Recycled Satellite Dishes w/pics
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Fred Kaluza~MI
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 10:40 pm
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Martin Colony History: Tried and tried and had some visitors but...not enough good insects around here to keep them interested.
Joe, I'm pretty familiar with antenna mounting and supports and was wondering if you'd thought of using guy wires? With a collar near the top, you could use 3 of those large cork-screw anchors and provide a lot of stability and maybe get by with a smaller diameter pole. The guy wires could be loose when the rack is cranked-down and then (by setting the length of the wires just right), get tight again when the rack is winched to its highest level. Maybe snakes are a big deal where you are so I suspect some kind of guard would be needed on each of the 3 guy wires. Still, what you've created is very neat looking and I bet the dish-mesh even provides some cooling for the gourds suspended away from the edges. I like it!
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Guest
Fred, that thought did cross my mind about the guide wires and perhaps, if I start to encounter too many problems with sway and bending, I might have to do it. But, for now anyway, I'm going to give it one season and see how it fares. Thank you for sharing the idea and I may have to get back with you if I do go that route.
For those who wonder if the Martins are unwilling to use the gourds on the rack, well...I have some birds nesting in a few of the gourds now. Little by little the birds are losing any fear them may have and are flying in and out of both the inner circle (round-holed) and outer circle (cresent) of gourds. So far the experiment is a success. Will keep you updated on progress.
~Joe Del Gobbo
AKA Sparticus
For those who wonder if the Martins are unwilling to use the gourds on the rack, well...I have some birds nesting in a few of the gourds now. Little by little the birds are losing any fear them may have and are flying in and out of both the inner circle (round-holed) and outer circle (cresent) of gourds. So far the experiment is a success. Will keep you updated on progress.
~Joe Del Gobbo
AKA Sparticus
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
I am glad to hear that they are using the inside gourds. Thanks for sharing that.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Guest
Hey Joe,
Someone may have already asked you but I was wondering if you have ever had trouble with hawks or owls. If so do you think leaving the mesh wire panels will help protect them? Just a thought. I will probably leave the panels on especially since you seem to be having success with them on. Looks like they would be a big plus.
Thanks for your help.
OH, how sweet it is,
Someone may have already asked you but I was wondering if you have ever had trouble with hawks or owls. If so do you think leaving the mesh wire panels will help protect them? Just a thought. I will probably leave the panels on especially since you seem to be having success with them on. Looks like they would be a big plus.
Thanks for your help.
OH, how sweet it is,
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Guest
No, thankfully I've never had problems with hawks or owls...and lets hope it stays that way! I don't know if the mesh would prevent winged predators away from the gourds, but it certainly couldn't hurt. With the panels in place, the wind resistance does increase dramatically, so I would recommend keeping your verticle pole around the 16-18' length, rather than the 20' pole I went with. Of course, I can lower the rack by 2-3-4' or more, but then it loses some of its visual appeal.
In all honesty, I hope I never find out whether the dishes with mesh in-place protect the martins from hawks or owls...as that is a road I never hope to travel. Again folks, thanks for the compliments, suggestions and queries. Happy Martineering!
~Joe Del Gobbo
AKA, Sparticus
In all honesty, I hope I never find out whether the dishes with mesh in-place protect the martins from hawks or owls...as that is a road I never hope to travel. Again folks, thanks for the compliments, suggestions and queries. Happy Martineering!
~Joe Del Gobbo
AKA, Sparticus
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Guest
So far the "Great Experiment" is a success...I have quite a few Martins nesting in the gourds and they are able to negotiate their way into the inner circle of both the top and bottom tier. This was a concern as I wasn't sure if there was enough clearance for them to reach the inner gourds. So far, it looks like the PMs have overcome any hesitation they may have had initially and are perching on the dishes and gourds. Chalk up one success story!
~Joe
AKA Sparticus
~Joe
AKA Sparticus