Do previous birds return to the same compartment as the year before and do some arrive as couples?

[brent]

This is a post that I’m revisiting. I have a pair of ASYs, a couple, that insisted, at least she did by her behavior, that I open house A compartment # 3. Well so far, since I opened it, they have stayed and return to it each evening. It is only the 3rd day since they arrived but the 2nd day (after I saw her somewhat upset that A # 3 was not open) that they returned to it and left from it. No doubt they are a devoted pair and identify with that compartment. It’s theirs and no one, not me or anyone, will change that. So the question is “do martins return to their previous compartments and do martins pair for life?”. After hearing this story what are your thoughts? I looked at last year’s notes, the couple in that compartment were successful. They were the first to lay an egg. Nest was complete with twigs and green leaves. Beautiful nest. They successfully raised 3 chicks out of 5 eggs laid. Your thoughts? Brent

[Whippy]

Brent,

It is true that Martins will return to the very same nesting cavity as the previous year where they were successful in raising a brood. I do know the Male will return for sure and soon the female will return if she makes the trip. But as for mating for life I don't think that bond is as strong a site fidelity. They may meet up year after year to raise a brood but I don't believe they spend their lives together outside of raising that brood.

I'm sure someone will respond with more scientific knowledge on the issue and I hope they do. I just rattled off my own observations.

Coolwhips

[randyM]

The likelihood of a bird or pair nesting in the same compartment in consecutive years may perhaps depend upon how many total compartments are available in a given colony. The more compartments available, the less likely it would appear that a bird will return to last year's compartment, and vice versa. I've been fortunate to have my colony included in a martin banding study in South Dakota since 2017 (the second year I had nesting martins). I've had 2 banded males from 2017 return from 2018-2021 and each has chosen a different nest cavity each of those 4 years. I've had one female banded in 2018 return from 2019-2021 and each of those 3 years she chose a different cavity. I've had 7 other birds banded in 2019 return in 2020-2021 and none of those birds nested in the same cavities in consecutive years. All of these birds successfully fledged young each year. I have many more available nest cavities, 376, than nesting martin pairs, 89, (10 wooden houses = 200 cavities with 8 gourds under each house = 80 additional cavities, plus 4 gourd racks = 80, plus 1 plastic house with 8 gourds = 16 cavities), so perhaps that's why many birds at my colony have chosen a different compartment in which to nest each year.

The first cavity that my founding pair nested in 2016 has been occupied with a successful nest every year from 2016-2021 and is the cavity the first scout has always initially occupied upon his arrival since 2015. I'd like to think this is my founding male, but perhaps this is just, for whatever reason, the most desirable compartment of the 376 available, and thus, the first occupied each year? I've also observed banded martins that appeared to have been "paired" and setting up residence in a specific cavity for a few weeks after their arrival only to chose a different cavity in which to nest, sometimes even choosing a cavity in a different house. On two occasions I've observed both members of a pair each having a unique number band staying in the same compartment for a few weeks, then one member of the pair switches mates and nest cavities. On one occasion it was the male and the other occasion it was the female that switched cavities and mates. So unless birds can be positively identified as a unique individual from year to year, it's just our best guess as to who's who in our respective colonies, but it sure is fun to imagine

[Whippy]

That's good stuff, Randy. I am glad you responded with the data from the banded birds. Without having a definitive way to identify a bird, it can only be speculation then. It is fun to think that the same male martin returns every year to the same spot but you make a great point in that perhaps that one gourd is the most preferred out of all of them.

Hopefully another will post his/her data from their banded birds if they have them.

Coolwhips

[brent]

Great responses! It's so early in the season. Perhaps they just wanted that one particular compartment. Both flew out of it this morning. Getting warmer so I'm sure I'll see more come in. Thanks for all the information. Brent

[deancamp]

Jones 4381 posted this link on a different thread but I thought it was relevant on this one as well. Extremely good information. https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... s1-371.pdf

[deancamp]

Maybe someone can help me. I thought I could copy and paste the link but that didn't work. It was posted in the thread titled Scout arrival date vs colony growth. Sorry for my lack of computer skills.'

[Whippy]

Here it is, Jeff.

The easiest way to do this is to click the link then copy it out of the browser when the page in question is open.

https://www.purplemartin.org/uploads/me ... s1-371.pdf

Coolwhips

[brent]

Excellent research! Now I know. The pair returned again this evening and went right into house A #3. They might stay there together, they might select a different compartment, they might go their separate ways and find another companion. Sounds familiar? I like the idea that they’d stay together. That’s just me. But what interesting research. Thanks again! Brent

[deancamp]

Thanks Whip!, hopefully I can rember that if it comes up again.

[Jones4381]

Great thread and discussion...I'm sure we've all wondered about this and what I've read now makes me believe the best housing and location is the key along with 'earliest bird gets the worm' Mommy and Daddy use to tell me coming true in life once again. Love the studies but also love the lore of landlord stories insisting the same bird year after year is the first and takes the same house (which can also be true).

[starling shooter]

Met a gut many years ago in TN at Martin fest. He said he had a banded male return to the same compartment 8 straight years. Obviously , that would be very unusual.

I have pm sitting on shepherd hooks w no gourds- I’m almost certain they are the same birds. Hang a gourd and they go in in a minute.