This is short note for those of you who have trouble with bluebirds and tree swallows dominating your housing. Over the years I have often seen martins come to check out our housing, only to be chased away. Bbs and ts were never allowed to nest in the martin housing but they didn’t want martins around. They had their own nest boxes the prescribed forty feet away but they still owned and protected the Martin housing. Frustrating!!
But this year we got a pair that wouldn’t be run off. They have three nice chicks that should fledge sometime next week. It wasn’t at all uncommon to see all three species sitting on the wire next to the housing at the same time. You just have to wait for the right birds to come along and you’ll be a landlord.
Bluebirds and tree swallows
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Peter Alberda
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:09 pm
- Location: Michigan, Zeeland
- Martin Colony History: Started with Amish copy of Trendsetter 12 room house, added Trio Grandpa with expanded rooms, and North Star 8. Taking Trendsetter down this spring and adding gourd rack.
2020 - A pair of SY birds with three nice chicks. Lots of visitors all year long.
2015-2019 - A few lookers.
2014 - ASY male and SY female fledged four chicks.
2013 - Several visitors but none stayed to nest.
2012 - Lots of visitors all season long. We had a pair of sys but no chicks survived.
2011 - New location - A few visitors
2010 - First year – Poor house location.
2015-2019 - A few lookers.
2014 - ASY male and SY female fledged four chicks.
2013 - Several visitors but none stayed to nest.
2012 - Lots of visitors all season long. We had a pair of sys but no chicks survived.
2011 - New location - A few visitors
2010 - First year – Poor house location.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2442
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
...... Peter .... That is so frustrating... I had to deal with the Bluebirds and Tree Swallow also.. Man they drove me crazy... Finally last year we got our first pair and they had five babies... This year another single pair which had 4 babies, and they will be fledge with in a few days now... I know how hard it is to keep at it.. But your success this year payed off.. Super job..
Dave
Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Tree swallows can be the biggest obstacle getting a colony started. The good news is once you get returning martins they will not be ran off by the TS. Now that I have an established colony I just leave the martin housing closed up until martins start to return. The TS are usually several weeks ahead of the martins so they will be close to nesting by the time the martins arrive. Congrats on the nesting pair.
2026 HOSP 27
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.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Hi Peter,
A great informational section on tree swallows and bluebirds can be found right on this website. Click on Purple Martin Website, hold cursor over Purple Martins, pull down to competitors, over to Native. At the bottom on the Native page is a download on Tree Swallow Emergency.
A great informational section on tree swallows and bluebirds can be found right on this website. Click on Purple Martin Website, hold cursor over Purple Martins, pull down to competitors, over to Native. At the bottom on the Native page is a download on Tree Swallow Emergency.
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Dave Reynolds
- Posts: 2442
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
- Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
- Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged
Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged
... Dave Duit .. Thanks for the information.. I have read that information on the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows before.. but forgot where it was.. 
.. Thanks for the reminder on how to fine it here on the PMCA site... (Actually-- I didn't think it would be here)
Dave
.. Thanks for the reminder on how to fine it here on the PMCA site... (Actually-- I didn't think it would be here) Dave
Last edited by Dave Reynolds on Wed Jul 29, 2020 7:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
I think the individual bird has a lot to do with this problem. Over the years I have dealt with both aggressive and non- aggressive TS and Blusbirds. Same with the Martins, some are more willing to defend their housing than others. When it comes down to it they belong to a species of birds, but they are individuals also.
Hanover Bill.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72