Wildlife Gardening: rate my "pond" idea, please!, 1 by Stelco

Stelco wrote:
Purple Martins? Did you mean me? :)

Hi everyone!

I just got back from my trip and then checking my inherited, multi-species area out. House Sparrows destroyed five Bluebird eggs in one box. They built a half of a HOSP nest on top of the Bluebird nest and then abandoned the nest. I have lost one clutch of six Tree Swallow eggs this year to what I suspect was HOSP, but can't be sure.

The rest of the boxes were doing well. I have four empty Bluebird boxes, three Bluebird eggs in one box (fledged one already from an early brood) and four Tree Swallow Nests - 2 eggs, 6 eggs, 5 eggs and one with 4 out of 5 eggs hatched.

As far as the Purple Martins go I added a Martin gourd rack to the site I am working. The birds are used to old 6X6X6 compartments in aluminum housing. My first eggs were four laid in a gourd just over a week ago. No eggs were laid in the 24 available small compartments in aluminum housing last week. This week I have signs of a couple of more nests in the gourds, but in the aluminum house #1 I have four Martin nests with 4 eggs, 4 eggs, 3 eggs and 5 eggs. In #2 I have four nests with 2 eggs, 1 egg, 5 eggs and 1 egg. I have 6 to 10 more nests that seem to be complete and should have eggs in the next two weeks.

I removed a House Sparrow nest w/eggs from compartment #6 of house #1 two weeks ago. They evicted Purple Martins in compartment #3 and built a new nest w/eggs. I removed that nest last weekend. This weekend I permanently removed the female HOSP and eggs from the rebuilt nest in the same compartment. Nobody who will not, or cannot, dispose of European Starlings and House Sparrows should consider providing nest boxes for any over our native cavity nesting birds, except those that are small enough to not allow a HOSP to enter.

brigidlily,

I have a GREAT love for all raptors. I have studied Peregrine Falcons in Lansing, Michigan since 1998. I admire your love for all that is natural, but Martins and Owls should be kept at a safe distance! Hawks, Owls and Falcons do serious damage to Martin colonies. They can wipe a colony out. I would never encourage trying to get both species to nest in the same area. That said, I have never been able to start my own Martin colony, but have had both color phases of Eastern Screech Owls nesting for years.

Your Martins need open spaces, preferably within 100' from your house, with no trees within another 100' or more. Texas is a great place for Martins. It's MUCH easier to do than up here, in Michigan! Good luck and if you need any tips, just ask. I have a BUNCH of Websites that you should know about.

Mark