Late Nesters
I have two houses each with 8 nests. Each year my martins arrive in January and lay eggs in April. All 16 nests are full and about 50 young fledge in June. Then in three of the nests this year a new round of eggs were laid. My question is who is doing this late nesting. Do some pairs undertake a second round or is it possible that some birds which did not get a chance to get a chance in April have come in to make their first brood? After the first round have left the nest they all go away but about 30 birds come back each morning and have a real party landing and taking off from the houses for most of the day and then disapear each night. I wonder where they are going to spend the night. They appear to be protecting the place since when my dog goes into the yard they dive bomb him until he comes back into the house.
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
It is not unusual to have some late nesting martins in colonies after most or all of the current residents have finished breeding. These late nesters are usually martins that failed in the first attempt to nest at another colony site or may even be an unusually late pair(s) of SYs that are trying to raise a family. In south Florida where you live, these martins are most likely ones that were unsuccessful in their first attempt and are now trying again. I currently have one late pair of SYs that are feeding two week old young. All my other pairs have fledged their young though some still bring their young back to roost in the evenings. I have as many as 100 martins still trying to roost in the evenings.
My colony is a bustling social center during the day with many visitors. These are most likely martins that nested in my colony and are still checking things out. Other martins are probably ones that nested nearby and are gathering with all the others. As long as your colony has residents with nestlings, then other martins will often visit.
During the evenings, your martins probably go to a nearby pre-migratory roost and to spend the night. Martins tend to do this at this time of the year though they may visit various colonies during the day.
Martins are single brood nesters, but will try to re-nest if their first attempt is unsuccessful if there is sufficient time left. Though there have been rare documented cases of double broods, the chances of martins raising another family are very slim. Most neo-tropical migratory songbirds, such as martins, only raise one family. Martins must raise their young and prepare for the long journey south to their wintering grounds. Martins are probably genetically programmed to raise one brood.
Steve
My colony is a bustling social center during the day with many visitors. These are most likely martins that nested in my colony and are still checking things out. Other martins are probably ones that nested nearby and are gathering with all the others. As long as your colony has residents with nestlings, then other martins will often visit.
During the evenings, your martins probably go to a nearby pre-migratory roost and to spend the night. Martins tend to do this at this time of the year though they may visit various colonies during the day.
Martins are single brood nesters, but will try to re-nest if their first attempt is unsuccessful if there is sufficient time left. Though there have been rare documented cases of double broods, the chances of martins raising another family are very slim. Most neo-tropical migratory songbirds, such as martins, only raise one family. Martins must raise their young and prepare for the long journey south to their wintering grounds. Martins are probably genetically programmed to raise one brood.
Steve