tree swallow questions

[John Miller]

I have a tree swallow crisis today. Ha.

I swung by Forest Park, St. Louis, this am where we have several martin sites -- occupied and hopeful -- and discovered a lone male ASY martin at a new site trying to fend off tree swallows. This martin has been trying for past few days to lure a female to a gourd below a house. Now today he's sitting in the gourd leering out at the tree swallows.

I've got a bb (bluebird) box ready to take to the site later this afternoon to try to lure the tree swallows to it.

How far out from the martin housing should I put the BB house?
Should I plug up the martin housing? I'm reluctant to do so as the male martin is entering "his" gourd.

John Miller

[Glen Webb Jr]

I wouldn't close up the martin house/gourds. If you have a male already in residence, leave them open. As far as the bluebird box, I'd put it about 20-30 feet from the base of the martin pole.

[Guest]

Here ya go John,

25-35 Feet.

Reference:
http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/%7EDan ... GENCY.html

[Dan Drew]

I have a tree swallow crisis today.

If you have site-loyal returning martins, there should be no real "crisis" because of the presence of tree swallows. A martin raised at your location and intending to breed there will not take much guff... or be much influenced by tree swallows.

It is at unestablished sites that TS are a crisis... and often prevent the establishment of a colony for years despite adequate PM housing... until their interference is recognized and dealt with.

As soon as the SY's arrive (or maybe sooner) you PM will get into "courting" and nesting mode and the tree swallows will probably "retreat" to their designated housing... and will impede the plans of the PM's very little even if allowed to nest in a vacant PM cavity (which does happen occastionally.)

Good luck! ~Dan Drew

[John Miller]

Thanks folks for the advice. I wasn't sure about the distance. I've just returned from erecting the bluebird/treeswallow house. I've posted a photo (bad light) of the site, with the BB house off to the far right, about 30 feet.

This Trendsetter house is on the edge of a little island in Forest Park. I have to take a paddle or row boat to the site. (We'll see how that works out.) I know a lot about martins, but I'm still learning and I learned this afternoon that paddling a paddle boat by oneself in the wind is not easy. Ha.

John Miller

P.S. That's the St. Louis 1901 World's Fair Pavilion in the background.