Question on adding tunnels

[Greg Borke MO]

I have a question on adding tunnels:

This is my first year at this new sight and have attracted 5 pairs all with babies, some new, some ready to fledge. We have been hit hard with storm after storm and changing out wet nests is a weekly chore do to rain being blown in through the entrance and the top mounting holes at the top of the gourds that need updating. I have snap in tunnels ready to go ... But can this be done without freeking out my five new pair or am I safe to do so ?

Also I am thinking of addressing the mounting holes at the top of the gourds. This would require all five gourds to be removed from the rack ,, and rubber hose ran through the mounting holes with new wire. Do you all think I'm safe to do so ? I can do this quickly one at a time with babies safe in a holding area. I just need to no if I'm safe to do so,, this will take some time with parent PM's over head watching.

[Louise Chambers]

I would not mess with older birds' gourds this late in season, when they are close to fledging. How old are they? How old are the younger birds?

You could do something quick to the mounting holes - stuff that grey mortite around them, or add beads of caulk around the mounting holes. Rain blowing in entrances - I think adding tunnels, IF all you have to do is snap them onto the gourds, might be okay for the nests with younger birds.

If you are going to add a few tunnels, use the plug & string method to keep fledge age young calm during the process.

[Greg Borke MO]

Thanks Louise for responding
That's a great idea on the Mortite I think I even have some... Great stuff.
The older birds are ready to fledge any day now there starting to get brave.
The younger Birds are about two weeks old the rest are about middle age.

I was going to use the methods you posted in your pick.

My concerns are wet nests after every storm I should have done this along time ago just never thought I would get this far so quickly.

So what's your thoughts put tunnels on the Younger birds gourds and leave the older ones alone? Or change them all out.

I will wait for your reply I'm ready to go to work

[Louise Chambers]

I would not tunnel the older birds' gourds - not if they are a couple of days from fledging. Tunnel the other gourds, and plug the older birds' gourds while you do that. Let us know how things go, please.

[Greg Borke MO]

I endeded up putting tunnels on all 5 gourds. Everything went smoth until I raised the rack than all He!! broke loose. Parents were going nuts flying to and from the gourds only landing on them for a few seconds. After about ten minutes things cooled down and parents began landing on porches pering inside. Nothing has changed yet but things are cooling down. I will post back later and let you no what happens.

[Greg Borke MO]

After about 1 hr parents are using all the tunnels everything looks to be ok. I think this was a good move for all the trouble once again were getting hammered with another huge storm.
Thanks for all your help !!