with our chasing them off? Just walking under the house sends they flying off and very upset. I am trying to spend a little more time out each day to get them used to me.
Thanks.
Lynn

[Donna - TX]

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBi ... allow.html

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/s ... color.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~chuckabare/martins.htm

http://www.purplemartin.org/MartinID/martinid.html


The top two sites are for tree swallows and the bottom two are purple martins. This will show you the pictures and also there sound. I hope this helps.

[Mary Dawnsong]

Hi Lynn,

Welcome to the forum!

Tree Swallows always have a bright white underside - neck, breast, and chest. So if you have an all dark bird, it is not a Tree Swallow and is very likely an adult male Purple Martin.

Tree Swallows are not colonial nesters. If a pair of Tree Swallows claims a cavity in a martin house they will drive away all other Tree Swallows -and- they usually drive away martins, too. So if you have 5 birds roosting in the house, then they are not Tree Swallows.

Barn Swallows do not roost or nest in martin houses.

From your general description, I believe you have martins and I expect they plan to stay and breed in your house!

Here is a forum thread from a couple of weeks ago by a woman in Hot Springs, AR. See all the info provided to her to help identify the birds in her martin house. Click on:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=57524

Good luck with your new colony.
Please post often and let us know how your season goes.

My best, Mary

[Guest]

Got a closer look this am and there are 7 birds at my house!!! Only one all dark, and one mostly dark on belly. So not tree swallows!! Plus the bellies are not all white, easier to see in the morning light. I took some photos and will post when I figure it out. Thanks again. Lynn

[Donna - TX]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! Read Everything you can.

[Nanette]

LynnNo,
Don't be afraid of scaring them away when you check the house. They will come back. Just don't check it late in the day just before it gets dark. Leave them plenty of daylight to get home and try do do the nest checks quickly. The thing I have noticed about my martins is that they never sit still for very long. They will all be sitting around one second and flying off the next. I could be wrong but I figure it is their way of "keeping in shape" for their long migration. You will notice that sometimes when you are doing a nest check you will find that the female is still sitting on the nest. I have actually picked them up gently in my hand to determine their age and placed them back. I am not saying that they are not probably terrified but it is a testament as to how strong their nesting instincts are. The same thing is true with Bluebirds. Tree Swallows and Chickadees. I had one Tree Swallow nest that I never could figure how many eggs she had because every time I checked her nest she wouldn't move! It wasn't until the eggs hatched that I could see she had 5 little babies!

[Guest]

they are martins for sure and barn swallows wouldnt nest in martin houses. i would suggest to get rid of tree swallows putting up some blue bird boxes to have them nest in those then they would only have to worry about sparrows instead of starlings.

[Nanette]

Hi,
Duchmaster is correct. Tree Swallows need a separate house. I have 2 BB houses on my property in addition the the Martin Housing.

[Guest]

Maybe some females are on the nest and didn't come out last night. I will try and attach photo. You may can see I have a tree pretty close on one side, the rest is wide open except for a fence just inches from the pole. I have been telling my husband to move the house, but maybe the martins decided to give us a try anyway.
lynn

[Guest]

photo

Well, I don't remember how to do this. Maybe the site won't accept because of size, and I can't figure out how to resize.

I have uploaded to snapfish. does any one know more ( simpler ) than I can find on the site here?

thanks Lynn

[Guest]

trying again to attach photo

[Mary Dawnsong]

Those, my dear, are martins!

[Guest]

now what do I do?


I will read up tonight!!!