Gourd Rack Faceoff, what's your fave?

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greenporter
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Greenport NY

I chimed in about this on another thread (https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... 43#p266143) -- started this one so as not to hijack the other.

Robert Richerson praised the SuperSystem 24 Rack, especially for its high wind resistance. He also likes the DELUXE GOURD RACK ULTIMATE 24-UNIT but feels it works better as a 12 or 18 unit because the bottom row is too low to the ground to attract many PMs.

I spoke with Troyer yesterday about high wind conditions and they also recommended the K-Series (18 or 24. It comes with a 3" pole and the gourds hug close to the pole. Would love some feedback on this system.

Thanks,
Jim
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warbird
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 10:04 am
Location: Calofornia MO

Gemini is my favorite very easy for nest checks. Don't know about the wind but we had 60mph wind last night and that didn't bother it
joe
2015 8 pair
2016 35 pair
2017 55 pair
2018 57 pair
2019 58 pair
2020 58 pair
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greenporter
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Greenport NY

warbird wrote:Gemini is my favorite very easy for nest checks. Don't know about the wind but we had 60mph wind last night and that didn't bother it
Yes, I have heard really good things about the Gemini 24. It is a premium product ($$$) and looks very attractive. Do you have the Horizontal or Vertical Gourd Mounting Arms? Which gourds and accessories?

One other question about the Gemini (and others like it). I assume that it cannot rotate since it is on a 3 x 3 pole and that you need to position it with room to access all 360 degrees. Right? I ask that because my site has a bulkhead to which I attached my old Trio on a galvanized pipe pole. When I pulled it down, I could rotate it to get to the other side of the house. So when I go to a squared pole, I guess I will have to bring the pole away from the bulkhead and go to ground with it.

Jim
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Jim,
My sister in Seguin, TX has 2 K Series 18 Gourd Racks with 36 Troyer Horizontal Gourds. She is extremely happy with them. With the 3" square aluminum pole and compact gourd rack design, she feels safe enough that she does not lower her racks for thunderstorms or strong winds that can occur on the flat plains of Texas. She has not had a tornado, hurricane or straight line wind test the system yet.
She choose the 18 gourd rack because she did not want to stand on a step ladder to care for the top 6 gourds of a 24 gourd rack.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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greenporter
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 11:54 am
Location: Greenport NY

4th Gen Martin Fan wrote:Jim,
...
She choose the 18 gourd rack because she did not want to stand on a step ladder to care for the top 6 gourds of a 24 gourd rack.
Mark.
That makes good sense and great to know for anyone going with the K series.
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warbird
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 10:04 am
Location: Calofornia MO

greenporter wrote:
warbird wrote:Gemini is my favorite very easy for nest checks. Don't know about the wind but we had 60mph wind last night and that didn't bother it
Yes, I have heard really good things about the Gemini 24. It is a premium product ($$$) and looks very attractive. Do you have the Horizontal or Vertical Gourd Mounting Arms? Which gourds and accessories?

One other question about the Gemini (and others like it). I assume that it cannot rotate since it is on a 3 x 3 pole and that you need to position it with room to access all 360 degrees. Right? I ask that because my site has a bulkhead to which I attached my old Trio on a galvanized pipe pole. When I pulled it down, I could rotate it to get to the other side of the house. So when I go to a squared pole, I guess I will have to bring the pole away from the bulkhead and go to ground with it.

Jim
I have the Horizontal gourds, the inspection hole is on the side. Easy to see in for nest checks. Just walk around the rack, no stool needed.
Last edited by warbird on Tue Mar 07, 2017 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
joe
2015 8 pair
2016 35 pair
2017 55 pair
2018 57 pair
2019 58 pair
2020 58 pair
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JamesinIA
Posts: 329
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:43 am
Location: Iowa/Wellman

I have the AAA16 and the round rack which they do not make anymore that holds 12 gourds. I like working with the round rack the best and the martins seem to like it the most. At the satellite colony that I take care of we have 2 K-12 racks and one K-18. I really like them and if I was to add another rack to my site it would be the K series 18.
2009 One ASY pair 5 eggs 5 fledged 2010 2 pair 5 fledged 2011 8 pair 27 fledged 2012 14 pair 38 fledged
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
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Bird Brain
Posts: 338
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:22 am
Location: Highland Village, TX
Martin Colony History: 2022-visitors, 2023-visitors, 2024-1 pair, fledged 4, 2025-10 pair, fledged 42, 2026-17 pair, fledged 81

I have the deluxe 24 system. I did get the 3 inch, 16 feet pole. The bottom 6 is still 11 feet off the ground. Is that too low for martins? If you have a tight space like me, the deluxe is better. If you have plenty of space, then gemini or super is good.
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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

I have the sk multi gourd rack and I like it. However, I would like to purchase the Gemini rack system with 3" square pole. Anyone know if sk bo9 and bo11+ gourds will fit on the gemini?
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taxidermy lady
Posts: 2988
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
Location: IL/Ellis Grove
Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!

I like the expandable gourd rack! I only have 6 gourds on them now but can add 6 more when I need them or want too! It's so easy to raise and lower! I love it!! Goodluck! :)
Sharon from southern Illinois
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

My favorite is the round rack, easy and fast to raise and lower with the rope pulley system and nest checks are easy. it's no longer made but basically it's the top section of a Gemini.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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pmartinlover2
Posts: 521
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:37 pm
Location: IL/Hillsboro
Martin Colony History: 2011 Home site--1 SY pair--2 fledged
2016 Satellite Site---4 pair--19 eggs laid--17 hatched--16 fledged
2017 Satellite Site--8 pair--37 eggs laid--34 hatched--34 fledged
2018 11 pair--fledged 60
2019 20 pair-fledged 94
2020 23pair-fledged 108

Deluxe expandable gourd rack from PMCA!
_____
Jody
Jody in Central Illinois
Landlord in 2016
2016—4 pr fledged 16
2017—8 pr fledged 34
2018—11 pr fledged 60
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