Do Unsuccessful SY Male Bachelors Return?

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bootjack farm
Posts: 112
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:30 am
Location: Russell, Pa
Martin Colony History: 9 years of trying hard...finally in 2017 I had 3 pair w/ 11 babies. T-14 +4 w/ 4 Troyer horiz. gourds. Troyer Super System 24. Fast forward to 2020... 64 fledged.

I'm now a SY landlord so I am still concerned that there will be enough birds to sustain my colony next year. I have three unattached SY males that are trying hard.

Question: If they are unsuccessful in attracting a mate this season are they likely to return to my colony next year?
Northwest PA
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tboydshirt
Posts: 77
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:42 pm
Location: sugarcreek,ohio
Martin Colony History: new in 2017, but ready for lots of birds. 44 gourds and 40 t14 style holes
2019 more visitors than in the past and a long suffering SY male. each year enhancing the site and hoping for the future.

that was my hope last year. had a male all summer, but no return for me. could have died over winter though.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3795
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

That's how my first ever colony started. I had an SY male build a nest and spend all summer at my place trying to attract a mate, and he never did. Then next year he came back as an ASY male and went straight into the same gourd. That year he attracted a mate and drew in 4 more SY pair.
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.
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Heavy_D
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:26 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO
Martin Colony History: 2019 2 pair 9 egss so far
2018 many vistors
2017 SY pair made nest and laid 2 eggs but lost female male moved on

I have wondered the same thing.

I have had on and off visitors for the last couple weeks. There was another pair this morning. I don't know if it's the same SY male and female or not but He goes for the same cavity each time and attempts to lure her in but she's never quite convinced.
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pmlover
Posts: 805
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:30 pm
Location: OH/New Concord

They will try again as long as you keep your site inviting and protected
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged

2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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handyman315
Posts: 300
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 11:03 am
Location: SW Ohio
Martin Colony History: Colony established May 20, 2017 after three unsuccessful years. Persistent and aggressive Tree Swallows plagued the site, but beyond learning - and practicing - to control them, was the return in 2017 of a 2016-SY-M previously unable to find a mate. As a handsome ASY-M, he brought along two females and a swagger that soon put the Tree Swallow issue to rest. As the anchor pair, he and his mate hatched all six of their eggs into fat and healthy babies into what settled in to be a three-pair, flourishing new colony with up to 11 birds total, including 3 SY-M trouble makers.

Almost exactly the way my new colony started, i.e., SY-M clearly claimed my site in 2016 but could never get a female to move in/stay. He returned in 2017 (as a dandy ASY-M) and brought along two females. Other birds joined in, and he and Rio Rita hatched out five chubby babies. He's back again this year, and is clearly my anchor bird.

Maybe not the same bird? Pshaw! Exact same gourd all three years, besides we are now bonded . . . two old guys and he feels sorry for me because I can't fly. :cry:
2023-42 Nests, 197 Eggs/Babies
2022-48 Nests Fledged 203
2021-43 Nests Fledged 185
2020-31 Nests Fledged 133, three early deaths due to cold & rain
2019-19 Nests Fledged 84
2018-11 Nests Fledged 48, ASY-M Arrived April 6, Despite Snow & Cold, Joined Soon by Mate & Two Adult Pairs
2017-3 Nests Fledged 13, FIRST-YEAR LANDLORD! Resident SY-M from 2016 Returned (as ASY-M) on May 20. At Least 11 Adult Residents
2016 Late-Arriving SYs, Resident Lone SY-M
2015-14 Many Visits
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

handyman315 wrote: ↑
Mon Jun 18, 2018 12:41 pm
 . . . two old guys and he feels sorry for me because I can't fly.
:lol:
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bootjack farm
Posts: 112
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:30 am
Location: Russell, Pa
Martin Colony History: 9 years of trying hard...finally in 2017 I had 3 pair w/ 11 babies. T-14 +4 w/ 4 Troyer horiz. gourds. Troyer Super System 24. Fast forward to 2020... 64 fledged.

Oh boy! There is hope now that my colony will hold its own or even expand next year. :grin:
Northwest PA
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