Why would my female be building 8 different nest? I thought ASY birds were experienced enough they didn't mess around. I mean, I don't care if she builds in all 16! I just don't know of any another kind of bird that builds more than one nest.
They also tend to sleep in a different gourd every night. Is this normal behavior?
Newbe question
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Well...they are sleeping together? There's at least that. I haven't seen this. Maybe more than one nest but not that many.
I have been watching me some Jodi Arias trial out of Phoenix and it occurs to me...maybe they are suffering some PTSD. Maybe she is busy to recreate her colony housing after living through the trauma of displacement.
There you go. My best Dr. Phil too.
Surely she will settle down and have all her eggs in one nest. It seems in the past I have read on here about a female that laid eggs in two different nests. I cannot recall the outcome.
Maybe this is when they ask a PRO to respond.
Deb
I have been watching me some Jodi Arias trial out of Phoenix and it occurs to me...maybe they are suffering some PTSD. Maybe she is busy to recreate her colony housing after living through the trauma of displacement.
There you go. My best Dr. Phil too.
Surely she will settle down and have all her eggs in one nest. It seems in the past I have read on here about a female that laid eggs in two different nests. I cannot recall the outcome.
Maybe this is when they ask a PRO to respond.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
Any reference to your name? Lucky3? 
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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Curtis Reil
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:51 pm
- Location: Alberta/Tofield
- Martin Colony History: I inherited this colony when I purchased the property from my Great Uncle. To the best of my knowledge, he had hosted Martins since 1977. Housing consisted of three twelve compartment units that he had built. Small compartments, round holes and no way to lower for managing. There were maybe 6-8 pairs here when we moved in. Through reading up on information provided by the PMCA and that provided to me by Bob Buskas, the decision was made to upgrade the housing. We are now fully switched over to North Star houses and hosted 58 pairs this season(2017). 60 compartments open for business and being so close to 100% occupancy, I believe we may expand housing offered next season. Expansion will continue contingent to high occupancy, being able to keep up on management and or until it starts to feel like work.
I've only been doing nest checks for one season now so in no way can I comment on this being a frequent practice by martins. Last year I had 6 pairs in one of my houses. The only house I could check. The 6 nests containing eggs were all built out of similar materials. There were 3 other nests that had been started in other compartments and the material used was moss. I actually watched them pulling this moss off of a section of eaves trough so I know it got there from them. Not sure what the reasoning for it was but I suspect they didn't like the material that they started with. Just my observation.
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John A Green Jr
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:54 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Elizabeth City
- Martin Colony History: Currently have 4 gourd racks with 24 Bo-9/11 gourds on each. All have tunnels and porches. One Lowes martin house.
Gobbler T,
I have nest building going on now too with several pair building more than one nest. Not sure the reason, maybe if they don't like one they can switch to the other? I also thought maybe it keeps others from getting to close to them? You know, if others see the other nest they won't build there? I'm sure someone on here will know though. I 'm waiting with you on the response cause I want to know too.
I have nest building going on now too with several pair building more than one nest. Not sure the reason, maybe if they don't like one they can switch to the other? I also thought maybe it keeps others from getting to close to them? You know, if others see the other nest they won't build there? I'm sure someone on here will know though. I 'm waiting with you on the response cause I want to know too.
Proud Martineer
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
Well I just checked a few min ago, and ther are 4 partial nest 3 that look complete and 1 REAL big one. 
2 of them have green leaves in them. I wouldn't think gourd hoarding as there's no one to hoard them from!
2 of them have green leaves in them. I wouldn't think gourd hoarding as there's no one to hoard them from!Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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dhjohnson
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Clayton
- Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy
Tony,
Last year we had an SY pair build two complete nests with green leaves. She began egg laying in both nests. I watched to see which nest they seemed to prefer and just moved all the eggs to one nest. She incubated the eggs fine.
Take heart...you have so many attractive gourds they simply can't decide on one gourd and are wondering why they didn't come to your place sooner.
Best of luck with your first pair,
Debbie
Last year we had an SY pair build two complete nests with green leaves. She began egg laying in both nests. I watched to see which nest they seemed to prefer and just moved all the eggs to one nest. She incubated the eggs fine.
Take heart...you have so many attractive gourds they simply can't decide on one gourd and are wondering why they didn't come to your place sooner.
Best of luck with your first pair,
Debbie
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Yeah! That has to be it!you have so many attractive gourds they simply can't decide on one gourd and are wondering why they didn't come to your place sooner.
Now explain why the other female don't get it!
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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baileysambone
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:38 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Baton Rouge
Tony,
Last year my female layed eggs in four different compartments.
I moved all the eggs to one and closed the other holes off for a day or two. Had 9 eggs, 8 hatched.
This year I have one pair in the front house and they built nest in about 4 compartments, but thank goodness she layed all the eggs in one compartment.
I think it's a domination thing. they don't want to share that house with any one, and so far, they have not let anyone else in.
My pair in the back house did the same thing last year, would not let any one else in
Yvonne
Last year my female layed eggs in four different compartments.
I moved all the eggs to one and closed the other holes off for a day or two. Had 9 eggs, 8 hatched.
This year I have one pair in the front house and they built nest in about 4 compartments, but thank goodness she layed all the eggs in one compartment.
I think it's a domination thing. they don't want to share that house with any one, and so far, they have not let anyone else in.
My pair in the back house did the same thing last year, would not let any one else in
Yvonne
2011 visitors
2012 1 pair ASY male, SY female 9 eggs, 8 hatched, fledged 5
2013 5 pair fledged 8
2014 4 pair fledged 15
2015 7 pair fledged 25
2016 10 pair fledged 31
2017 17 pair fledged 69
2018 18 pair fledged 69
2019 21 pair fledged 52 (biting gnats lost babies)
2020 17 pair fledged 53
2021 16 pair fledged 62 ( hard freeze in Feb for days. Lost 39 birds. My oldest and wisest)
2022 11 pair fledged 43
2012 1 pair ASY male, SY female 9 eggs, 8 hatched, fledged 5
2013 5 pair fledged 8
2014 4 pair fledged 15
2015 7 pair fledged 25
2016 10 pair fledged 31
2017 17 pair fledged 69
2018 18 pair fledged 69
2019 21 pair fledged 52 (biting gnats lost babies)
2020 17 pair fledged 53
2021 16 pair fledged 62 ( hard freeze in Feb for days. Lost 39 birds. My oldest and wisest)
2022 11 pair fledged 43
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Chuck4
- Posts: 861
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:05 am
- Location: North MS
- Martin Colony History: I started trying to attract Purple Martins in 2011. I got my first breeding pair in 2013.
2013-1 pair, 2014-4 pair, 2015-8 pair, 2016-12 pair 60 babies :-).
Hi Tony, I am dealing with this same issue now. I am certain I have an ASY female, but she is nest building in two gourds that are next to each other. I plan to do a check tomorrow and see the progress. Very interesting behavior. They do seem to be a dominant pair. I'm not really sure which gourd of the two they prefer yet...
PMCA Member
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