There is a significant increase in activity here this morning. Opened my 4 remaining gourds yesterday evening and there is a lot of fighting to get the empty gourds. It is also the first day that it has not been cold and windy so I was able to sit under the gourd racks with binoculars and take a good look at the birds. I had 17 confirmed nests as of last weekend with new nest materials brought in by the martins as well as a 3 more indefinite nests as they had no new nesting materials in evidence.
There is the SY male that I reported May 7th as well as another SY male and a SY female that is driving the males crazy.I knew that there were also two ASY birds back that were banded in 2014 and found three more today, for a total of five ( 2 males and 3 females). There may be at least 2 more banded but with all of the activity, it is challenging until they settle down at a gourd porch.
A martin with one of my red bands was found dead at a friends colony about 20 miles from me. It was hit by a car. He also has at least one more banded martin present. I encourage anyone in Wisconsin and elsewhere to take a close look at their returning martins for any bands. Both the silver and especially my red bands really stand out. We are banding again this year.
Have a good season.
SY finally arriving and banded birds return in Wisconsin
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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.
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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.
Remaining gourds filled up fast. 24 pair have claimed cavities with nests and green leaves in 19 gourds. Eggs should come next week for the ASY pairs. First martin here on March 29th this year.
Hope all are successful this year.
Ed
Hope all are successful this year.
Ed
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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.
Additional SY martins here this morning. ASY males ganging up on what must be another two SY females. A friend about 20 miles from me has two SY pair and 3 SY males still trying to attract females.All have arrived within the last week. One SY male paired last evening for his third SY pair.One pair in T14 and two pair in gourds. This will be his first martins in several years. He had a sucessful pair about 5 years ago but none returned the following year.
The closest successful colony near him is at 24 pair. This is the first year that he closed all additional cavities to assist others in establishing new colonies. He could have easily had additional nesting martins but chose to spread the wealth. Good for him! Good example for others with successful colonies with a sufficient number of nesting pairs to assure returning martins next year.
I have promoted and followed this example for a number of years now. I limit myself to 24 gourds and fill them every year.
Pay it forward!
Ed.
The closest successful colony near him is at 24 pair. This is the first year that he closed all additional cavities to assist others in establishing new colonies. He could have easily had additional nesting martins but chose to spread the wealth. Good for him! Good example for others with successful colonies with a sufficient number of nesting pairs to assure returning martins next year.
I have promoted and followed this example for a number of years now. I limit myself to 24 gourds and fill them every year.
Pay it forward!
Ed.
Glad to hear that there are SY still arriving..Northern Mn here and still hoping that my lone ASY male finds a female that wants to set up camp.. He has been here since the middle of May.. I had a lone female come in with him on May 20th..she spent most of the afternoon and evening coming and going with the ASY male...Haven't seen her since..Then on the 26th I had a female show up again...she was here all day and evening also...She spent time inside a T 14 with the ASY male...I thought i was back in business. She never settled either....The weather has been rain and cold since last Friday but it's sunny and blue skies today..Question for you Ed or any landlords..? The ASY male is still here and this morning i saw him bring in green popple leaves into the T 14..but no female around...So I'm hoping that I've still got time for a SY female to show up....Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated...Thk s Dave