Recently on a trip to the Upper Mississippi my wife and I stopped at one of the many Locks and Dams along the river. I was taking some pictures of a pleasure craft entering the Lock when I happened to notice a gourd rack with gourds lowered on the opposite side of the Lock. I regret not having a chance to talk to anyone about it, I'm sure it would of made for an interesting conversation.
Tom
U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Purple Martins.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Thanks for posting this. I've read that locks and dams can be good places for martin housing. It's a harsh environment, but probably pretty safe from predators. I agree that some way to keep these gourds from blowing a storm would be better, but it's a nice site.
Do you know the dam number/location? Martin folks could use the photo to contact other dams and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to encourage placement of housing.
John M
Do you know the dam number/location? Martin folks could use the photo to contact other dams and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to encourage placement of housing.
John M
awesome location. awesome setup. very cool! more info would be helpful for the mind...glad you took and posted the shots none the less...I like the raw materials and how they were used.
2011 19 Pair, 108 eggs, 74 fledged
2010 9 Pair, 44 eggs, 30 fledged
Mast 1: western cedar T18 + 4 SREH tunneled gourds - 3"x3"x24' alum. custom fab mast
Mast 2: 11 Horizontal Gourds with custom Jack Petty entrances +6 SREH tunneled supergourd - 2in deluxe 18.
2010 9 Pair, 44 eggs, 30 fledged
Mast 1: western cedar T18 + 4 SREH tunneled gourds - 3"x3"x24' alum. custom fab mast
Mast 2: 11 Horizontal Gourds with custom Jack Petty entrances +6 SREH tunneled supergourd - 2in deluxe 18.
I'm posting another picture to show how the pole is anchored it seems more than adequate and it's also equipped with a winch. The way the gourds are mounted well that's a problem.
If I'm not mistaken the Lock and Dam is #6 near Trempealeau WI.
I have a pamplet of information with web sites that I can use to contact the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge along with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district Engineers. I'll let you know if I get a responce.
Tom
If I'm not mistaken the Lock and Dam is #6 near Trempealeau WI.
I have a pamplet of information with web sites that I can use to contact the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge along with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district Engineers. I'll let you know if I get a responce.
Tom
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Great photos Tom!
Here's a small article on the subject:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... Esites.htm
Here's a small article on the subject:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... Esites.htm
trank
I live in columbus MS, and our dam also has a nice martin set up. It's the Stenice lock and dam. (Tennessee Tom bigbee waterway) The way I understand it from my mentor, The corp doesn't have anything to do with the one here. It was set up by a man that worked at the dam.
Apparently the CORP will let you do that if you ask. The man either retired or died but is no longer in charge of this colony. However last spring someone started to set up little satellite colonys on opposite banks and nearby spillways. They seem to have done real well.
I go and watch the martins from time to time since I haven't had any of my own
I live in columbus MS, and our dam also has a nice martin set up. It's the Stenice lock and dam. (Tennessee Tom bigbee waterway) The way I understand it from my mentor, The corp doesn't have anything to do with the one here. It was set up by a man that worked at the dam.
Apparently the CORP will let you do that if you ask. The man either retired or died but is no longer in charge of this colony. However last spring someone started to set up little satellite colonys on opposite banks and nearby spillways. They seem to have done real well.
I go and watch the martins from time to time since I haven't had any of my own
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
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2010 --- 0 2014---3
I finally got a response from the area Lock Master at Lock & Dam No.6
He said this is their 2nd year with the gourd rack and the martins took to them right away usually arriving around April 3rd. It sounds like one of his employees is the one interested in Purple Martins so I'll try to get his name and possibly make a connection with him.
Tom
He said this is their 2nd year with the gourd rack and the martins took to them right away usually arriving around April 3rd. It sounds like one of his employees is the one interested in Purple Martins so I'll try to get his name and possibly make a connection with him.
Tom
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Rick Meyer
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:12 pm
- Location: Kansas/Spring Hill
Wow......those that fledge must be able to fly AND swim.