Good year for SY's after a late start.

flyin-lowe · Tue Jun 06, 2017 3:14 pm

This was the latest year I have had for scout reports. Trying to get a colony established at my new house I have had a couple years with 1 SY pair. Earlier in the month I had a couple SY's show up and had 1 pair staying with another lone SY male hanging around. Yesterday I had several more show up and this morning had 4 pair going in and out of 4 cavities building nests. Not sure where they all came from but they day they showed up they claimed cavities and are bringing in nesting material. I was excited at the thought of possibly having 2 pair. If I end up with three or four nesting pair this year that really helps my odd of ASY's making it back next year. Starting over is tough. In my mind I really thought I would get them established quicker this time around but so far no such luck. Earlier in the week one gourd had quite a bit of nesting material in it and the lone SY male just had a few pieces in his. Today I have seen some of them grabbing green leaves so they must now be pretty far along with the nests.

kim w. · Tue Jun 06, 2017 4:10 pm

My fourth year of trying. Had a sy female show up yesterday. A sy male was here for a few days a while back but left after not successful in getting a mate. We'll see if she has any better luck. That would be great if you end up with four pair.

flyin-lowe · Wed Jun 07, 2017 8:37 pm

Not sure whats going on but this afternoon none of the martins were around. I was assuming they were out feeding but right now it is pretty much dark and none of them came back in. Ive had 4 pair spending the night (two pair just this week) the others have complete nests built. I'm really hoping I get up in the morning and they are around. I can't imagine what would cause them to take off now. The other two pair have partial nests built too.

flyin-lowe · Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:19 am

Well fortunately they were all back bright and early this morning. Not sure when they snuck in but typically they spend a half our or so before dark preening and buzzing around. Last night I never saw them one time from 4:00 pm until dark. BIg sigh of relief anyway.

AndyShutterbug · Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:41 am

So glad they are still around. Enjoying PMs is not supposed to be so stressful! I hope you get re-established this year.

bwenger · Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:35 am

Flyin-Lowe,

Glad to hear that you are finally getting some nesting birds. If we only knew what the key is to get them to be interested in our sites. It seemed that most landlords had a pretty good year with fledging last year, so hopefully a lot of wannabe landlords are now getting their colonies started.

Good luck this year!

Bill in PA

flyin-lowe · Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:41 pm

I clearly remember 10 years or more ago when I was trying to get my first colony established that if I could get some nesting and returning I wouldn't have anything else to worry about. Then I had 30 pair and had predators, mites, jumpers, and all the other things we have to worry about.

I really feel like if I can get 3 or 4 pair this year my odds of getting some of them back next year really increase.

flyin-lowe · Sun Jun 11, 2017 9:58 am

As of this morning I have 3 complete nests and my first egg of the season. There is another SY pair around but the gourd they are using only has a little nesting material in it. I've had SY's lay eggs in little to no nesting material so I am curious to see what the do. The other two nests are complete with green leaves and I expect eggs in them any time.