Starting to Plan for Next Year

[ossnap]

Well, this is my first year attempting to attract the PM's. And, it's been a bust so far. I gotta admit I'm a little disappointed. I spent a lot of money to set up a gourd rack with 12 gourds. I've only lived in this house for a year come May. It's an established neighborhood with lots of big trees. My yard is decent size. I don't back up to any houses. Behind my house is an elementary school and there is a lot of open fly space behind the fence. Although there is a portable building right behind there. There is one big pine tree in the back corner of my yard. There are power lines running along the back fence. I placed the gourd rack pretty much smack dab in the middle of my yard. It is a little closer to the house than the the rest of the yard due to the tree in the back corner. I tried to space it as best I could. As I came inside to type this just now I could swear I saw a ton of purple martins circling but nothing ever lands. I can go out in the morning and see the birds circling. I swear they are martins but I assume they could be another species. It's funny, they will fly around, circle around, but I've never seen a martin land on the house area.I've finally got my pellet gun zoned in semi good. I took out 2 starlings yesterday and one sparrow today. I have seen starlings come up to the gourds but never penetrate or get in any. The 2-3 sparrows I've seen are very active and I've cleared their nests 4-5 times. Now that I've got my gun sighted in decent I hope to eradicate those jokers too. But they are much smaller targets than the starlings. I'm limited to the times I can shoot and how I can shoot due to the school back there. I refuse to give up though. My gourd rack lacks a predator guard. I plan to add that in the off season. I have not blasted the dawn song. I plan to get that setup with some speakers and blast that next year. I did put 2 decoys up a couple of weeks ago but that hasn't seem to done much. I cleared out some massive shrubs all along the back fence to open up that flight path. I'm chalking it all up to the first year blues. I haven't posted much this season because to be honest it is kind of depressing to come here and see nothing but positive reports while I've managed to fail. Anyways, I love the birds and I won't give up yet. I'm already planning for next year. Thoughts, comments, all are welcome, I just wanted to get that off my chest. I hope all other land lords are doing well.

PS I watched the documentary, "The Messenger" last weekend. I found it very eye opening and I recommend anybody to watch it if you haven't done so.

[taxidermy lady]

Your doing just fine! Keep thinking like a Martin. Your in Martin heaven down south! This is my fourth year and still waiting! I just keep trying! It's all up to the birds when you have done all you can do. Good luck!

[ossnap]

Here's some pictures I just took of my setup. Feel free to comment.

[ossnap]

Your doing just fine! Keep thinking like a Martin. Your in Martin heaven down south! This is my fourth year and still waiting! I just keep trying! It's all up to the birds when you have done all you can do. Good luck!

Thanks for the kind comment, Sharon. I wish you the best of luck. You made me feel a little better.

[ossnap]

album link, http://imgur.com/a/MSFPF

[Glynn B - LA]

Hate to say this but you will most likely never get any martins unless you cut down that pine tree. It will only get taller and then it will be impossible. Sorry....

Move your rack to within 30 feet of that fence. Clean the fence of vegetation.

It took me three years and lots of tree cutting to get my first pair. I still don't have the best site but this year I have at least eight pair.

Good luck
Glynn

[ossnap]

Hate to say this but you will most likely never get any martins unless you cut down that pine tree. It will only get taller and then it will be impossible. Sorry....

Move your rack to within 30 feet of that fence. Clean the fence of vegetation.

It took me three years and lots of tree cutting to get my first pair. I still don't have the best site but this year I have at least eight pair.

Good luck
Glynn

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I knew that pine tree may have to go. I'm not reluctant to having it taken out and have considered that I may have to do so.

[Courtney-NC]

It's not too late for you to order a cd of the Dawnsong and play it from a cd player, at the very least. It will really bring in martins for a look.

Also, if you will post a satellite view of your property, like that found on Google Earth, and mark it with the location of your martin housing, we can help give you more tips if you like. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes helps.

[Kyler]

Ossnap,
Keep trying and never give up! This is my fourth year trying to attract them. In 2014 I finally attracted one ASY pair and then I moved. But anyways you mentioned (decoys) I know that they have worked for a lot of people but they never worked for me. Well last year (2015) I had around 5 or 6 decoys up at my new house and martins came and flew right by and they kept doing that for awhile but they never landed. I think they might of been scaring them but I'm not sure. But then one day I got home from school and I decided to take them down and see what happens and that day after I took them down I had a SY pair came and landed on the houses. I guess they were just checking everything out but they never stayed and nested. But anyways with you I would keep them up and play the dawn song and see what happens.
Good luck!!

Kyler,

[ossnap]

It's not too late for you to order a cd of the Dawnsong and play it from a cd player, at the very least. It will really bring in martins for a look.

Also, if you will post a satellite view of your property, like that found on Google Earth, and mark it with the location of your martin housing, we can help give you more tips if you like. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes helps.

Here's some satellite views. Obviously I'm pretty surrounded except for the back fence. The back fence used to be completely walled in with Bamboo and some large shrubs that reached the lower limbs on the pine tree. I cleared out all of the bamboo (although still fighting that junk) and cut down the shrubs after I moved in. I cut a couple of the lower limbs off the pine tree. Already told the wife I'm planning to have that tree taken down. She just shakes her head. I asked her if she thought I was crazy and she said, "umm, maybe a little". I know I'm not in the most ideal spot but I know birds are in the area. I see them along the main road leading into the neighborhood where a few yards have houses along the fence. I could definitely go ahead and get the dawnsong CD I just don't know for sure how I should rig it to play at the right time. I guess maybe all I need is a timer, and maybe run some outdoor speakers from the player. My original plan was to rig a laptop in the garage, run some outdoor speakers to the eves, and setup some alarms on the laptop to kick off the player. If I do have that pine tree taken out I'll probably move the housing a little more closer to the back fence and away from my house.







album link: http://imgur.com/a/MSFPF

[ossnap]

Ossnap,
Keep trying and never give up! This is my fourth year trying to attract them. In 2014 I finally attracted one ASY pair and then I moved. But anyways you mentioned (decoys) I know that they have worked for a lot of people but they never worked for me. Well last year (2015) I had around 5 or 6 decoys up at my new house and martins came and flew right by and they kept doing that for awhile but they never landed. I think they might of been scaring them but I'm not sure. But then one day I got home from school and I decided to take them down and see what happens and that day after I took them down I had a SY pair came and landed on the houses. I guess they were just checking everything out but they never stayed and nested. But anyways with you I would keep them up and play the dawn song and see what happens.
Good luck!!

Kyler,

I definitely plan to keep trying. Thank you for the support.

[Courtney-NC]

Yep, I think if you can get that pine tree down, and move the housing a little closer to that fence/open area, your chances would be better. You can try putting some decoys up and play the dawnsong, too. Of course, if you get visitors and they act like they are afraid to land or start divebombing the decoys, take the decoys down, but they can be good for attracting that initial interest. Hang in there and keep trying.