Tree swallows checking gourds
Just came home and pair of swallows checking gourds. Lowered my gourds. No martins yet, first year, scouts arrived in area only so far. Should I block my gourds for a few days? I have nest boxes suitable for tree swallows that are available. A pair of trees nested in my neighbors old Martin house last year, think this may be returning pair. Suggestions
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Go to the PMCA main page. Under Education, find Download. Under Download, find TreeSwallow Emergency. Tree swallows are not your friend if you are trying to attract martins and a poor substitute for martins. If they claim your site, they will aggressively drive off investigating martins. Follow the protocol exactly. No short cuts permitted.
Good luck.
Ed
Good luck.
Ed
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
The emergency protocol is the best course of action. Since this is your first year I recommend you leave your martin housing blocked off and offer a gourd 30-50 feet from your housing. I wouldn't open the housing back up until you see martins investigating your housing. As Ed said, Tree Swallows can cause problems when trying to start a new colony. If they claim your housing they will fight off investigating martins and you cannot deal with them like you would sparrows and starlings.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Yep have closed the housing off and do have a box setup for Tree Swallows near the site. I went from 1 pair this morning to 3 pairs at lunchtime. Looks like some have been driven off and the remaining pair is checking the neighbors old martin housing where the tree pair nested last year. Keeping fingers crossed they settle in there soon.