Second Year Landlord...

[T-Bird]

Ok. Last year I put up my first Martin house in mid January. Pre-nested and played the dawn song for months until I finally had Martins move in on May 1st. My first pair fledged 4 new birds. If I am so fortunate to have them return this year, should I expect them to return around May 1st again, or sooner than that now that they have another year under their belt? Should I continue to play the dawn song this year as well?

Thanks,

T-Bird

[D. Doll MN]

It will not hurt to play the dawn song or Day time chatter one more year. The reason saying you have a pair that is loyal to come back to your place as long as they don't die on the way back. But they will return as adults birds and especially if the dark male makes it back he will sing his heart out to attract more to your colony. But a lot of the attracting was done last year with attracting other young ones to the new colony site. And as far as them returning sometime , they may return sooner because they as coming back as two year olds not juveniles. But keep doing what you did the first year, after the second year mother nature will do things for you.

[Whippy]

Hey, T.

My colony started the same as you described yours did. I had a pair nest twice in the same gourd having lost their first clutch of eggs. They were successful the 2nd time in May. The following year, the male arrived mid March. He has returned every year since then - in March. I don't mind them coming in at that time as by then the cold snaps are pretty much over. I did have to put hand warmers in a few gourds a couple of years ago but all was well.

Although we can generally predict the behavior of the Martins, it is really hard to pinpoint the behavior of single birds until you really get to know them. So yours may show up any day now eager to reclaim their cavity and get an early start. It's hard to say. But once they do return, you can predict their arrival in the following years.

I know my colony starter will arrive in March. I know my Trio dwellers will arrive a week before him. What I don't know is which others from the total of 15 pairs I had will arrive and when they will arrive since I had 15 pairs last year. With that many pairs I wont be surprised to see some arrive prior to March.

As I mentioned in another topic, I will watch the scout arrival map populate all around me beginning in January and through February and it makes me think mine aren't coming back but once March rolls in they begin to arrive. If you watch the map don't worry too much about seeing it populate around us. They'll be back.

I hope my rambling provides a bit of insight since our colonies are so close together.

BTW. I was in McKinney last night at Triple Creek baseball park (now Aviator Park). My son trains at the Frozen Ropes indoor complex. We go there every week. It's a 25 minute drive from my house in Plano.

Coolwhips

[flyin-lowe]

Once colonies get large and some age to them they can become pretty predictable as far as return dates go. Early on in a young colony not so much. I have read in the past and quoted on here before that statistically you need at least 6 pair to guarantee at least some survive and return. Again with mother nature nothing is set in stone. It won't hurt to play it until you get some arrivals back. I have started two colonies for myself and as soon as I have them returning on a regular basis I forget about the dawn song, one less thing to worry about. Real martins will do a better job. If you don't want to mess with playing it you could leave it off until the date gets here that you should be seeing yours come back. If yours don't come back as ASY's then fire it back up before the SY's start to arrive in your area. Hopefully you have get some back. Years 3 and 4 can produce big increases. It's just getting over that hump the first couple seasons that can be the toughest.

[deancamp]

T-Bird, If your birds from last year make it back they should be earlier than May 1 as the ASYs return sooner. I would suggest to start playing the Dawnsong when the first birds arrive back to your area based on the scout reports. Even if your birds do make it back, you just might draw in other ASY birds looking for a new home .It's not going to hurt anything and you would regret not trying to attract more birds if yours don't show.

[flyin-lowe]

T Bird, I just realized you were from TX. ASY's should arrive well before May. If you haven't checked it before you can go to the home page under research and look at the scout arrival study. It has the map on it and you will be able to follow when martins are arriving in your area. There are enough people who participate in this that it will give you a pretty good idea when they are moving your way.

[tor]

I will add that to have a 100% reliable return to your site, you need to have around 10 pair. Not to say they won't return, but just keep in mind that the chance for them to return is not guaranteed.

Good luck to you.

[Kegger]

This being my second year at this, I had visiting males from a colony about 1/4 mile from me.
I think these birds showed my SY last year my house. This year they appear to show up and
help me police other birds away from my Martin house. There are 4 Martin houses w/ small
groups of Martins including mine in about a 1/3 mile radius. I have had visitors, some inspecting
my cavities, but I haven't seen any enter my 2 gourds where they fledged chicks last year. Sometime
towards the end of February I hope they return. Good luck to everyone during this Martin season!!