MARTINS NOT SETTING UP HOUSEKEEPING

[Tye Stone]

Hey team, the Martins are here but seem hesitant to move in. I have seen a male sitting on the bird house and he goes into some of the rooms and this AM I saw three females but they haven't moved in. Am I too impatient?

Also last fall, after they left in Mid August the wind bled the house over and broke the pipe. I replaced it but it's a little shorter. Would this cause them to be hesitant?

I've also put up two more houses but they have not noticed. One of them went up last summer and they sat on it but did not move in.

What's a mother to do?

P.S I have a neighabor across the road that also has Martins.

[stan davison]

Don't feel bad i have a pair here that are here all day one day and gone for two days after that. The female is the only one that has roosted and they are never here. But they keep coming back so i can't complain. good luck to you.

[Guest]

Stan, Tye,

From what I have seen and read, your PM's are just acting normal. I guess after that long trip, they don't move in or start making nests until they are good and ready. Once you have more than a pair, they will then claim and protect thier gourd or house against the other PM's, fighting to the ground at times. After they have settled down and don't fight over who is where, it seems they start the feverish task of building their nests non-stop in the mornings until done.

Ken.

[klcretired]

Hello Tye , and welcome to the Forum, you may be a little anxious, Just show a little patience ,you see the Martins don't just get straight into the housekeeping Mode ,they like to get used to their surroundings first , Fly around, come back, fly off again circle and come back again...this can go on for quite some time and when nite falls sometimes they will just sleep on the outside of your housing and not go in...this is very common so don't let it upset you....Just hang in there everything will be okey in due time.Please keep us informed as to your progress at your site we would love to hear what is going on.