Young birds like the trio with round holes!

taxidermy lady · Wed Aug 13, 2014 2:56 pm

About 9:30 this morning they came in to trio. Wow I about xxxxxx my pants!

http://s938.photobucket.com/user/sharon ... sort=1&o=0

Chris B · Wed Aug 13, 2014 4:49 pm

If I see any PMs now they have no interest in the little gourd rack or the gourds. They may light on the power lines and fly around eating bugs flying off the pond. Gourds will stay up until the local roost leaves town.

And next year there will be more up there for them to pick from.

Annie G · Wed Aug 13, 2014 6:12 pm

Alright Sharon! They will remember you next spring!! How exciting for you!

taxidermy lady · Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:17 pm

Yeah Annie I sure hope they do. They stayed around all morning. Just a beautiful thing. It was hard to get my job done.

pmartinlover2 · Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:48 pm

That's fantastic, Sharon! 'They must have dropped by to tell you they would see you next year! So happy for you.
_______
Jody

Matt F. · Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:27 pm

I'll bet that was exciting Sharon!
There's a good chance those young birds were born, and fledged from, a Trio house.
It never hurts to have a Trio in the mix.....

Anthony Neira · Wed Aug 13, 2014 9:30 pm

Waaaait a min. Sharon, I've been reading more posters this past season telling others to go with gourds (nothing wrong with that,I use/like them!) instead of houses, AND Now you see this!?!? what's next ? Dogs & Cats living together !?!?

Good For You !

taxidermy lady · Thu Aug 14, 2014 5:50 am

Yes it is very exciting. I have not seen a gourd in Randolph county! Hope it works to have familiar housing they are used too. The lock and dam has the most housing and they are a mix of houses. Some look like tug boats, hex shape and a few look like trio. I am just happy to see them interested.

BuddyS · Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:20 pm

I hope I'm wrong, but are you sure those aren't tree swallows?

taxidermy lady · Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:38 pm

Buddy I am sure they were martins. I know the difference. They would talk to one another a little but nothing like in the spring. I had three here today. But that's ok, my ipad zoomed in takes bad images, but that's all I have! Thanks

taxidermy lady · Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:59 pm

Here's another picture with them flying .may be able to see it better!

http://s938.photobucket.com/user/sharon ... sort=1&o=0

DornCounty · Fri Aug 15, 2014 8:10 am

Anthony Neira wrote:Waaaait a min. Sharon, I've been reading more posters this past season telling others to go with gourds (nothing wrong with that,I use/like them!) instead of houses, AND Now you see this!?!? what's next ? Dogs & Cats living together !?!? Good For You !

Not to start a fight.. but gourds are overrated on here. depending upon the situation houses are sometimes the best fit.

Anthony Neira · Fri Aug 15, 2014 8:32 am

Not to start a fight either, But Thanks D.C,

, you made my morning, No offense to the "anti house , pro gourd crowd " !

...I'll go hide now

... Sorry Sharon ...

taxidermy lady · Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:57 am

Thanks D.C. And Tony, I guess we will see the preference next spring, if they choose to nest at my site. My lone ASY male loved the super gourd, but the females turned away. That's why I have a trio now, I see all houses at the sites I drive by, with round holes.
It will be interesting what gets picked. I will keep you informed. This will be the gourd vs houses debate!! (In Randolph County, Il.) good luck

No need to be sorry!

avesrun · Fri Aug 15, 2014 3:35 pm

Very nice Sharon! Question: couldn't tell from the photos; do you have the holes open and were they entering/exiting the holes?
Tim

Matt F. · Fri Aug 15, 2014 4:15 pm

DornCounty wrote:Not to start a fight.. but gourds are overrated on here. depending upon the situation houses are sometimes the best fit.

I agree 100% Andrew.
Each location/region is different, in reference to the type of housing the Martins are the most attracted to.

taxidermy lady · Sun Aug 17, 2014 1:25 pm

Yes Tim all six holes open. I did not see them enter but they did look inside. Glad they were interested. Maybe I am headed in the right direction to get those picky females interested. I am going to have 2 of my gourds with round holes next year too. I just have to keep trying different things until they accept a cavity. Thanks to everyone that has helped me!!!

Emil Pampell-Tx · Sun Aug 17, 2014 3:11 pm

I have heard of situations where the martins initially used the houses, but in later years, the martins started using the gourds a lot more.

Houses can be modified to make them more appealing as many examples have shown to stop porch domination, having deep compartments, have the houses modified so the owls cannot see into them, etc. When such mods are made, the houses are accepted as quickly as gourds in areas that are considered gourd country. The problem seems to be that people that sell houses are slow to adapt such changes, and most people do not have the skills needed to do such extensive modifications to houses..

taxidermy lady · Mon Aug 18, 2014 6:55 am

Emil, I hope they come back and nest in my trio next spring. It was very exciting for me to have them visiting. I have a positive feeling for next year. I had the ASY male for 7 weeks, trying to attract a female. So he should come back next year, I don't think he had a nest anywhere else??? His mating experience should be greater. hopefully he will be irresistible to the ladies.

Chris B · Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:06 pm

I did a little driving around to the west here in N. AL and saw a bunch of gourds on ropes between poles. There may be something to the familiarity of the housing for attracting them. I will be trying larger gourds (12"+) with S&K SREH porches as well as replacing the smaller gourds I have with larger ones but still 2" holes. We'll see what they like.