Cleaning out old nests

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graue
Posts: 44
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:46 pm
Location: Florida/Port Charlotte

Which is best? Clean out last years nests or leave them in so the birds only have to rebuild.
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Mhoover
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 10:30 am
Location: Indiana/Monticello - White County
Martin Colony History: Started with 2 pair in 2014 - 7 eggs -7 fledged

I clean out the old nest and gourd if it has a lot of feces in it and leave the ones that are relatively clean. I replace the nests that I clean out with a fresh prenest. The martins do not seem to mind whether it is an old nest or a fresh one.
2017-5 pair
2016-4 pair- 18 hatched-18 fledged
2015-1 pair -Both ASY- 6 eggs-5 fledged
2014-2 pair- 1 ASY-M/SY-F-1 ASY pair - 7 eggs-7 fledged

PMCA Member
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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

If the nest is dirty, then I shake out all that I can, and hose out with a nozzle. Then look at the remaining. If its still dirty looking, then I take out the entire nesting material and start over. On most of the nests, I leave the old material, and its easier for the martins to change it to their liking.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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dhjohnson
Posts: 478
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: North Carolina/Clayton
Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy

Emil,
Do you treat for mites and do you leave your gourds up, year round?
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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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

I store the cleaned gourds on the garage ceiling above the cars during the winter. Before I hang them, I add some sevin dust (using an old spice bottle filled with sevin dust). I then add some new pine needles, and then hang them. Most years we have no mites, but if we do, then I treat the nests again with sevin dust.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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LarryMelcher/KY
Posts: 675
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:08 pm
Location: Kentucky/Shepherdsville

I made a video demonstrating cleaning out old nests. The video will get you started if you have questions. This forum has helped me over the years. There's nothing better than asking a question and reading advice from purple martin landlords everywhere!
Go to the PMCA YouTube channel by clicking the link near the signature line of my posts.
I manage 2 public sites, and one at home, for a total of 172 cavities. Board Member / Non Profit PMCA.
Find videos that I edit for the PMCA Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/PurpleMartinPMCA
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John Miller
Posts: 4866
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

I sometimes leave an unused nest that failed to progress for some reason -- I like to think some lucky martin the next year will benefit. But it's best to remove old used nests. Not only do these harbor mites, but a lot of yucky debris -- including shed dust from feather growth of the nestlings. I often used to wonder about the dust at season end, and read here that as the babies grow, their feathers "explode" from time to time, and the surface material of the feather sheath pops off. yum. All this can clog drain holes and adhere to corners of the house leading to rust or rot or holding moisture, which leads to more mites if they are not there already.
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