homemade srehs (Rc Moser Stealth)

[RC Moser]

I am coming to the end of my PM landlording career. I have 1 entry IMO that easy for Pm's to entry and blocks starlings at my location. I had this entry up since 2006 and seems to work the best for me out of the 5 or 6 prototype shapes I have worked with. By the overlay of other srehs you can see how much area is wasted IMO. IMO more area thats not needed means the more chance starlings could get it. I won't boast saying mine is the best nor make the claim is will Block 100% starling 100% of the time. I will say IMO it is easy for PMs to learn, enter, and exit. I will have no use for it once I reach my final retirement home. the measurements are in MM's and can vary somewhat. as shown with the minimum and maximin opening measurements. If interested and want to get them try the paper it overlay on is 1/4" graft paper. you can count the blocks if you printer won't print out the actual size.

I will not make these for you if you don't have the ability to make them yourself. I don't have time or will take the time to reproduce these other that for my personal needs. It's your choice if you think they may work for you. As you can see by the photo it has the same top curve as the crescent with higher lower left and right bottom platform and recess cut for the PM breast bone. You could say it's another modified crescent, but I call it stealth cause it somewhat resembles B2 bomber wing pattern.

As most of know PMs can shape they bodies to about any entry design. From excluder where they have to spread their wings to dually where they have to hold their wings close to their bodies. My design is more like the crescent, WDC,s, but has taller center height that will alow the breast bone to go through easily IMO.

[Dennis - AL]

Very nice design RC. I would like to see clearer measurements. Can you send me a private message?

I hope your final retirement home is a blessing but affords you an opportunity to continue using your mind. It is obvious that the design of the 'Rc Moser Stealth' is something that you enjoyed. Hope you will be able to enjoy the martin's for years.

Dennis

[RC Moser]

no address. try to post photobucket link. <a href="http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh57 ... th2001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh57 ... th2001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Louise Chambers]

I think this direct link will work too

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh57 ... th2001.jpg

[RC Moser]

printed Louise's direct link out. closer to actual size but seems to be about 4mm off when I caliper it with my digital calipers

[Tim Stover]

thanks Rc that is what i am working on now new entrances i like that look the 1"1/4 in the center where the breast bone hits i will certainly try the stealth thanks tim

[Dennis - AL]

Thanks RC. Your design is an asset to the purple martin community.

Dennis

[Guest]

RC,how many times/failures do you estimate it would take a PM to learn the technique to enter and have you used this with and without porches?If you did use it with a porch how high above the porch was the dimple?

BTW sorry to hear you are hanging'em up.

dick

[RC Moser]

Dick it didn't take them long to learn, matter of minutes to most half hour. Remember they have been up for several years at my site. I have them between 1/2" to as low as 1/4" off the porch. I don't have any without porches. So I guess it would be no different than Crescent as you can see by the picture the smaller area has nothing to do with pm shape only the center portion is close to it's body shape the outside area is just for easy of the wings. The center three measurements are the most important. straight up the center, little as 31.5mm to maximum of 32.8. I have some 33. mms and they still haven't been breaches in 4 or so years. But get close to 33mm or bigger risks starling entry. depending on the other two measurement. If they are also bigger then the three combined would be threat.

The next important measurement would be 11 or 12 mm from each side of center to the top. This should be around 25 to 26 mm. Can be as little as 24.6 depending on the angle out from center. Any larger than 26mm risk starling breach. The last measurement is angle from center out to top on the 11 or 12 mm line. this should be bigger than the center measurement. by few mms due to the angle from center.

I have observed that 10 to 20% PMs take longer than others to learn sreh of any type and this one is no different. There is still plenty of room around PM for them to enter. I have not removed all the excess space even at the smaller dimensions. Actually the sides could be closed up but I like the long cross ways to reduce hang ups. I haven't had any due to most of my gourds and some housing has the 2 by 3 drain pipe tunnels IMO this doesn't alow them to get sideways in smaller tunnel close to the entry.

IMO if you don't have small tunnel hangup could happen Low perhaps be not out of the equation.

Tim I am pretty sure on sreh with 1 3/16" height the PM has to rotate it's breast bone to enter. IMO this is why it take them littler longer to learn them. The 1/16th of inch on the stealth illuminates this and alows them to go straight through. I had another entry called the ACE it works but is really hard to get the angles and shapes right being it more of round type entry and at least 35mm tall in the center. I still have couple of them up and they haven't ever been breached on house at my site. I just like this one better works best for me and easy for PM IMO. When I first started I had all crescents and had several hangups, so I when to all WDC's. Had few that was breach and when to try making my own. I experimented with several shapes and sizes over the last 8 years or so. I always come back to this one. and have experimented with it shape also.

Anybody in my area are welcome to come over and look at these if they are interested.

[Sam Harris]

I just want to say thank you to RC Moser. I changed out my round hole nest compartments that have eggs to this design and I was worried at first. The martins seemed to have problems getting in, but after 20 minutes they got in. Hopefully the starlings cant. Now I need to make more plates to modify the remaining compartments.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Glad to hear that the martins went in, I knew they would

[Scott D.- La]

RC,
I personally like the ACE that you and Bob worked on and believe it's is worthy of consideration. Not only is it attractive, it seemed to work very well once the Martin's learned it and believe the Starling's would have had a tough time getting through it. At any rate, your time and effort's are appreciated as it takes both, to contribute new ideas to help protect the Martin's.

[Sam Harris]

I really think these work. Starlings can't get through them. Their breast bone is too tall and hips are too wide. I tried too fit a dead one through and it wouldn't fit. I need to make a lot more. The martins have no problems using them.