TREE SWALLOW ~ PURPLE MARTIN
AND
BLUE BIRD ~ PURPLE MARTIN
I N T E R F E R E N C E
If you live where there are lots of tree swallows and/or blue birds,
              and you've been UNSUCCESSFUL AT ATTRACTING PURPLE MARTINS...
                                READ ON:
 


THIS  MAY  BE

        AN  EMERGENCY!
PRINCIPLES AND DISCLAIMERS
  • Both tree swallows and blue birds are known to be agressive competitors with purple martins for housing at an unestablished site.
  • Allowing a TS or BB pair to claim a martin cavity at a new site will RUIN your chances of attracting martins.
  • SY martins are timid, inexperienced and not aggressive... which renders them prone to "interference" or competition from TS & BB.
  • Even ASY martins are "timid" when in "exploratory" mode or just "passing through."
  • For this reason, new or "unestablished" martin sites are prone to SERIOUS problems with TS and/or BB interference.
  • Thus, the primary rule: Never allow a TS or BB to claim one of your martin cavities!
  • Only "site loyal" martins (successul breeders the prior year) can be counted on to quickly dominate TS and/or BB.
  • For this reason, THIS WEBSITE AND PROTOCOL DOES NOT PERTAIN OR APPLY TO ESTABLISHED MARTIN SITES.
  • TS and BB interference just does not seem to occur at established martin colonies.
  • It is acknowledged that quite often co-habitations can and do occur "naturally" without any landlord intervention.
  • Statistically, these are rare... and occur when MARTINS inhabit a site first... followed by TS and/or BB.
  • Hopeful landlords at NEW sites should NOT count on this.  Instead they should follow the protocol below PROactively.
  • "Naturally occuring" co-habitations result in many successful martins landlords who have never really seen TS or BB interference... and 
  • Therefore, such landlords, even though "authorities" on martineering, may not be aware that landlord intervention is necessary.
  • Such landlords are prone to give (oversimplified) and incorrect reassurance and advice.  BE CAREFUL!
  • Even though co-habitations and tri-habitations occur "naturally", Wannabe landlords at NEW SITES are foolish to COUNT ON IT.
    • THE FOLLOWING FALSE AND INCORRECT ADVICE IS FREQUENTLY GIVEN. 
    • Put out enough housing!  Correct management does NOT consist of simply putting out enough housing for all the species at your site.  In fact an excess of housing or incorrectly configured housing will actually DETER your progress during step 3 below!
    • Put out housing to DRAW THE TS and/or BB AWAY from your PM rig!  Correct management does NOT consist of "drawing" the TS or BB "AWAY" from you PM rig.  In fact, THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.  This protocol's objective is to draw a pair of TS or BB TO a spot 25 to 40 feet away from your PM rig, where they will protect it from invasion by members of their own species.
    • Let the birds "work it out!" Fat chance??? NO! ...SLIM CHANCE!  Success using this advice would require the LUCK of "the right martin" showing up at your site who would be determined enough to put up with the initial harrassment of the TS and/or BB and "take charge" at your site.  It is estimated that your percentages here would be in single digits or decimals. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • THE PROTOCOL below is a strategy that has been found VERY successful in managing both TS and BB interference.
  • NOTE that it is a protocol that is proven successful; but it does not GUARANTEE that you will get martins to a new site!
  • This protocol is effective in handling INTERFERENCE between BB/TS and PM's but it does NOT purport to attract martins.
  • The use of this protocol ASSUMES that the landlord has already provided adequate martin housing and attractants!
    		•
    DAN'S RULES FOR MANAGEMENT OF TS OR BB PROBLEMS
  • RULE  ONE:   NEVER ALLOW A TREE SWALLOW OR BLUE BIRD TO NEST IN YOUR MARTIN HOUSING!
  • RULE TWO:   NEVER DENY AN INVESTIGATING MARTIN ACCESS TO YOUR PM HOUSING!
  • RULE THREE: RULE ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RULE TWO!
    		•
    These rules have been visualized as a teeter-totter over the past season by landlords using the "protocol" below.
    The teeter totter is visualized as below: 
    [Try to memorize it, as it might govern your actions for a significant period of time!]
    NEVER ALLOW A TREE SWALLOW OR BLUE BIRD TO NEST IN YOUR PM HOUSING __________________________
         I    		 NEVER DENY AN INVESTIGATING MARTN ACCESS TO YOUR PM HOUSING

     
    THE "PLAYERS" IN THE INTERFERENCE GAME 
    Usually a tree swallow pair will prefer a gourd; but they have also been reported to compete with martins for "apartment style" housing.  Blue birds prefer a "box" or similar type housing... but may also choose a gourd. If you allow tree swallows or blue birds to nest in your PM gourds (or housing) they will completely dominate your entire gourd rack... or PM site and all the air space around it for at least 25 feet... and you will get NO MARTINS this year

    Regardless of how little time might remain in the "martin season" for attracting martins to your new site, the following protocol MUST be followed to eliminate the TS/PM interference and give you a chance to get martins... and a cohabitation of both martins and tree swallows at your site.
    LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIES INVOLVED 
    A LANDLORD'S ULTIMATE DREAM IS TO HAVE A TRIHABITATION OF ALL THREE SPECIES
    The Eastern Blue bird The Tree Swallow Adult female purple martin

    THE FOLLOWING IS THE PROTOCOL WHICH MUST BE FOLLOWED
    TO ELIMINATE THE TS/PM INTERFERENCE PROBLEM:
    THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED READS SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
    The best agent(s) to protect your uninhabited prospective martin housing from tree swallows is "a committed pair" of tree swallows located 25 to 35 feet away!  The same is true for blue birds.
    INITIAL ACTION will depend on WHEN you discover that you have "interference" at your site from tree swallows or blue birds [or both.]
    STEP ONE:  STEP BACK, SHUT DOWN, AND MAKE A PLAN! STEP TWO:  SET UP ALTERNATIVE "DESIGNATED" HOUSING!
         After closing your PM cavities, SET UP "ALTERNATIVE HOUSING" for your tree swallow and/or blue bird pair!
                 This "designated housing" must be located about 25 to 35 feet from your main PM housing.
  • IF YOUR "PROBLEM" TS OR BB PAIR HAS ALREADY BUILT A NEST IN ONE OF YOUR GOURDS, carefully remove that gourd [without disturbing the nest] and locate it on a Shepherds hook or other device 25 to 35 feet from your main PM housing.
  • MODIFY THE ENTRANCE HOLE (if needed) as time permits.  If  "sacrificing" a PM gourd... or using housing with an entrance larger than 1 1/2 inches, it is good to modify the entrance to 1 1/2 inches.  This size opening is perfect for both tree swallows and blue birds.   It will also make them starling proof.  Remember both BB and TS are much smaller birds than purple martins!

    •  
  • WHAT IF AN "EVICTION" or "INVASION" OCCURS... or some OTHER species claims one of your designated BB or TS houses?  Evictions and/or "surprise invasions" are common... especially by chickadees.  This is the simplest problem of all to deal with.  You simply add additional housing to your configuration to replace the "stolen" or "invaded" TS or BB house.  Try to maintain good distance (at least 15 feet) between the housing when you re-configure... and keep all the entrances faced so "everybody can see everybody."
    • STEP THREE: "FORCE" YOUR TS or BB PAIR INTO THEIR NEW HOUSING!
    THE McKINNON FLASHER 
    (shown at right.) 

    These are easy to make, and require only a piece of string and an all-white sour cream or cottage cheese lid or the like.  Using your best cub scout or brownie skills, trim the white piece from round to oblong to mimick the shape and size of the tree swallow breast and under belly.  Then hang it (well) above or below the entrance of your new "designated alternative TS dwelling" ...being sure to keep the string well away from the opening to avoid entanglement.

    These little charmers DO work!  It is assumed that they serve as a visual "stimulus" by mimicking the "in flight silouette" of a tree swallow as they blow in the breeze.
  • ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT "EVICTIONS" and "INVASIONS"  These will usualy occur during step 3.  If some OTHER species claims one of your designated BB or TS houses?  Evictions and/or "surprise invasions" are common... especially by chickadees.  This is the simplest problem of all to deal with.  You simply add additional housing to your configuration to replace the "stolen" or "invaded" TS or BB house.  Try to maintain good distance (at least 15 feet) between the housing when you re-configure... and keep all the entrances faced so "everybody can see everybody."


    • STEP FOUR: RIDING THE TEETER-TOTTER    A PERIOD OF WATCHFUL WAITING.

    IMPORTANT SPECIAL NOTICE:
    Earlier versions of this protocol "limped" because of inadequate research and experience to provide a set of "rules" for allowing landlords to allow ANY martins access to inspect the PM housing.  The present version presents a set of rules & guidelines which are thought to be valid based on three seasons of experience and research.  "Riding the Teeter-totter" is a metaphor created for implementing ("juggling") the rules to allow you to use attractants and actually allow martins access to your PM rig during the protocol.
    WANT TO "GO AFTER" THOSE RETURNING ASY MARTINS AT YOUR NEW SITE?
    READ ON... YOU MAY DO THAT... BUT FOLLOW THESE RULES!
    THE CARDINAL RULE IN THE PROTOCOL REMAINS THE SAME:
    THE "PROBLEM" TREE SWALLOW OR BLUE BIRD PAIR MUST BE COMMITTED TO THE NEW HOUSING before you should raise and open your PM housing again without monitoring.
    The word "committed" ideally would mean their depositing of an egg in the new accommodations.  But, often there is not time to wait... and therefore most experts feel it will be "safe" to open the PM rig earlier... such as when nestbuilding is well along!   Later in this section there is a "scoresheet" for measuring TS committment. CLICK HERE or scroll down to see the "scoresheet."  But, regardless of when you decide to re-open the PM cavities, BE AWARE OF THE COROLLARY RULE:

    THE COROLLARY RULE IS ALSO CRITICAL:
    UNTIL YOUR "PROBLEM" TS OR BB PAIR COMMITS TO THEIR DESIGNATED HOUSING, NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM WITH YOUR PM CAVITIES OPEN.
    To do this would be to invite the disaster of a TS or BB invasion... and would probably ruin your chances of getting martins this year.

    DAN'S RULES & THE TEETER TOTTER APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO THIS SECTION (STEP 4.)

    They are repeated here from above:
    D A N ' S    R U L E S
  • RULE  ONE:   NEVER ALLOW A TREE SWALLOW OR BLUE BIRD TO NEST IN YOUR MARTIN HOUSING!
  • RULE TWO:   NEVER DENY AN INVESTIGATING MARTIN ACCESS TO YOUR PM HOUSING!
  • RULE THREE:  RULE ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RULE TWO AND TAKES PRECEDENCE!
    		•
    T H E    T E E T E R    T O T T E R

    ..
    NEVER ALLOW A TREE SWALLOW OR BLUE BIRD TO NEST IN YOUR PM HOUSING __________________________
         I    		 NEVER DENY AN INVESTIGATING MARTN ACCESS TO YOUR PM HOUSING
    ,,
    In the game of "riding the teeter-totter" it important to remember that rule one (on the left) takes precedence and TOTALLY GOVERNS when you are not there.... in case you can only monitor the site part of the time.

    MONITORED VERSUS UN-MONITORED PROCEDURES:

      A "QUICK RELEASE" CAVITY OPENING SYSTEM
      FOR "RIDING THE TEETER-TOTTER WITH BB and/or TS 

    THE SUMMARY RULE FOR STEP 4:

    HOW TO JUDGE WHEN TREE SWALLOWS ARE "COMMITTED"
    [Blue bird committment is probably very similar except for the "divebombing" habit.]

    CONSIDER THAT 100 POINTS = COMMITTMENT

    TS PAIR PERCHING TOGETHER: 10 POINTS! 
         This can happen anywhere from 2 days to 4 weeks following return of the TS in the spring.

    TS PAIR DEFENDING TERRITORY: 20 POINTS! 
         This will usually be seen as soon as you notice a "perching pair." 
         It is not likely that they would be "paired up" and NOT defending territory.

    FEMALE CREATES "NEST BOWL" AT BACK OF GOURD OR IN HOUSE: 20 POINTS!
         Generally you will see the little nest bowl fairly soon after the "couple" pairs up 
          ...figure 1 to 5 weeks after their arrival in the spring.

    COPULATION OBSERVED: 20 POINTS!

    TS FEMALE BEGINS "FEATHERING HER NEST:" 20 POINTS! 
          Figure 2 to 6 weeks from time of arrival.

    TS DIVEBOMB LANDLORD WHEN APPROACHING OR CHECKING NEST: 30 POINTS! 
          This is the real "hooker" in the program. 
          Some participants had the feeling that divebombing was a SURE sign of committment. 
          If you've ever been divebombed by a TS, then you'll know why it can suggest LOTS MORE than 30 points. 
          There can be NO DOUBT that TS engaged in divebombing are committed to something!!!!!! 
          Be aware that divebombing MIGHT occur earlier than it is listed here... 
                             sometimes even before you notice copulation or feathers.

    FEMALE TS LAYS FIRST EGG IN NEST: 100 POINTS!

    Please recall that this "scoresheet" is only a working draft at the present time... as well as a REQUEST FOR AMMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS. It is NOT the holy gospel according to ANYBODY... and I am eager to have feedback on this!
    Regardless of how (or when) you make the decision to re-open your PM housing and resuming Dawnsong, WATCH CLOSELY for any sign that the TS or BB pair might resume their attempt to nest in your PM housing.  DO NOT BE CONFUSED BY THEIR PERCHING! They will continue to perch often on your PM pole and other rigging... especially if it is the highest thing around.  Most likely they developed the habit of perching there BEFORE you identified the "interference" problem in the first place... and you need NOT worry about this perching habit.  Just BE SURE THEY ARE NOT NESTING AGAIN IN YOUR PM HOUSING.  If they do, then you must quickly "revert" back to step three.  Once they are nest building in their "separate accommodations" they will usually continue to perch on your PM pole but will not show any interest in the gourds or housing... as by "inspecting" or entering the cavities anymore.

    ANXIETY REDUCTION

    There is no substitute for patience.  One must wait for Mother Nature during this protocol.  Haste will bring disaster!... which means that raising your PM rack too soon [BEFORE the TS or BB are committed to the new "alternative housing"] leaves your site vulnerable to the disaster of invasion by TS or BB with domination of your entire martin rig... and probably NO MARTINS this year!  It is reassuring, however, to remember that the waiting tends to be shorter as the season gets later.  By the time the SY martins are arriving, ALL BB and MOST tree swallows are quite ready to nest and will usually not keep you waiting long during step three. (above)

    HOW AND WHY DOES IT WORK

    In time, this emergency page will be replaced by a more complete article which will outline the characteristics and habits of tree swallows and martins and will better explain the IMMENSE BENEFITS of having both TS and PM at your site.  It will also better explain why the above protocol works.  For now, it must be enough to realize that once your TS or BB pair is nesting just 25 to 35 feet away from your PM rack, they will do an absolutely thorough job of "running off" all other members of their own species and many other species who would want to nest in your PM housing. [House Sparrows and Starlings, must still be eliminated by humans, of course.]  With the tree swallows near-by, your martins will be subjected to some mild to moderate harassment at first... but this is something that nature prepares them for. The noisy "squabble"that will happen when martins arrive at your site is a "battle" that martins can AND DO WIN!  The TS and BB may not "like it" ...but they do know the pecking order... which typically involves the martin pecking the TS or BB right in the face.  [This is not an exaggeration or metaphor... It is actually what you will see when a martin decides to "move in" on new site with TS or BB on hand.]  Within a very short time, the tree swallows and martins will get along fine... and often will even share perches.
     
    A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section... and other additions and revisions to this protocol are underway.  Please keep a bookmark on this page (add it to your "favorites") if you are involved with TS or BB interference at an Unestablished purple martin site.
    Please send corrections or recomendations to: Dan Drew
    Please post "remarks" or "experiences" on the Purple Martin Forum.
    Copyright, 2002: Daniel C. Drew, M.D.