AT 6:45 this morning I heard it for the first time - that beautiful chirp and gurgle. I ran outside and sure enough, there they were - two subbies circling our gourds...I have kept them closed up til now, so I ran out, opened them up while they circled overhead, and they landed almost immediately. NOt too long after, two more showed up, but I didn't see them land before I had to leave for work (darn, pesky old job - I could stay all day and just watch)
When I got home about 1:00, no sign of the pm's, but a bluebird couple had wasted no time in trying to take over a gourd - I thought they would be nesting elsewhere by now! Darn! What do I do? I went out and emptied the gourd of their nesting materials (what a lot they accomplished in 5 hours!)...I'll keep doing that as long as necessary, I guess, every day.
I hope the pms return!!!!! It would be our first shot at a colony! Or is it too late for subbies to start nesting? Maybe I just had visitors from another colony. What do ya'll think?
First Contact by subbies!
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Tallsilver
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:16 am
- Location: South Carolina, Conway
I'm new to all this but there are still new subbies in SC!! I have one couple that's been here almost 3 weeks, another couple that just started roosting in the gourds, and a lone male..............hoping for more!
Good luck,
BTW, both pairs would visit, and leave for extended periods before spending the night.
Good luck,
BTW, both pairs would visit, and leave for extended periods before spending the night.
Aaron S Piver
Conway, SC
Conway, SC
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Re: the bluebird. These beautiful birds are very aggressive in chasing away martins that are just investigating the site. Once martins have bonded, such as returning from the previous year, they will in turn toss out any bluebirds.
You need to put up a separate house for the bluebirds about 25 or 30 feet out. You could take "their" gourd and put it on a "shepherd's hook." Or my hunch is they would just as readily go to one of the bluebird houses that are available from most big home centers.
Not sure about the subbie schedule there -- probably at least a few weeks left to attract a pair.
John Miller
You need to put up a separate house for the bluebirds about 25 or 30 feet out. You could take "their" gourd and put it on a "shepherd's hook." Or my hunch is they would just as readily go to one of the bluebird houses that are available from most big home centers.
Not sure about the subbie schedule there -- probably at least a few weeks left to attract a pair.
John Miller
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Guest
Jane,
What wonderful news and what a wonderful feeling it is! I'd say you still have a chance to call those martins yours. Sounds like they are still trickling in from other reports I have read. I'm so glad you posted. I was wondering if you had any luck. I'd say your luck has turned for the best and keep us posted!!
Sheila Martin
What wonderful news and what a wonderful feeling it is! I'd say you still have a chance to call those martins yours. Sounds like they are still trickling in from other reports I have read. I'm so glad you posted. I was wondering if you had any luck. I'd say your luck has turned for the best and keep us posted!!
Sheila Martin
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John Kendall
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2005 3:36 pm
- Location: IN/Valparaiso
This is the trihabitation website, which gives you the benefit of many years of trials and tribulations such as yours with BB, TS and PM and how to make all three or two of the three get along cooperatively.
Sounds like you are doing the right thing, keeping the PM housing closed, but, you should have already put up BB house (same house design as TS) and until you have eggs or strong committment to the house, cannot open the PM housing. You will have to wait and so will the subbies, there is no other way!
Hope this helps,
Sophmore landlords with subbies and TS issues last year,
Sounds like you are doing the right thing, keeping the PM housing closed, but, you should have already put up BB house (same house design as TS) and until you have eggs or strong committment to the house, cannot open the PM housing. You will have to wait and so will the subbies, there is no other way!
Hope this helps,
Sophmore landlords with subbies and TS issues last year,
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Guest
I lent an ear to John and others on housing just for the BB's. Two BB houses one about thirty feet from the colony and another twenty more feet away. The BB's went right to work after I destroyed a few English Sparrows to assist the BB's get started. They are now protecting that special BB box and feeding their young. The second BB box has a nesting Tree Swallow feeding their hatchlings.
Like you I have kept my box closed, to get the competitors, where I want them. That includes some lucky Sparrows that are, in the neighbor's boxes. Early in the season I was trying, to keep the Martin Colony open and all I got was a multitude, of difficulty. Unlike you I am retired and can claim a sore neck peeking into the sky off and on all day long.
Good luck to you. We hope the birds smile upon your housing and raise you a family or two.
Like you I have kept my box closed, to get the competitors, where I want them. That includes some lucky Sparrows that are, in the neighbor's boxes. Early in the season I was trying, to keep the Martin Colony open and all I got was a multitude, of difficulty. Unlike you I am retired and can claim a sore neck peeking into the sky off and on all day long.
Good luck to you. We hope the birds smile upon your housing and raise you a family or two.
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Guest
Thanks, folks for chiming in...that's the frustrating part - I DO have BB houses up....in fact, I placed a BB supergourd about 40 feet from our gourd rack, and no one is interested. I have another BB supergourd set up on the other side of our property and a pair has taken up there, laid eggs, hatched, and we are waiting for fledging...so....
I feel bad about complaining about these lovely birds....I just want pms too!
We''ll see what happens!
Thanks for the encouragement!
I feel bad about complaining about these lovely birds....I just want pms too!
We''ll see what happens!
Thanks for the encouragement!