Yesterday I noticed several asy males dropping to the ground and doing what appeared to be attacking another martin. I later could see it was an asy female, and she just sat there on the ground and did not try to fly away. I picked her up and she was very docile, but alert, and there were no signs of injury, or broken wing etc... she wouldn't hold herself up and just seemed to roll over on her side from time to time. Her feet would grip my fingers so I knew she wasn't paralyzed. I left her alone for awhile and the males returned, and went to her again and this time it looked as if they were mating with her!! One male stayed with her the most and would chase the others away.
I cannot figure out what has happened to her. I had one starling intruder that I noticed had tried to take over the gourd she was nesting in. I Had not had any starling problems this season until yesterday. The asy males at the site seem to out number the females. I cannot figure out if this female was injured by the asy males or by the starling. (btw the starling has left-- too many martins to contend with..) The asy female is still alive, to my surprise, and I don't know what to do with her. Has anyone else had this problem!!
asy female wont fly--mystery!!!
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Guest
Pam,
I'm not sure if it is the same in the martin world, but being an avid waterfowl enthusiast I have noticed on many occasions in the spring the duck mating ritual.
It is not a pretty site at all! The female does not seem to enjoy the mating game and many times tries to escape it!
One year I had to rescue a hen mallard who nearly drowned when 3 males took their turn with her. She was under the water for almost 2 minutes!
If the martins are anything like the ducks, I think you might have experienced something very similar here.
But I'm not a seasoned veteran in this field yet!
I'm not sure if it is the same in the martin world, but being an avid waterfowl enthusiast I have noticed on many occasions in the spring the duck mating ritual.
It is not a pretty site at all! The female does not seem to enjoy the mating game and many times tries to escape it!
One year I had to rescue a hen mallard who nearly drowned when 3 males took their turn with her. She was under the water for almost 2 minutes!
If the martins are anything like the ducks, I think you might have experienced something very similar here.
But I'm not a seasoned veteran in this field yet!
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Pam,
It sounds like you witnessed what is sometimes call martin rape.
I once saw it happen to an SY female who stayed on the ground for nearly an hour after being attacked by about 10 males. She was tended by an SY male who I assumed was her actual mate. He stayed on the grass close to her and found a large earthworm which he offered to her! She had no appetite.
Steve K has a very informative older post on the topic:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=40174
It sounds like you witnessed what is sometimes call martin rape.
I once saw it happen to an SY female who stayed on the ground for nearly an hour after being attacked by about 10 males. She was tended by an SY male who I assumed was her actual mate. He stayed on the grass close to her and found a large earthworm which he offered to her! She had no appetite.
Steve K has a very informative older post on the topic:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=40174
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Yikes!! that's what i thought it was Mary. I just put the asy female back on the ground and the same thing happened. Several males went to her and one seemed to dominate, chasing the others away, then he mated several times with the female, who still seems traumatized and unable to fly.
At one time I thought it looked as if the asy male was feeding her. He clamped his beak over hers the way they feed their young. Otherwise I don't know how she is staying alive without food or water. Did your female ever recover??
At one time I thought it looked as if the asy male was feeding her. He clamped his beak over hers the way they feed their young. Otherwise I don't know how she is staying alive without food or water. Did your female ever recover??
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Guest
Pam,
Can you get the female martin to a rehabber in your area?
You might want to just pick her up and put her in a box with some nesting material in the bottom and keep the lid closed, but make sure she has adaquate air and just let her recover. If you leave her out there she surely will not get any better and risks possible attack and death from a predator, if the males don't kill her.
If I were you, I would put her in a box, bring her inside & put the box in a quiet room for several hours then take her back outside & see if she can fly. If she can't, you should take her to a rehabber.
Can you get the female martin to a rehabber in your area?
You might want to just pick her up and put her in a box with some nesting material in the bottom and keep the lid closed, but make sure she has adaquate air and just let her recover. If you leave her out there she surely will not get any better and risks possible attack and death from a predator, if the males don't kill her.
If I were you, I would put her in a box, bring her inside & put the box in a quiet room for several hours then take her back outside & see if she can fly. If she can't, you should take her to a rehabber.