Round Rock Martins

[rrmartins]

Was outside around 9:45 this morning and I heard one, distinct chirp from a ASY male. He has been hanging out for about fifteen minutes now. I tried to post a report, and it would NOT let me login without changing my password. That system still needs some work.
Good thing is, they are here.

[AnnieM]

RR Martins, were you able to change your p/w and submit a report? I see someone reported from Georgetown. We lived in RR for 6 yrs prior to moving south to Canyon Lake... I'm hoping ours are on the way. But my gourds are not up yet!

[apundt-TX]

Hopefully the Sharon and ROn from Georgetown is Sharon that has been on the forum before and live by the lake there.
Still no sightings here and on the way to work.

[rrmartins]

I never did go back and change my password. Is there a reason we have to change password? The one male is staying here tonight. Need to get your gourds up Annie, they are here. They're heading your way TX l, get ready. I was starting to get a little worried, they are about a week late this year for me. I guess that's not really considered late, to more experienced land lords. Good luck everyone!

[AnnieM]

RR, I had to create a new login after the new website came up, I don't know why. But all is well now. I guess if you can get logged in without creating a new password, well then that's a Good Thing! :-)
We lived near Forest Creek Golf Club and my neighbor had martins, but I didn't know about them back then. She had a beautiful homemade house,I don't know what type it was but the martins loved it because they could zoom right into their house at the edge of the open golf course where she lived. When I saw that you had martins I asked my husband if he would help me put my gourds up on Saturday. I'm due to add new rope but I can never figure out how to do it thru the pulleys. It's a little early here as they are due March 12, but you never know. I don't think we will have any more cold weather now, altho it's supposed to rain Sun-Tues. I hope. It's dry this month. Good luck to you up there in RR!

[Sharon - Central TX]

AP,
That was me alright (Georgetown). We live by a lake but it isn't Lake GT. We have seen what we thought were martins flying over the water for the last week but they weren't close enough to be absolutely sure. Yesterday my husband and a neighbor saw a couple flying towards our house. Last night around 6:15 one was trying to get into one of the gourds we had not yet opened. We had a few others open but he wanted the one that wasn't. It was as if that was his gourd and he wasn't interested in checking the others. After a while he left and hubby went out and opened that one and a few more. I sat outside this evening from about 5:30 until dark to see if he would return but he didn't . The neighbor texted during that time telling us there were a couple circling over our house but I didn't hear or see them. Maybe tomorrow.
In the past we've only opened a few entrances close to the time they start arriving and then more after. They've always checked out gourds until they found one open. Not this guy and I was so disappointed when he left. I felt like we'd really let him down.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Just curious, why do you want some cavities open and some closed? I have all of our gourds open.

[Sharon - Central TX]

Emil,
Just trying to keep the scavengers out until more martins arrive.

[AnnieM]

Just curious, why do you want some cavities open and some closed? I have all of our gourds open.

Emil, I think I've read on the Forum to open only a few before your martins actually arrive, as opening all gives the HOSP/Starlings/others an opportunity to cause trouble before your own martins return. I open a couple on each pole, the ones facing the house where I can see them. Then I can try to trap HOSP before our martins return. I will not see one HOSP all winter where we are out in the country, but the same day or two that I raise the gourds, one or two appear. I think that when "your" martins return, they will not depart even if the cavities are closed. They will stick around until you see them and rush out to open the doors. Someone more experienced than I am can jump in here and offer more advice.

[Sharon - Central TX]

Annie,
You very eloquently gave a more detailed explanation of what I meant. We've done it the same way since we first became landlords 11 years ago and it has worked well for us. We gradually open all entrances as more martins arrive. The first ones opened are also those we can see the best so that we know if any S & S are trying to move in.

[AnnieM]

haha Sharon...I'm known for my eloquence...NOT! Seems I learn in bits and pieces over the past 5 years so just trying to help. Emil, I found this on the PMCA FAQ weblink:

[Sharon - Central TX]

P.S. Make that 12 years ;-). My how time flies. And just to encourage others, I almost threw in the towel after our first year when a snake got past the baffle and into the only gourd with martins and ate six twelve day old babies and the mother. I was devastated and ready to quit. But some very wise people on this forum encouraged me not to give up. After that terrible experience we added netting in addition to the baffle and caught several rat snakes. We eventually added a second pole because we had more martins than housing. My husband got tired of having to untangle and handle the snakes so we eventually hot wired our poles. That was the best investment ever for peace of mind. Now if we leave town for a few days we don't have to worry about a snake in the netting during that time.
Now if we could just do something about all the Hawks that are hanging around!

[AnnieM]

Sharon, I would like to know specifics how you hot-wired your posts. I have same issue. Netting is good for capturing rat snakes, but no fun removing them. I put netting above and below the baffle and have to remove it every time to lower the rack=pain. We are going off-topic , so you can email me at annconner@gvtc.com if you want, or post it here; either way. Is it solar powered or ??

[Sharon - Central TX]

Annie,
Yes it is solar powered. I cannot give specifics but will ask my husband who takes care of that stuff (lol). I'll email you later.

[AnnieM]

Annie,
Yes it is solar powered. I cannot give specifics but will ask my husband who takes care of that stuff (lol). I'll email you later.

Thank you! Same at our house. I call him "tech support" LOL

[rrmartins]

Well he went out and brought him a girlfriend back earlier. They're enjoying all this nice weather.