Our colony of 250 cavities
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
5 poles, each with 48 gourds + 1 with 10 cavites
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Greetings,
Nice and compact and easy to watch.
Probably gets a little noisy at times....LOL!!
It's a good noise, tho!
Nice and compact and easy to watch.
Probably gets a little noisy at times....LOL!!
It's a good noise, tho!
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
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Guest
Emil, What a great colony so well arranged. Sincerely, the best I have ever seen and I can't imagine the work and time represented. I see why others ask for your advise and follow your advice. Bill
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Emil,
Beautiful! Are your gourd racks homemade? I'm wondering how the poles hold up with that many gourds on them in the wind?
Thank you for sharing the photo of your site. It is very nice.
Beautiful! Are your gourd racks homemade? I'm wondering how the poles hold up with that many gourds on them in the wind?
Thank you for sharing the photo of your site. It is very nice.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
Boy nest checks take on a whole new meaning with this one!!! How do you do that and how long does it take?
D'Nese in Tennessee
2009-new house up, many visitors no one stayed
2010-3 pairs, 14 eggs, 9 babies 9 fledged
2011 20 pairs, 106 eggs, 79 fledged
2012 37 pair, 120 fledged
2013 37 pair, 173 fledged
2009-new house up, many visitors no one stayed
2010-3 pairs, 14 eggs, 9 babies 9 fledged
2011 20 pairs, 106 eggs, 79 fledged
2012 37 pair, 120 fledged
2013 37 pair, 173 fledged
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Thanks to all for the nice compliments.
DakotaLady, yes the gourd racks are homemade, and so are the poles. The poles are made from free 2-3/8in discarded drill pipe, and the racks are made from treated wood, threaded rods, and 1/2inch EMT conduit pipe. The poles never moved during hurricane Ike, I even had some BigBo gourds that were still hanging that survived the storm.
My neighbor did the welding on the poles, pulleys, and winch bracket, and I mowed his lawn about 12 times. The racks are extremely easy to make, the boards are screwed together with wood screws, holes were drilled for the threaded rods. The arms were drilled with my drill press that a different neighbor gave me. Even the holes were drilled with a post hole digger on a neighbors tractor. Another neighbor gave me the scrap pvc pipe for the snake guards, so the arrangements were low cost. I did purchase the concrete, wood screws, threaded rods, nuts, bolts, and washers, treated lumber, and the EMT tubing.
These have been in use about 8 or 10 years, but don't remember exactly. I have done no maintenance on them. I do like them..smile
D'Nese, I do spot checks, but do not keep records, nor do I perform regular nest checks. I do monitor the gourds closely, and I can usually tell if there is a problem. I check for mites often. I have found babies whose mother disappeared, so I moved them, etc. There are too many gourds to do regular nest checks. They do very well here. I try my best to keep away the predators.
DakotaLady, yes the gourd racks are homemade, and so are the poles. The poles are made from free 2-3/8in discarded drill pipe, and the racks are made from treated wood, threaded rods, and 1/2inch EMT conduit pipe. The poles never moved during hurricane Ike, I even had some BigBo gourds that were still hanging that survived the storm.
My neighbor did the welding on the poles, pulleys, and winch bracket, and I mowed his lawn about 12 times. The racks are extremely easy to make, the boards are screwed together with wood screws, holes were drilled for the threaded rods. The arms were drilled with my drill press that a different neighbor gave me. Even the holes were drilled with a post hole digger on a neighbors tractor. Another neighbor gave me the scrap pvc pipe for the snake guards, so the arrangements were low cost. I did purchase the concrete, wood screws, threaded rods, nuts, bolts, and washers, treated lumber, and the EMT tubing.
These have been in use about 8 or 10 years, but don't remember exactly. I have done no maintenance on them. I do like them..smile
D'Nese, I do spot checks, but do not keep records, nor do I perform regular nest checks. I do monitor the gourds closely, and I can usually tell if there is a problem. I check for mites often. I have found babies whose mother disappeared, so I moved them, etc. There are too many gourds to do regular nest checks. They do very well here. I try my best to keep away the predators.
Last edited by Emil Pampell-Tx on Mon May 16, 2011 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
Wow! I have eight gourds, my first year as a landlord. I am excited about the attention my eight are getting. I probably couldn't stand the excitement with this many cavities! I am looking forward to having more gourds next year. Nice looking colony. Thanks for posting the pic.Emil Pampell-Tx wrote:5 poles, each with 48 gourds + 1 with 10 cavites
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Thanks Johnny, my first homemade house had 9 cavities, and I used that old house for many years....smile. I gave that house to my father-in-law when I moved here and started over.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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pugsleyhall
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
- Location: Alabama/Grant
Emil,
Nice set up, nice home! I believe that is your vegetable garden on the right side? Wonderful to see a landlords martin housing who has been an inspiration to us "wanna be" landlords.
Melissa
Nice set up, nice home! I believe that is your vegetable garden on the right side? Wonderful to see a landlords martin housing who has been an inspiration to us "wanna be" landlords.
Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
Looks great Emil. I bet you don't need an alarm clock! This years crop of your last year gourd seeds are well on their way. Only a foot off the ground but so far great growing weather. Yes, it is great to finally see your place.
CMF
CMF
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that
one useless man is a shame,
two is a law firm and
three or more is a congress.-- John Adams
one useless man is a shame,
two is a law firm and
three or more is a congress.-- John Adams
Emil, wonderful picture. I have also wondered what your colony would look like, now I know. I must say you have some good neighbors. I have one that would do anything you asked of him. His tractor has come in handy many times. I can understand not doing complete nest checks. I know you take very good care of your purple martins. Good luck and continued success to you.
Paul P
Paul P
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
Looks very nice Emil. Don't think I've seen your site from that angle. That rack style works good doesn't it?? smile
Johnny
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
I too agree with the others Emil, often wondered what your set up looked like. And I must say for homemade racks, they look very nice ( I couldnt tell the difference). All of my Martin housing is homemade ( I offer 5 trios, a T-8 and 34 other gourds scattered on 4 different homemade racks with the exception I have to use a ladder to do all my inspections and nest checks. But nearing 57 yrs of age, will have to invest in something else before to long. Thanks for the picture of your site and all the knowledge of being a martin landlord you post on here, its been very helpful to me and alot of others i'm sure..Tony
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Emil,
Do you happen to have plans? I love your racks and would really like to make one.
Thank you.
Do you happen to have plans? I love your racks and would really like to make one.
Thank you.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
Fixed it for you DakotaLady..DakotaLady wrote:Emil,
Do you happen to have plans for the offseason? I love your racks and would really like for you to make me one.
Thank you.
In good fun of course.
Outstanding set up emil, just spectacular.
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Emil,
You are a Master Martineer
Bill
You are a Master Martineer
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
Emil,
Thank you for the pictures! I think so many of us have tried to envision your "set up"! I personally pictured "perfection"...you did not disappoint! Is that your garden off to the far right?
I read all your post (even in the "off" season). I value your knowledge of Martins & the "know how to get it done" advice that you freely offer to all.
If you ever travel a few hours North to "deep" E. TX....please call on us!
I thank you for all you have given to us!
With my sincerest regards, Tammy
Thank you for the pictures! I think so many of us have tried to envision your "set up"! I personally pictured "perfection"...you did not disappoint! Is that your garden off to the far right?
I read all your post (even in the "off" season). I value your knowledge of Martins & the "know how to get it done" advice that you freely offer to all.
If you ever travel a few hours North to "deep" E. TX....please call on us!
I thank you for all you have given to us!
With my sincerest regards, Tammy
Chet & Tammy Winger
PMCA Members
PMCA Members