SY Males

Christopher Norris · Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:26 pm

I had 3 SY Males stay in my house and gourds last summer for 2 months, May 2 to July 5. Whats the odds they will come back this spring? And when should I expect them if they do. Odon,Indiana

Glen Webb Jr · Tue Mar 07, 2006 1:07 pm

Guess it really depends on the birds in the end. I'd say your chances of at least one of them returning this spring are good. But I'm betting if you had 3 sy males reside last summer, then you're definitely set for this year. My first martin ever was a lonely SY bachelor. He tried and tried for little over a month (June-mid-July) to get other martins to stay. THe following spring he returned about April 14th I believe. This was about 3 weeks AFTER the scouts moved into the area. I was getting worried I had lost him, but sure enough he returned and found his house was closed up. Of course the house was pointless once he found the gourds.

Christopher Norris · Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:56 am

Thanks Glen. How can I tell the difference between the 3 males that were here last summer and the rest that might show up?

Sincerely

Glen Webb Jr · Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:00 pm

You really can't I guess. Let's assume you had 3 ASY males show up before any others this season. I'd say it's a good bet at least one or two are from last year. When I see a resident martin return after a long winter (not necessarily a scout, just an arriving adult), they seem to be very excited and quickly flying around the gourd chirping, etc. versus quietly flying around like they are new to a site and aren't quite sure if they want to land or not. Dunno though really. I'm still willing to bet that you'll get at least one of those subbies back this year. Having 3 subbies hanging around for two months is in my opinion a very good start.

Christopher Norris · Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:48 pm

Glen

I seen 3 female martins sitting on the high wire this morning. So I think about another week of warm weather, they will be pushing in fast. This is about 10 days earlier than I seen the first one last year. I am kind of hoping my 3 SY males bring back the flood of SY's this year. I live in a place where there are a high population of martins. Within a mile circle around my house there's probably a thousand baby martins born every year.

Sincerely