Clinger

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TGivens
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:33 pm
Location: lexington,ms.

Can martin enter the clinger entrance without a porch
2011. 24 pairs
2012. 63 pairs
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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

With some practice, any martin can enter any SREH entrance. The problem is that its very hard to enter without a porch. Without a porch, its also much more starling resistance. I like porches myself, and the learning curve is very short for martins entering a clinger with a porch.

I think that a porch makes the hobby more enjoyable, as I can watch the martins more sitting on a porch. If you make the porch so that it is nearly flush with the bottom of the entrance, and if you have wing entrapment guards, then the porch causes no problems.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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TGivens
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:33 pm
Location: lexington,ms.

Thanks, I got some s&k gourds with clinger entrance,I'm going to order some porches for them
2011. 24 pairs
2012. 63 pairs
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chickadee
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:02 pm
Location: ohio

They can enter just fine. A tail prop plate helps. People have talked about it on the forum. And how not having porches keep the sparrows away better. Makes since. How ever I have porches. But I have a double gourd that the porch broke off of and it has a clinger entrance. The martins are going in it just fine. You would think it had a porch. It's just all about preference for your self I think.
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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gwarnerjr
Posts: 153
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:36 am
Location: Virginia/Northern Neck

I have a T-14 and 36 natural gourds, all porchless. No problems with martins entering and NO starlings!
First pair in 2005
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Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

I like my S&K gourds without the porches. As soon as I took the porches off I have had no S&S problems. The martins did have a hard time getting in when I got rid of the porches so I added cling plates and they jumped right in! I made perches above the gourds for them to enjoy watching them.

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PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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TGivens
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:33 pm
Location: lexington,ms.

Those are the same gourds I have,did you make those clinger plates
2011. 24 pairs
2012. 63 pairs
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Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

Givens, Yes, I made my own with 1/8 plastic material (PVC) usually sign shops carry this material. I then drilled the holes to line up with the gourd porch mount holes and used a rivet tool to secure the plates. I cut the plates to 3" wide x 3.5" high and lightly sanded the surface for texture, but I don't think it was needed since they use their tails against the plate to push themselves in. Our Martins hold on right on the edge where the plate butts up against the gourds.

P.S. Other landlords with the same gourds used other stiff materials for the plates. Hope this helps!

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PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Jose,
Is that 3/16" steel pop rivets you are using in the picture? How long are the rivets?
I really like your solution for cling plates.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

Yes, I believe it is. I'm not sure but I would say around 2" long. Sorry. I am not at my tools location. You could probable use wood screws that will go in the gourd holes, but I had a rivet tool. :grin:
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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Jose Rodriguez
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
Location: FL/Belleview

OK, I'm home. I looked the the size rivet I used for the cling plates. Yes, It was 3/16 x 5mm rivets. Good luck!
PMCA Member
"Keep Calm and It Will Happen"
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