Ahaaaa! I appear to have an alpha male

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Lizzie
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:01 pm
Location: North Central Tx

Hah!
I've reported that the male here (the same male that nested last year) is highly territorial, and he runs off bluebirds or anything else that tries to perch on top of *his* house.
Now, to me, that seems like it would be a desirable trait, but this morning, I noticed that he appears to run off other martins as well.
I thought the arrivals were just a little late in their migration, but this morning, a new bunch of martins came by and sat on the electric line with he and the Mrs, but when they flew over to the housing, he took off in hot pursuit and ran them off.
NOW, it all makes sense that no other martin pairs nested here last year. LOL
:P

I am now ambivalent about his territorial imperative. Hahahah :grin:
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Yikes Lizzie.

I have seen this happen right next door about 20 years ago. They had the same thing. An ASY male and female nested in the rack with an existing tree swallow nest in there. Martins would visit and he would run them all off.

They were not able to start a colony in succeeding years until after I finally established one in 2009 . But this is PA not TX.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Lizzie
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:01 pm
Location: North Central Tx

What I did was go put up an additional house, which is about 125-150 feet from the others, hoping it will be "seen" as a separate site.
I'll watch for a couple of days to see what he does. I am playing daytime chatter out near the new house.....if nothing else, it will be interesting to see if it has any effect (or not).
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Doug Martin - PA
Posts: 1988
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.

Yes that is the best thing you can do. Good Luck!!
He will eventually get busy raising a family hopefully.

Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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JEF612
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri May 29, 2015 10:15 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

Agressive is good - he will keep the pests away!

The other martins will eventually fight their way in. Mine held his castle for 2 seasons before finally giving in :)
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Lizzie
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:01 pm
Location: North Central Tx

JEF612 wrote:Agressive is good - he will keep the pests away!

The other martins will eventually fight their way in. Mine held his castle for 2 seasons before finally giving in :)
Good! I am glad to hear that! :grin:
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