I have observed so many of my nesting Martins building two or more nests.
A few of these are done purposely but it seems the majority are simply because they can't see where they are going with a beakfull of green leave or nesting material. Sometimes they hit the right gourd or apartment and sometimes they miss.
I have also watched an ASY pair build two nests in the two adjacent gourds under the T-14 and the male also protect the other 2 from other SY birds. (4 gourds total) On my last nest check there were 5 eggs in the one gourd and 1 egg in the other. Both nests were equally constructed well. I have seen the ASY male many times sticking his head out of the one egg gourd trying to attract another SY female. I am not sure whos egg the single one belongs too. Does he have 2 females? Or one female laying in 2 different gourds.... which also does happen.
Today he is now allowing a new SY male to adopt this 1 egg gourd. He is spending more time in the 5 egg gourd and is still protecting the other 2 but may be trying to attract another SY female to a third gourd.
My last nest check confirms 8 ASY male pairs nested. There are 7 SY pairs nested or in the process of nesting. One SY pair already had a beautiful nest with 3 eggs.
Another 4-5 pairs still may be setting up shop and choosing compartments.
Terrific year. Things have settled very nicely. It really is not too many
birds when they don't act like nuts! My pool is sparkling clean and we are
all swimming right next to the Martins within 10 feet of the one rack. My
group is very tame now. I can show guests the birds and they stay put on the housing when walking under it. Pretty neat. No poop problems at all yet. I do say "YET" however.
Doug
"Hit or miss" nesting is common with Martins.
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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.
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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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I have noticed that this year. I have 12 nest that are very complete, neat and have green leaves. I also have a pair of SY's that have been in a cavity for a week or so and when I checked yesterday there was 1 piece of corn fodder in the gourd. It was one of the few that I didn't put nesting material into. I don't know if they built one of the other nest's or not. I guess in a couple more weeks once egg laying is going by everyone I will know for sure how many pairs I have. Besides the 12 complete nest there are 4 others that are being/been built but I think they are 2nds.
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.
Sounds like my site this year. I've got almost every gourd with a nest built in it and several of them have bean stubble with a mud mixture.
The weather has been so crazy that many of the nest have a lot of green leaves that have dried up. Just about the time they were going to start laying it got cold, then temperatures spiked to super hot for May.
Looking forward to more seasonable conditions soon!
The weather has been so crazy that many of the nest have a lot of green leaves that have dried up. Just about the time they were going to start laying it got cold, then temperatures spiked to super hot for May.
Looking forward to more seasonable conditions soon!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
Sounds like my site this year. I've got almost every gourd with a nest built in it and several of them have bean stubble with a mud mixture.
The weather has been so crazy that many of the nest have a lot of green leaves that have dried up. Just about the time they were going to start laying it got cold, then temperatures spiked to super hot for May.
Looking forward to more seasonable conditions soon!
The weather has been so crazy that many of the nest have a lot of green leaves that have dried up. Just about the time they were going to start laying it got cold, then temperatures spiked to super hot for May.
Looking forward to more seasonable conditions soon!
Kevin
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
2014 - Added 12 more Gourds to existing Gourd pole, 34 Pair, 134 Fledged
2013 - Replaced Best Nest with T-14, Added additional T-14 93 fledglings, 27 pair
2012 - Added Trio Castle, 23 pair, banded 48 out of 85 fledglings
PMCA Member Since 2010
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dancingirl76
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:09 am
- Location: Albia, IA
I have a ASY male with two females. They have claimed the entire side of a house and have all four compartments with nesting materials. Two have complete nests made. he seems to be quite smitten with both females and even attracted a third for a short time. He stays in one compartment with a partial nest made while the two females stay in one compartment each with complete nests made. The fourth compartment has about 10 pieces of straw in it.
dancingirl76
My late nesting pair built a full nest in the leftmost compartment of a house that is three compartments wide, 90% of a nest in the middle compartment, and threw a few sticks in the rightmost compartment for good measure. Seems like a lot of extra work!