Waiting with closed up housing ?

BHULL · Tue Apr 07, 2015 4:25 am

It has taken me years to get just a pair of martins the last couple of years in which each year they successfully raised 5 offspring each year. I have two houses one is pretty much closed up with cups .(house converted into six with 4 plastic gourds hanging. The other one is a reg house which I keep open. I have managed so far to fight off the starlings.(410)then a pair of tree swallows (I put up a separate gourd for them which has worked in the past. Four days ago I thought I saw a martin circling the housing.(sub adult). My big question is do I keep the gourds and housing closed up to discourage the starlings and tree swallows or open up all housing and take my chances on fighting off the other birds . Scout report has indicated there are starting to come into my area . I'm trying to have a breakout year with more pairings but so far just a pair the last two years .Open or keep closed until I see martins is the question. Xenia ,Ohio

Emil Pampell-Tx · Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:02 am

You must keep some of it open for the martins. If you do not open some, then you will discourage the martins. There is no reason for the martins to come to your place if the housing is closed.

Some people leave the housing closed too long and then they miss the first martins that are looking for a new place. When you do open the housing, you must try to keep the starlings and sparrows away, or they will chase away the visiting martins.

ToyinPA · Tue Apr 07, 2015 7:00 am

BHULL wrote:It has taken me years to get just a pair of martins the last couple of years in which each year they successfully raised 5 offspring each year. I have two houses one is pretty much closed up with cups .(house converted into six with 4 plastic gourds hanging. The other one is a reg house which I keep open. I have managed so far to fight off the starlings.(410)then a pair of tree swallows (I put up a separate gourd for them which has worked in the past. Four days ago I thought I saw a martin circling the housing.(sub adult). My big question is do I keep the gourds and housing closed up to discourage the starlings and tree swallows or open up all housing and take my chances on fighting off the other birds . Scout report has indicated there are starting to come into my area . I'm trying to have a breakout year with more pairings but so far just a pair the last two years .Open or keep closed until I see martins is the question. Xenia ,Ohio

You need to open some cavities now.

I open a few I can see from my windows first, that way I can keep tabs on HS & Starlings. Once they start to arrive I open more. If you have no cavities open they may move on looking for a house that has open cavities.

As far as you seeing a Subadult....There are no reports for any subadults this far north yet. It's a bit early. You may have seen a female martin.

Toy in PA

BHULL · Tue Apr 07, 2015 7:21 am

I did open one gourd that they were in last year but I think I will open the ones that I can keep an eye on from my window . Starlings are so smart and I wait for them to make a mistake like sitting in a tree within my range . I will open up my housing (most) and good advice . The bird I saw probably was a female PM and t had the spotted breast area . I do have another house open just 75 ft away hoping the starlings would come over closer to me and any martins might check it out. Sounds like sound advice and thanks.

Ed Pace · Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:38 am

Do you have a safe perching place on the top of your nearest pole with a safe background for shooting purposes?

pmlover · Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:53 am

try to keep a couple holes open that they used last year make sure you have conley houses and the martins wont get in them.
I have 8 bluebird houses for the bluebirds and tree swallows then I have 10 bluebird houses with larger house with traps in them that I catch s&s
don't worry when the martins come they will sqauck for you to open the other holes.
dick

BHULL · Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:11 am

Good news I saw one checking out my newly open gourd. Thanks for your good advice . It could have been the one I saw the other day .

Dave Reynolds · Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:14 pm

BHULL. ----- That's great news.... Have a great year and hopefully my get more Martins this year

Dave

starling shooter · Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:05 pm

Get the PM nest box trap, paint it white, put three fakes holes on it. Put it up under a tree or by a building. You'll clean out the starlings.

Get a spring loaded trap PM.org sells. Bait it with white feathers. You'll catch ALL the sparrows.

Then open your housing.

BHULL · Thu Apr 09, 2015 3:42 am

I used to have the oversized blue bird box for trapping Starlings and created a nest in it . It kind of rotted away but I still kept the hardware .I suspect the martin probably is coming home every day at dusk which I have seen many times . The 410 full bore is a great tool for me in the country and I just have to wait for a good opportunity . I have cut down three 30 ft pine tress close to the units due to drainage ditch issue with should help for it gives the martins a clear 360 path. It has taken me about 15 years to get a pair two years in a row. I have made just about every mistake possible or changed based on advice. I would love to have that break out year and get perhaps 2-3 pair . My house has been successful in fledging 5 each of the last two years . I am kicking around placing dry pine needles again in selected holes and gourds .