One interesting observation this year was the simultaneous interactions between a martin and a starling and another martin and a tree swallow. The starling was perched on the pvc pipe perch and the male tree swallow was perched higher up, on top of a vertical scaffold section. Of the 8 or 10 martins using the same horizontal perch, only one seemed to be confronting the starling, while another was confronting the tree swallow. Both martins were repeatedly thrusting their head forward toward the intruder, beak partially agape, but never moving closer to the other bird. They were definitely saying “you are not one of us”, but appeared to have no interest in anything physical. Little do the martins know that the tree swallow and his parent and grandparent who liked to perch on the tallest part of the martin scaffold have, for years, kept other tree swallows from nesting in a martin gourd. Tree swallows always begin nesting in their box below the gourd rack before the martins return and the gourds are hung. It must just be luck that starlings had not tried to nest in a gourd until last year. I had begun to think that the mob of martins were defending their gourds. They are not. While they squabble among themselves, they are quite timid when it comes to starlings.

While I waited to see which gourd the starling perched on the rack was using, it actually sidestepped along the perch to position itself behind a vertical pipe, appearing to hide from me. It was determined to not let me discover it’s nest site. Another starling had done the same think last year, refusing to go to its gourd until I was out of sight. I attempted to shoot the starling on the martin rack since it would not enter whichever gourd it had selected while I was watching. After three failed attempts with a pellet gun, the next evening, I waited in the trailer blind, much closer, and shot both starlings within ten minutes. For next year, I will cut a higher gun port so I don’t have to lie on the floor to aim at a starling on the top perch.

After last year’s experience with black rat snakes in the barn swallow room, I decided to monitor the martin gourds with 24 hour continuous video. The small trailer blind was located in front of the gourd rack and a security camera positioned to cover all of the natural gourds. The 12 plastic gourds on their pole were not monitored, but will be moved next year to a third row on the extended rack.

Some of the bluebird nest boxes are removed for the winter, especially the coopered wood boxes with turned lids. These are replaced with surplus martin gourds turned upside down and slipped over the 4x4 posts. The gourd drainage holes, now on top, can be plugged with dowels, but it seems that the holes don’t introduce much rain water and may actually keep the bluebirds’ winter home dryer by providing ventilation. I don’t know how often the gourds are used or needed, especially in this mild winter. But, by their frequent visits, it seems the bluebirds like to know the gourds are available. The nest boxes will be returned before nesting time.