I have a Gemini 2 gourd rack, with 10 Troyer Vertical gourds, 10 Troyer Horizontals and 4 Exculder gourds, all with round holes.
I don't have a established site, but have had 3 ASY males, 1 SY male and 1 female here for the last few nights. I have had 1-3 ASY males at site since February 11.
Late this afternoon I had to free the female from one of the Troyer Vertical gourds. She had her wing caught on the outside of hole and her body was twisted around inside of the short tunnel. I think she was there like that all afternoon as I had noticed a little movement in hole several times, but thought it was a bird looking out. When I freed her she flew away, low and slow. I didn't think I would see her again.
Just before dark 3 birds came in, then another tried to fly into one of the Excluder gourds but it's wings kept hitting the owl guards. The bird did this several times then just fell back with it's wings spread out and head pointing to the ground. At this point it hit me, this was the bird that I had freed earlier.
I started to lower the rack to see what was holding the bird upside down and when I did the birds flushed from gourds and she some how got enough strength to get loose.
I put rack back in place and 3 birds flew into the gourds, a little later a fourth bird landed on rack and with a little effort found it's way into a gourd.
Troyer Vertical Gourd -Wing Entrapment
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
Jim,
What entrance do you have on the TVG? I'm assuming the Conley, is that correct?
What entrance do you have on the TVG? I'm assuming the Conley, is that correct?
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jim h
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:03 pm
- Location: Fl. Plant City
- Martin Colony History: We have been landlords since 2010.
In 2015 we hosted 50 + pair.
Scott, I have round holes on all gourds. I hope yesterday will turn out to be a one time issue, rather than a on-going problem with the TVR gourd. I will keep a close check on the TVR holes, to see if this is repeated.
I am going to call Andrew Troyer tomorrow to let him know about the TVR hole wing entrapment problem, from yesterday.
I am going to call Andrew Troyer tomorrow to let him know about the TVR hole wing entrapment problem, from yesterday.
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
Jim,
A fellow forum member, brought up the other day, the possibility of toe nail entrapment on the plastic traction strip. I went and looked mine over and "IMO" there is potential for a toe nail entrapment, and might be a good idea to put a little caulk around there. I was hoping it would not be a issue however, with your report, the possibility has to be considered. Did you note if a toe nail was under the strip? I don't know if the rim around the round hole will be a issue or not. I only have 1 TVG and have only seen it entered once as the population here is still small. Thanks for the report, and hope you have no more problems.
A fellow forum member, brought up the other day, the possibility of toe nail entrapment on the plastic traction strip. I went and looked mine over and "IMO" there is potential for a toe nail entrapment, and might be a good idea to put a little caulk around there. I was hoping it would not be a issue however, with your report, the possibility has to be considered. Did you note if a toe nail was under the strip? I don't know if the rim around the round hole will be a issue or not. I only have 1 TVG and have only seen it entered once as the population here is still small. Thanks for the report, and hope you have no more problems.
Jim,
It's early in the season and already reports of wing entrapment are being reported. I read last week where a lady lost a martin due to this.
With the growing popularity in tunnels it's inevitable that the amount of wing entrapment cases will increase. It kind of reminds me of the traction issue the THG's had early on where the martins struggled to exit the gourds. I realize some people were not adding enough nesting material to their gourds but none the less there still was a problem and a solution for it came, after the fact.
I wish the manufactures would jump on this as soon as possible before the problem gets any worse because nobody wants to lose any birds especially in houses that are suppose to be it safer for them.
Thanks to people like Scott and others who are taking a pro-active approach and are working on a solution to correct this problem so hopefully will have a fix sooner rather than later.
Tom
It's early in the season and already reports of wing entrapment are being reported. I read last week where a lady lost a martin due to this.
With the growing popularity in tunnels it's inevitable that the amount of wing entrapment cases will increase. It kind of reminds me of the traction issue the THG's had early on where the martins struggled to exit the gourds. I realize some people were not adding enough nesting material to their gourds but none the less there still was a problem and a solution for it came, after the fact.
I wish the manufactures would jump on this as soon as possible before the problem gets any worse because nobody wants to lose any birds especially in houses that are suppose to be it safer for them.
Thanks to people like Scott and others who are taking a pro-active approach and are working on a solution to correct this problem so hopefully will have a fix sooner rather than later.
Tom
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Guest
I have widened most of my entries,not large enough for easy entry of starlings but it gives the wing somwhere to go rather that get hooked at the elbow.I have also put some entries to the extreme left or right of the tunnel wall,this takes away an area that was available for the elbow to fit in.The edges both left and right of this entry are very close to the full width of the tunnel,I think this solution will completely stop WE,
Her's a picture of a modification of an entry,I have since rounded the left and right sides and the bottom of the entry.It is working well,have had a number of fights and no problems thus far.
dick
Her's a picture of a modification of an entry,I have since rounded the left and right sides and the bottom of the entry.It is working well,have had a number of fights and no problems thus far.
dick
Dick,
Interesting, I'm assuming your tunnels are 3 1/2" wide. Would just making the entrance as wide as the tunnel with no other mod. work? Then leave the single scallop as is on the Conley11 being that they are only 1/8" above the porch?
Tom
Interesting, I'm assuming your tunnels are 3 1/2" wide. Would just making the entrance as wide as the tunnel with no other mod. work? Then leave the single scallop as is on the Conley11 being that they are only 1/8" above the porch?
Tom
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Guest
1/8 above the porch is fine,this tunnel is 4" square, elongating or widening the entry so that there is nothing to hang the elbow in is a total deterrant to WE IMO,the slot to extend should not be large enough to gain entry thru
dick
dick
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jim h
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:03 pm
- Location: Fl. Plant City
- Martin Colony History: We have been landlords since 2010.
In 2015 we hosted 50 + pair.
Scott, when I saw the bird had her wing caught, I got her wing free and got her out as soon as I could. I didn't even think there might be a second problem, lesson learned !
I looked at both the TVG and the THG, I see what you are talking about. There is a gap on mine that looks to be about 1/16 of a inch. She could have got a toe nail caught in that area. I caulked the crack on the lower section of rack and closed these gourds to the martins, while the silicone cures. I will then do the top section. Thanks for the input, Jim
I looked at both the TVG and the THG, I see what you are talking about. There is a gap on mine that looks to be about 1/16 of a inch. She could have got a toe nail caught in that area. I caulked the crack on the lower section of rack and closed these gourds to the martins, while the silicone cures. I will then do the top section. Thanks for the input, Jim
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
Jim,
After removing my Troyer Vertical from the rack and looking it over, I decided instead of caulking the traction strip on the sides and having a potential water drainage issue, I just removed the traction strip as it's not worth the worry to me. I took my dremel tool and made traction on the bottom of the tunnel and put a small amount of caulk at the collar. Problem solved with any toenail catching issue, as I believe that is what you experienced. This will also prevent water from splashing up from the traction strip and entering the gourd.
After removing my Troyer Vertical from the rack and looking it over, I decided instead of caulking the traction strip on the sides and having a potential water drainage issue, I just removed the traction strip as it's not worth the worry to me. I took my dremel tool and made traction on the bottom of the tunnel and put a small amount of caulk at the collar. Problem solved with any toenail catching issue, as I believe that is what you experienced. This will also prevent water from splashing up from the traction strip and entering the gourd.