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JimW
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:17 pm
Location: WI/Cameron

Just showing everybody the setup for the 8 gourds I put up yesterday. The post that I mounted them on was put in by the previous homeowner and had a dilapidated PM house on it. I took it down two years ago and always envisioned a PM gourd setup on it.

Yesterday my project came to fruition. The horizontal hangers are 1/2" electrical OM conduit that are strapped onto the post. I have 3/16" (#10) SS threaded eyebolts bolted onto each hanger. I then used SS zip ties to hang the gourds to the eyebolts. The post cantilivers down so I can check the gourds.

I like many folks have too many people getting into my pockets for my money. When I first started thinking about my project I was taken aback at the total potential cost of it. By taking my time, researching options on this site and just generally not rushing into things (been known to do that! :) ) I think I've got a good setup for years to come.

The location (open fields all around) and the proximity to our house (~70 yards) should be good for PM's. I have 8 BB nesting boxes in the general area so hopefully they, the TRES and the PM's can learn to live in harmony!

I just remembered to add that I will be adding an "anti-climbing critter" setup to the post.
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Mark Abraham
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: Monticello, MN

How do your gourds do when it is windy out?
Mark
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Archer
Posts: 786
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
Location: Manitoba/Altona
Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.

Hello JimW, welcome to the forum. Just goes to show that where there is a will, there is usually a way. Congrats on getting that set up. What are ss ZIP ties, are those plastic zip ties? If yes, I would change that out for some heavy guage copper wire as plastic will not last long. Good Luck.
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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JimW
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:17 pm
Location: WI/Cameron

Mark - it's been pretty windy since I put them up. I have them well spaced so they should not bump against each other unless we get tornado force winds.

Archer - "SS" = stainless steel

Just thought of this -- if "swaying in the breeze" isn't a good thing I could redo things so they would be hanging straight down and be rigid.
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JamesinIA
Posts: 329
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:43 am
Location: Iowa/Wellman

If you mount the gourds so they do not swing you will not be able to lower the pole to do nest checks without the eggs rolling all over the place. The way you have it now should work the best for that kind of setup.
2009 One ASY pair 5 eggs 5 fledged 2010 2 pair 5 fledged 2011 8 pair 27 fledged 2012 14 pair 38 fledged
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
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