Any harm in playing the Dawnsong loud?

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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

Hello Everyone,

Well it appears I'm back to starting a scratch colony after my lone SY's who successfully fledged young last year have not returned this year.

My question is that I have the Dawnsong playing rather loudly. I get visitors circle the rack once or twice but then leave. My thought (in playing loudly) is that I may be able to draw some birds in from a colony about 3 or 4 miles away as the crow flies.

Any input would be appreciated.

Desperate Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

I had a disgruntled neighbor lady ring the doorbell at 5 am and tell me to turn those 'darn' birds off....
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Chuck4
Posts: 861
Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
Location: North MS
Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.

2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).

Sound waves travel very well in the morning air. I don't think you'd need to turn it any louder than what a normal group of Martins sounds like. I've noticed it seems like you can literally hear birds from many miles away in all directions sometimes. It's like the morning air amplifies the sounds. I love sitting outside in the early morning and just listening to all of the birds sing their songs! I did try playing it early on when I was first trying, and I did crank it one morning. All of the native birds were kind of freaking out. So I decided to back off of the volume.
PMCA Member
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

You can channel the sound somewhat by placing your speaker inside a square or rectangular bucket. That limits the sound to the sides and beams sound in a more directional path.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I had mine inside a compartment in a house. I thought it was just right. Sounded awesome. I never did have mine blaring real loud.
Sharon from southern Illinois
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Bob Buskas
Posts: 600
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada

Yes, you can play it too loud, it not only annoys the neighbors, but can actually scare off the more timid Martins. If they are circling turn it way down, or turn it off completely.
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Bob's right. The very loud noise will call them in but excessive noise seems to disturb them from exploring the offered housing. I only played my Dawn Song at medium level and about 30 feet from the gourd rack. I turned it down or off if they landed. That way they could refocus on their house shopping expedition!
Good luck and have a great season! Glad they are back in your area!
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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Bob Buskas
Posts: 600
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada

In the real PM world the ASY males only dawn sing for several hours at dawn, here in Alberta 4 or 5 am. If you want to keep them coming after 7am then switch to the day time chatter CD which is just the sound of an active daytime colony. And then, not too loud.
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
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april57
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:58 pm
Location: Wizard Lake Alberta

well I played the dawn song on my ghetto blaster 24/7 for 3 years in the spring/summer. We live on an acreage and distance. Our neighbor would open his bedroom window and hear birds chirping all night. Needless to say he was so glad 3 years later I got a pair...LOL...I did play it quite loud but not blasting even in the rain covered. As you can get fly bys in the rain looking for cover. Now my condo is full and 12 pair
2007 none
2008 few landed
2009 - 2 pair - 9 eggs- 9 fledged
2010 - 1ASY pair and 4SY pair total 10 bird
2011 first ASY pair May 06
2012 first pair arrived May 01, May 21 total 10 pairs 49 babies
2013 May 04 martins 2 pair May 19 total 12 pair
2014 May 08 2 pair May 12 almost full 10 pair
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

It gets there attention most definitely. :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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