What am I doing wrong

[Ed E]

After three years of trying I am still Martin-less. Today we had a visit by an adult male and (I think) a sub adult male. The adult male made several attempts to enter several of the units of my T-14 but didn't actually enter. My housing has crescent openings that are the recommended size.
One complication today was that the martins were harassed my a couple of tree sparrows that are nesting in a gourd that was only about 15 feet away from the T-14. I have now moved the tree sparrow housing to about 30 feet from the T-14.
What am I doing wrong?
Tree sparrow housing too close?
Cresent shaped openings?
Also, last year we saw visiting martins briefly, with no TS interfierence.

[rtolliver]

Ed do you offer any gourds? This area martins seems to prefer gourds over houses. Once your colony is starting you may have better luck at them taking to the t-14. Location is a big plus as well, away from trees and within 100 feet of a home or building where there is human activity. Most importantly is controlling HS and starlings. Most martins in this area are about finished egg laying and hatching is beginning. Visitors is good, so leave your housing up through October as migrating martins and fledglings coming through your area maybe looking for housing for next year. Don't give up. Can you tell us a little more about your site

[flyin-lowe]

I am assuming that you mean swallows instead of sparrows? (I hope anyway). This late in the season I would guess that an ASY male already has home somewhere else. There could be some SY's coming in this late but it is close for them. So they might just be stopping in to check things out, in that case it would not be unusual for them to peak into a cavity without going all the way in. A lot of people have started colonies with all SREH entrances and I did it this year. So as long as they are the correct size, if the PM's want to stay at your place they will.
As far as the TS gourd goes 15 foot might be too close but if you have only seen two martins this year they probably aren't the problem. Sometimes it just takes time. Most people who saw my site said it was as close to perfect as you could get, water near by, wide open, and a few colonies close by. It still took me five years to get nesting pair. If you have the ability take a few pictures of your housing and your yard and post them on here. There are a lot of knowledgeable people who can help you. Also are there any established colonies close by you?

[Bill Pec]

Ed,
I agree with rtolliver, add some gourds. You can extend the perches of the house using green garden stakes and cable ties (zip locks) and hang the gourds from them. For a month and a half I had PMs check out the houses I provide but not stay. I hung three gourds from one of the houses and PMs moved in on the second day. I now have a second pair nesting in the second gourd. Any visiting birds in my area always check out the gourds, never the houses. Also, you were wise to move the tree swallows. If they continue to bother the PMs move them again.
Bill Pec

[Ed E]

Yes,swallows,not sparrows. I have been fighting with sparrows all spring.
I have been evicting house sparrows continually. When the sparrows have taken up residence I usually simply dump the nesting material and brush out the droppings, is that adequate?
I did offer gourds, that's where the TS took up residence. Rather than evict them I simply moved the gourds, perhaps not far enough away?
I have a good site, a few trees at least 90 feet away, otherwise 60 acres of pasture and row crops. About 100 ft. From our house and approximatly 400 yards to a pond.
We don't have any existing colonies nearby that I'm aware of.
Are most landlords happy with the crescent openings?

[John Miller]

Ed

Keep at it...!

There are thriving colonies in your area...as a martin flies not too far. Send me a PM and I'll give you contact information for Leveret Doehring of Villa Ridge..or you can find his name in the members list here and private message ( PM) him here. He has about 95 pairs in T-14s and gourds! You should visit him...I have.

Craig here of Washington Missouri has a thriving colony in modified Trios, I think, and I'm helping with a growing colony of 25 pairs this year at Hidden Valley Ski Area in Wildwood.

You probably know, it often takes several years of trying to attract the first pair. Martins prefer to be at established colonies. But if your site is good and open, you should be able to attract them. The crescents work fine, as long as they are correct sized. Tree swallows love gourds, but if you have a pair in a separate gourd away from the T-14..you should be okay.

I manage martins across Forest Park in St. Louis...and after four seasons have finally attracted three pairs this year two miles south at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Happy also happy to give you a "martin tour" of these sites.

Re: crescents. I think it's best to use the plates...the holes through thick wood are difficult to size precisely. The crescent should be no more than one-fourth inch off the floor to admit martins and restrict starlings -- I'm using one-eighth inch -- slightly more restrictive but martins enter fine for me. Some people have their crescents flush. You might consider some WDC plates because these sometimes are easier for martins to learn initially (also easier for starlings but usually none breach if the the bottom of the entrance is set pretty low).

John Miller

[flyin-lowe]

I think the most important factor is time for a lot of people. I have a T14 with crescents and gourds and the first four pair chose the T14 and my last pair took one of the TH gourds. The people who have success with gourds stick with them (for good reason) and the people who do good with houses recommend them. If you can find some colonies in your area and maybe get similar style housing to them sometimes the birds that were raised in gourds might prefer gourds as birds that were raised in a house might prefer a house. I don't know if this has been studied or not but try not to get too hung up on the type of housing you have. If you can offer a variety that is great.