I wonder if anyone can tell me if I have any hope of getting my only SY pair back from 2005. They arrived on May 21st 2005 and raised 5 young with great success. I figured they would be back by now? The neighbors ASY birds were back around April 10th. Should I keep a look out for my birds or should I start praying for the subbies and playing Dawnsong? I live on the North shore of Lake Erie across from Cleveland.
Thanks!
Is there any hope for the return of my lone pair?
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Ania,
No one can tell you whether those birds will return, but I think you have hope of attracting breeding martins because of last season's success.
This is what the researchers have written on the topic:
Second year breeders (last year's SYs) return significantly later than the earliest ASY scouts:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ght=#57278
Younger adults return weeks later than older adults. See "The Prolonged Migration of Martins" - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/ProlongedMig.html
Will the pair and the pair bond survive?
From "Banding Purple Martins" - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/BandingPM11(3).pdf
From the same study:
The good news is that migration is at an early stage in Ontario. You have about 4-6 weeks to attract breeding pairs. Don't expect your birds to return at the same time as more established colonies in your area. Since your colony is young, your returning birds are younger.
However, if I were in your position, I'd be playing the dawnsong.
Good luck with your colony, Mary
No one can tell you whether those birds will return, but I think you have hope of attracting breeding martins because of last season's success.
This is what the researchers have written on the topic:
Second year breeders (last year's SYs) return significantly later than the earliest ASY scouts:
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ght=#57278
Younger adults return weeks later than older adults. See "The Prolonged Migration of Martins" - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/ProlongedMig.html
Will the pair and the pair bond survive?
From "Banding Purple Martins" - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/BandingPM11(3).pdf
Will your fledglings from last year return?Adult and subadult breeders have strong site-fidelity and about half of them will return to their previous colony site the following season. The other half presumably died or breed elsewhere.
Mate fidelity is low in the Purple Martin. The vast majority of martins have a different mate each breeding season, even if the old mate is present again the following season.
From the same study:
"Post-fledging Wandering by Hatching-year Purple Martins: A Color-banding Study" found a 4% return of subadults to their natal colony. - http://www.purplemartin.org/update/10(4)fledge.htmlOf every 100 nestling martins banded, anywhere from no subadults to 13 subadults will return to their natal sites the following year. Small colonies tend to get a lower percentage back. Larger colonies, and sites that add additional housing each year, tend to get higher percentages back.
The good news is that migration is at an early stage in Ontario. You have about 4-6 weeks to attract breeding pairs. Don't expect your birds to return at the same time as more established colonies in your area. Since your colony is young, your returning birds are younger.
However, if I were in your position, I'd be playing the dawnsong.
Good luck with your colony, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your reply, I've printed the links and will read them eagerly. I suppose I'm particularly worried this year because there seems to be very little interest in my housing. Although I have adequate martin habitat (50 ft from trees, 40 ft from garage) my neighbors have no trees to contend with. The very afternoon they put their new trio house up they had scouts checking it out. This new trio is about 80 feet from my modified trio. I have to say I've taken so many trees down on the property it's starting to look pretty bare. I'm afraid I can't compete with perfect. I can give the martins larger compartments, predator guards, protection from S&S, and an emergency cricket meal should the need arise but they feel the grass is greener on the other side. I'll cross my fingers!
Thank you for your reply, I've printed the links and will read them eagerly. I suppose I'm particularly worried this year because there seems to be very little interest in my housing. Although I have adequate martin habitat (50 ft from trees, 40 ft from garage) my neighbors have no trees to contend with. The very afternoon they put their new trio house up they had scouts checking it out. This new trio is about 80 feet from my modified trio. I have to say I've taken so many trees down on the property it's starting to look pretty bare. I'm afraid I can't compete with perfect. I can give the martins larger compartments, predator guards, protection from S&S, and an emergency cricket meal should the need arise but they feel the grass is greener on the other side. I'll cross my fingers!
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Guest
ania,
I had the exact same worries. I had my first pair last year after trying for 5 years. I kept looking and hoping I would at least get my pair back this year.
I played the Dawnsong until my first PM's started staying the night. I then put the Dawnsong away. I have 4 pair this year. I think you will have more than your original pair like I have. Hard to be patient, I know.
Thanks,
Ken.
I had the exact same worries. I had my first pair last year after trying for 5 years. I kept looking and hoping I would at least get my pair back this year.
I played the Dawnsong until my first PM's started staying the night. I then put the Dawnsong away. I have 4 pair this year. I think you will have more than your original pair like I have. Hard to be patient, I know.
Thanks,
Ken.
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Guest
You're right Ken,
It's really hard to be patient. I've been down right depressed for the last few weeks listening to the distant chirping of neighbor martins, knowing they're not mine.
I've been trying to do all the right stuff, modified housing, cres, sreh, dawnsong, day chatter, loaning out books and advice to neighbors and getting the blank stare. I know they think I am nuts,and why wouldn't they when they just put up a regular house and it's full of martins in no time.
Well that's all changed! Wouldn't you know it I have three ASY birds staying the night. I think one may be my SY from last year since he is staying in the gourd that fledged five young in 2005. He can also enter the crescent without any problem. The other two ASY's tried to enter the crescents for a long time and I finally opened a round entrance for them. I just can't loose any more birds that way. I hope they stay otherwise I might have to seek proffesional help!
Thanks
It's really hard to be patient. I've been down right depressed for the last few weeks listening to the distant chirping of neighbor martins, knowing they're not mine.
I've been trying to do all the right stuff, modified housing, cres, sreh, dawnsong, day chatter, loaning out books and advice to neighbors and getting the blank stare. I know they think I am nuts,and why wouldn't they when they just put up a regular house and it's full of martins in no time.
Well that's all changed! Wouldn't you know it I have three ASY birds staying the night. I think one may be my SY from last year since he is staying in the gourd that fledged five young in 2005. He can also enter the crescent without any problem. The other two ASY's tried to enter the crescents for a long time and I finally opened a round entrance for them. I just can't loose any more birds that way. I hope they stay otherwise I might have to seek proffesional help!
Thanks
Reply to Ania,
Hello! As a new martin landlord of three years, I know how anxious you can be about returning martins. In 2004 I had one pair that nested and hatched four eggs. Everything was great until June 24th. The adults were gone. A nest check revealed the babies were gone. I had a preditor guard on the pole. No fallen feathers were present around the pole. I figured that an owl or kestril got them. I had little hope to get my FY martins back the next year... but I did! Two ASY martins came to the same gourd used the previous year. I ended up with four pair that year and fifteen the next.
Don't give up!
Hello! As a new martin landlord of three years, I know how anxious you can be about returning martins. In 2004 I had one pair that nested and hatched four eggs. Everything was great until June 24th. The adults were gone. A nest check revealed the babies were gone. I had a preditor guard on the pole. No fallen feathers were present around the pole. I figured that an owl or kestril got them. I had little hope to get my FY martins back the next year... but I did! Two ASY martins came to the same gourd used the previous year. I ended up with four pair that year and fifteen the next.
Don't give up!
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Ania,
I'll bet anything that they are staying.
You, understandably, have been viewing the neighbor's new martin house as competition. Actually, it is a huge benefit for your colony. The two houses are only 80' apart. To the martins, it is essentially one big colony and martins LOVE big colonies!
If the neighbor's house has filled up fast, then yours should too. The SY martins haven't even arrived in your area yet! I don't expect you'll ever again have to worry about attracting martins. Just watch the weather and make sure you don't ever lose them to starvation!
If you don't know about the risks of losing a colony to starvation, read about what happened in May 2002:
http://purplemartin.org/update/Suppleme ... g11(3).pdf
Best of luck building your colony,
Mary
I'll bet anything that they are staying.
You, understandably, have been viewing the neighbor's new martin house as competition. Actually, it is a huge benefit for your colony. The two houses are only 80' apart. To the martins, it is essentially one big colony and martins LOVE big colonies!
If the neighbor's house has filled up fast, then yours should too. The SY martins haven't even arrived in your area yet! I don't expect you'll ever again have to worry about attracting martins. Just watch the weather and make sure you don't ever lose them to starvation!
If you don't know about the risks of losing a colony to starvation, read about what happened in May 2002:
http://purplemartin.org/update/Suppleme ... g11(3).pdf
Best of luck building your colony,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Yey they are still here!
I raced through house work and garden chores to watch martin antics all weekend. You're certainly right about the big colony Mary. I noticed my martins making visits next door and the reverse. In fact the neighbor martins sounded an alarm call and my martins flew over to assist in some dive bombing of a sneaky starling, twice!
Thanks again for the words of encouragement everyone!
I raced through house work and garden chores to watch martin antics all weekend. You're certainly right about the big colony Mary. I noticed my martins making visits next door and the reverse. In fact the neighbor martins sounded an alarm call and my martins flew over to assist in some dive bombing of a sneaky starling, twice!
Thanks again for the words of encouragement everyone!