Attraction Methods

[phldave]

Just curious if anyone has any (new) earth shaking attraction methods. This will be my 5th year to try and attract some gullible tenants at my site. The only thing I was contemplating on trying was to have my computer shift from playing the dawnsong to daytime chatter around 7am. So the only thing I need is the daytime chatter file. Anybody out there willing to share?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

A high percentage of the time, people cannot get martins because of nearby trees. My suggestion is to get rid of any nearby trees if they are near your housing. (200ft is much better than 100ft)

There are many martins here, but two of my neighbors cannot get any martins because the trees are only about 50ft from the housing. They get lots of visitors early in the season, but none stay. But they refuse to remove any of the trees. I have been accused of hogging the martins, that I stole their martins that visited their site, such poor souls!

[phldave]

Ya, I'm probably screwed because of my neighbors trees, but a couple of those are ash; so maybe the ash bore is my salvation.

[ToyinPA]

Just curious if anyone has any (new) earth shaking attraction methods. This will be my 5th year to try and attract some gullible tenants at my site. The only thing I was contemplating on trying was to have my computer shift from playing the dawnsong to daytime chatter around 7am. So the only thing I need is the daytime chatter file. Anybody out there willing to share?

Make your house look used. Smear a little mud around the openings & just inside. Put up a perching wire if you have no close power lines. Load the trays or gourds with pine needles/straw or plain straw & add a few dried twigs or leaves. Keep the Starlings & Sparrows cleared out.

As far as trees....I have a whole row of tall trees within about 20 feet of my colony. Neighbors trees.

An Amish farm has 2 of their T-14's right under 2 big fat maple trees & both houses are loaded. Another T-14 house is only about 10 feet away & it also had martins in it. If the Martins like your location they will use the house.

Toy in PA

[taxidermy lady]

Trees are fine if martins have been successful for years at that site. It's hard to get a colony started with trees close by nowadays with a boom in population of Hawks!!!
Keep trying Dave if they get pressured to have to come to your site they just may have to! I've cut 10-14 trees in the last 3-4 years,(lost count)!!!!! I'm still whacking! I'm working on a fly way from the barrow pit right now. Looks good to me so hope it helps.
To many Hawks is what I'm thinking!!! Sad but true! Good luck we'll need it!

[~Ray~Gingerich]

If they see you chase a predator away they will talk about it for days and invite their buddies

[Louise Chambers]

Surely this would help - maybe you could get these fellows to come play under your systems

Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, Land of Gourds and Honey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96bgUJUtrdg#t=62

[taxidermy lady]

Lol! I like their hats! It's a shame they wasted those nice gourds!

[threelilkids]

I have a cd for both and I would be glad to sent you a copy, just let me know where. Mary

[phldave]

I have a cd for both and I would be glad to sent you a copy, just let me know where. Mary

Mary,

My email is dcolbert15@msn.com if you could attach a copy of the chatter file that would be great. thanks,Dave

[Greg Borke MO]

Hi Dave
Before your season starts take a good look at your sight now is the time. Trees that block wide open flyways will reduce your chances, rules can be bent but not broke. Even a eye sore in the middle of the front yard to neighbors may be nesting PM's to you.
I spent hundreds on my old sight and after 10 years of trying I threw in the towel, neighbors trees were killing my chances. Now I'm on a mini hobbie farm and I cleared 5 acres. 2015 was my first year and my sight attracted 5 pair.

So let me say this if you want PM's you must do the best with what you got to work with if trees are a problem than move your housing to the best wide open spot in your yard. " THAN SCREAM THE DAWN SONG OVER AND OVER AND OVER DONT CUT IT ANY SLAC" Get yea a old school surround sound c/d player and put it on a timer, than mount yea some outdoor horn speakers and mount them on your roof. Set that timer for 4:30 am and let it rip all day every day and when the neighbors complain turn it up louder. The more you get creative with your dawn song/day time chatter the more interest you will attract. However it is only interest the rest is up to the male to attract a female than she makes the call yes or no.

[Rodger Drye]

Greg's right I think especially about the playing of the Dawn Song beginning at 4:00a.m. I play Dawn Song for 2 hours, 4:00a.m. to 6:00a.m. and Day Time Chatter for 2 hours,4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. But just until I get my birds established. Maybe a few days to a week at the most (watch your birds carefully). Count your birds, you'll know by the numbers if you're making any progress. However, Do Not play Dawn Song to much, because it can confuse your Martins. I use an I-Pod with 2 small speakers turned up as far as they will go - Works for me.
Rodger

[ossnap]

Has anyone ever used a Bird-X Songbird Magnet?

[Connie]

"Has anyone ever used a Bird-X Songbird Magnet?"

Ossnap:

I had a Songbird Magnet, used it a while then passed it on. I think it works very well but I live in Louisiana with 1 tree on 2 acres so I didn't have any trouble getting them. Actually, the first day I plugged it in and turned it on- I walked out of my shed where the plug was and there were 2 PM's on my rack. I used it a while longer to be sure then gave it away. Mechanically it worked well, though when turned up to the max it was a little scratchy. I liked it.

[John Miller]

If the audio is just bringing them in for a look, but not to stay, I'd turn it off. Maybe at a minimum play it a few times at the start of the season. It's possible it's now a detriment. They come, they look and are fooled and get mad? I dunno, but I agree with Emil that open is the first consideration.

I'd also like to know what kind of housing you are using. Martins will nest in buckets once established, but initially some housing may prove better than others at getting them to stay. You can't go wrong with the gourds sold by the PMCA, but one needs to double check and measure their openings to make sure they are not undersized, which sometimes happens, but hopefully less often. You might consider adding two natural gourds with round holes. Martins will enter SREH when ready. However, a visiting male may ..."may" more readily pop into a round hole and become enchanted enough to bond to the site and then start bringing in prospective females, who may not even choose his choice of say, the natural gourd, but whatever unit she chooses, he'll follow.

Adding a couple of gourds below aluminum housing may help add variety, and light-weight naturals can be pretty easily hung using solid strand copper wire -- no. 10 or 12.

Keep the faith,
John Miller

[Jose Rodriguez]

Love the Gourd Band Louise!

Almost like a rain dance, only for Martins!

[Grant O]

Greg's right I think especially about the playing of the Dawn Song beginning at 4:00a.m. I play Dawn Song for 2 hours, 4:00a.m. to 6:00a.m. and Day Time Chatter for 2 hours,4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. But just until I get my birds established. Maybe a few days to a week at the most (watch your birds carefully). Count your birds, you'll know by the numbers if you're making any progress. However, Do Not play Dawn Song to much, because it can confuse your Martins. I use an I-Pod with 2 small speakers turned up as far as they will go - Works for me.
Rodger

Hi Rodger...Would you describe the speakers you use with your iPod and where you got them please? I'm thinking I'd like to try that.
Thanks,
Grant Olson.

[Rodger Drye]

Hi Grant,
Actually they are just normal computer speakers my daughter gave me. I turn them all the way up and place them in a modified Dog House with the front and sides cut out. Place screen over your cut outs to keep insects out and a small latch on the door. Place your Dog House with I-Pod somewhere close to your Martin Racks so they will be able to hear it.
It's louder than you think and seems to do the trick.
I would think you could get any type of speakers as long as they will connect to your I-Pod and you can keep them dry.
My son in law installed the Dawn Song from 4:00a.m. To 6:00a.m. And the Day Time Chatter from 4:00p.m. To 6:00p.m. On a 24 hour loop on the I-Pod. That way it plays continuous 24 hours per day so I don't have to get up at 4:00 a.m to turn it on.
Really works Great. Thought about getting some bigger speakers, but these seem to work o.k.
I sat my Dog House up on a table about 32 inches off the ground, and faced the back wood wall toward the Southeast. That is where we get are hardest wind and rain. So as to afford it some protection.
Rodger

[Grant O]

Hi Grant,
Actually they are just normal computer speakers my daughter gave me. I turn them all the way up and place them in a modified Dog House with the front and sides cut out. Place screen over your cut outs to keep insects out and a small latch on the door. Place your Dog House with I-Pod somewhere close to your Martin Racks so they will be able to hear it.
It's louder than you think and seems to do the trick.
I would think you could get any type of speakers as long as they will connect to your I-Pod and you can keep them dry.
My son in law installed the Dawn Song from 4:00a.m. To 6:00a.m. And the Day Time Chatter from 4:00p.m. To 6:00p.m. On a 24 hour loop on the I-Pod. That way it plays continuous 24 hours per day so I don't have to get up at 4:00 a.m to turn it on.
Really works Great. Thought about getting some bigger speakers, but these seem to work o.k.
I sat my Dog House up on a table about 32 inches off the ground, and faced the back wood wall toward the Southeast. That is where we get are hardest wind and rain. So as to afford it some protection.
Rodger

Thanks for that Rodger,
I have an I-Pod I can use so your set-up sounds good...I think I'll phone Apple to see if they can help me too...they probably have speakers....I've been using a cheap Walmart disc player and receiver with weatherproof speakers for the last 3-4 years but no way to time them...I used to play the Dawnsong all night rather than the get-out-there-at 4:00am thing but I'm told that attracts hawks and owls...I'm an old coot so I can do the 4:00 a.m. but it's cold and damp...how come you only play the Chatter from 4:00p.m.-6:00p:m.?
I managed to trick two SY males into setting up housekeeping with a couple females last season and they each laid two eggs but sadly no hatchlings...hoping to see them back this year with a few pals so I can give up the disc playing altogether...
Thanks again,
Grant

[BW Fowler]

If you are not already using them, you may want to use tunnels. I think that helped me attract my first pair. Main thing is to keep trying, eventually it will happen!

Good luck,
BW