Here is a brief update of what's been happening at my site. Last year I hosted 5 pair of SYs. This year I'm up to 19 pair, 11 pair of ASYs and 8 pair of SYs. What I've been noticing is that new arrivals are sent packing because of all the porch domination. On my T-14 alone 3 pair of ASYs control 11 nest cavitys, on the other housing the problem isn't quite as bad. I sure hope the intensity of these ASYs subsides soon, egg laying has just begun.
Tom
Sys leaving because of porch domination.
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TrkrBob1949
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 7:20 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Belle Bower
I have three wooden T-14s at my colony site. I used to think that the design of the T-14 made it pretty immune from male porch domination, but I was wrong. In fact, I haven't found a design of birdhouse yet that is completely free of porch domination--even gourd racks.
Many people like to accuse the male martin as being the one guilty of porch domination, but the female is often as bad as the male, too. In fact, it is the inability of the female to settle on a specific compartment that causes most of the domination in the first place. This year I had a pair of ASY martins dominating a four compartment side of a T-14. The female had built a complete nest in each compartment but couldn't decide on which one she wanted to lay her eggs in. This pair of martins would viciously attack any martin trying to investigate any one of these compartments (I wish they would fight sparrows and starlings this vigorously), and drive them away. I got tired of their shenanigans and closed off three of the disputed compartments, forcing them into the top compartment. I waited a week or so and reopened the three compartments and they were quickly occupied by three SY males.
Two years ago I had another ASY pair that dominated one complete side of two modified Trio-Wades mounted on a multi-purpose pole, for a total of 12 compartments. These martins fought the other investigating martins for weeks, never even building a nest. The female martin was very dark gray color and I suspect that she may have been barren. Anyway, I plugged up all of the compartments on that side, but when I re-opened them a week later they returned and started their domination all over again. This really upset me so I captured them and carried them a hundred miles away on my route in my big truck, and released them. They never returned. I think I finally ended up with 6 pairs on that side of the Trio-Wades.
Some landlords have stated on this forum that porch domination by the martins is a desirable trait because it demonstrates "strong and aggressive" behavior. I don't think so. One pair of martins dominating 12 compartments results in the loss of possibly 60 martin young fledging from those compartments. With losses like that, I would rather have two or three pairs of starlings or sparrows nesting in those compartments because even they would probably allow martins to nest in the remaining nine compartments.
I thought that I had finally found the perfect birdhouse, one that would be immune from porch domination, in the modified Trio castle. With twelve compartments closed off which resulted in alternate, staggered entrances; porch dividers that created almost eighteen inches of uninterrupted porch for each pair of martins;and extended perches which provided investigating martins a place to perch without being harassed by the dominating martins, the modified castle had it all. But this year three ASY pairs of martins were dominating two compartments each of a modified Trio castle, which accounted for half of the castle's nesting compartments being dominated by three pairs of martins. This was totally unacceptable so I plugged all six of the compartments and made the ASYs go elsewhere. A week later when I unplugged the compartments only one pair of the ASYs returned, with the other five compartments being claimed by SYs.
Porch domination by the martins is something I have deal with every season. I can ignore it and let nature take its course, or I can become proactive and remedy the problem myself. With the slow decline in the purple martin population in this country, I can't stand to see a compartment go unused because of a dominating martin, so I take action myself. There are a lot of martins in my area so there are always several eager to occupy the compartments I close off. You probably don't have that luxury in Wisconsin, so you may need to stagger the nest holes on your T-14s. That may help some.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
Many people like to accuse the male martin as being the one guilty of porch domination, but the female is often as bad as the male, too. In fact, it is the inability of the female to settle on a specific compartment that causes most of the domination in the first place. This year I had a pair of ASY martins dominating a four compartment side of a T-14. The female had built a complete nest in each compartment but couldn't decide on which one she wanted to lay her eggs in. This pair of martins would viciously attack any martin trying to investigate any one of these compartments (I wish they would fight sparrows and starlings this vigorously), and drive them away. I got tired of their shenanigans and closed off three of the disputed compartments, forcing them into the top compartment. I waited a week or so and reopened the three compartments and they were quickly occupied by three SY males.
Two years ago I had another ASY pair that dominated one complete side of two modified Trio-Wades mounted on a multi-purpose pole, for a total of 12 compartments. These martins fought the other investigating martins for weeks, never even building a nest. The female martin was very dark gray color and I suspect that she may have been barren. Anyway, I plugged up all of the compartments on that side, but when I re-opened them a week later they returned and started their domination all over again. This really upset me so I captured them and carried them a hundred miles away on my route in my big truck, and released them. They never returned. I think I finally ended up with 6 pairs on that side of the Trio-Wades.
Some landlords have stated on this forum that porch domination by the martins is a desirable trait because it demonstrates "strong and aggressive" behavior. I don't think so. One pair of martins dominating 12 compartments results in the loss of possibly 60 martin young fledging from those compartments. With losses like that, I would rather have two or three pairs of starlings or sparrows nesting in those compartments because even they would probably allow martins to nest in the remaining nine compartments.
I thought that I had finally found the perfect birdhouse, one that would be immune from porch domination, in the modified Trio castle. With twelve compartments closed off which resulted in alternate, staggered entrances; porch dividers that created almost eighteen inches of uninterrupted porch for each pair of martins;and extended perches which provided investigating martins a place to perch without being harassed by the dominating martins, the modified castle had it all. But this year three ASY pairs of martins were dominating two compartments each of a modified Trio castle, which accounted for half of the castle's nesting compartments being dominated by three pairs of martins. This was totally unacceptable so I plugged all six of the compartments and made the ASYs go elsewhere. A week later when I unplugged the compartments only one pair of the ASYs returned, with the other five compartments being claimed by SYs.
Porch domination by the martins is something I have deal with every season. I can ignore it and let nature take its course, or I can become proactive and remedy the problem myself. With the slow decline in the purple martin population in this country, I can't stand to see a compartment go unused because of a dominating martin, so I take action myself. There are a lot of martins in my area so there are always several eager to occupy the compartments I close off. You probably don't have that luxury in Wisconsin, so you may need to stagger the nest holes on your T-14s. That may help some.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Bob, thanks for the reply. Sounds like you been dealing with male porch domination for quite some time. Your right in saying I don't have that luxury of closing entrances, but it may be something to consider for next year.
I didn't mention that I have a NORTH STAR house that has 8 compartments, it's 3/4 full. So I'm sure some of the problem with the T14 is in the design itself with its vertical porches. If I put up another T-14 it will have alternating staggered entrances.
Tom
I didn't mention that I have a NORTH STAR house that has 8 compartments, it's 3/4 full. So I'm sure some of the problem with the T14 is in the design itself with its vertical porches. If I put up another T-14 it will have alternating staggered entrances.
Tom
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TrkrBob1949
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 7:20 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Belle Bower
If I remember correctly--and I could very well be wrong--the North Star house is a square house with 4 compartments per floor, with a compartment entrance on each side of the house, located at the end of the porch like the Trendsetter house. This type of house is made by both Dale Mckennon and Bob Bushka (am I right so far?). I make a 12 room house similar to this out of aluminum and it is not uncommon for me to have 100% occupancy in them. I'm thinking about replacing my 3 T-14s with this house next year, mainly because I'm tired of the male porch domination.
I drive for Schneider National and I have been up and down interstate 43 many times, to and from our corporate headquarters in Green Bay. Wisconsin is beautiful country and excellent purple martin habitat, but I haven't seen that many martin houses there. The fact that you are doing so well with your colony is good news because Wisconsin desperately needs more landlord-managed purple martin colonies. Good luck with your martins.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
I drive for Schneider National and I have been up and down interstate 43 many times, to and from our corporate headquarters in Green Bay. Wisconsin is beautiful country and excellent purple martin habitat, but I haven't seen that many martin houses there. The fact that you are doing so well with your colony is good news because Wisconsin desperately needs more landlord-managed purple martin colonies. Good luck with your martins.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Tom,
I had an S&K barn house last year- my first. Started with 3 potential pair, but ended up with only 1 due to porch / house domination. I was going to build the Northstar, but ran out of time. My Xmas present last year was a Trendsetter...for many reasons, the porch domination issue being the main one.
My male (George) returned this year and *tried* to dominate all the cavities, but was unsuccessful - too much to defend. I went from 1 pair last year to almost 11 pair this year (10.5 - a male is having trouble keeping a girl
) Every male I've had has tried to dominate two or more cavities, but they can't seem to do it with this house. I absolutely love this design for that reason!
I had an S&K barn house last year- my first. Started with 3 potential pair, but ended up with only 1 due to porch / house domination. I was going to build the Northstar, but ran out of time. My Xmas present last year was a Trendsetter...for many reasons, the porch domination issue being the main one.
My male (George) returned this year and *tried* to dominate all the cavities, but was unsuccessful - too much to defend. I went from 1 pair last year to almost 11 pair this year (10.5 - a male is having trouble keeping a girl
) Every male I've had has tried to dominate two or more cavities, but they can't seem to do it with this house. I absolutely love this design for that reason!"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com