I have two T-14s and two gourd racks.I did have a few ASY males checking the place out but I think they were from the Amish farm a mile away. I was not sure on my house location so I decided to move One T-14 and gourd rack to give them a option.
Now I have not seen them for two weeks.
Still hoping for SY birds.
Did I mess up ? Central Indiana
-
Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi,
I do not believe you made a mistake.
You are probably correct about the visiting ASY males - they were from the neighbor colony and were just checking out your place.
It is not likely that moving half of your housing scared off those ASY males or discouraged others from visiting.
Having large, established colonies nearby both helps and hurts your chances of starting your own colony. It helps, obviously, because it means martins are in the area and will find your housing. It hurts because most martins want to live with other martins and will choose the established colony if there is room -and- if they are accepted.
So, you may have to wait awhile for martins, but eventually you will attract them.
Let's hope you only have to wait for this year's crop of subbies!
You definitely need to keep your housing up all season until all martins in your area head south for the winter. This season's fledglings from neighboring colonies will check out your housing before they migrate south. There is a good chance your neighbor's fledglings this year will be your SY breeders next year.
Good luck starting your colony,
Mary
I do not believe you made a mistake.
You are probably correct about the visiting ASY males - they were from the neighbor colony and were just checking out your place.
It is not likely that moving half of your housing scared off those ASY males or discouraged others from visiting.
Having large, established colonies nearby both helps and hurts your chances of starting your own colony. It helps, obviously, because it means martins are in the area and will find your housing. It hurts because most martins want to live with other martins and will choose the established colony if there is room -and- if they are accepted.
So, you may have to wait awhile for martins, but eventually you will attract them.
Let's hope you only have to wait for this year's crop of subbies!
You definitely need to keep your housing up all season until all martins in your area head south for the winter. This season's fledglings from neighboring colonies will check out your housing before they migrate south. There is a good chance your neighbor's fledglings this year will be your SY breeders next year.
Good luck starting your colony,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
-
Guest
That statement about others checking out facilities before heading south was on my mental list of questions,glad to know that,,,,,,
dick
dick