First Time Landlord Questions

[Jangles]

Hello all. First time landlord, but I've spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears getting ready for some Martins. Built a T-14 in my shop, and I attached it to a custom 18 foot metal pole I designed and had fabricated at a local metal shop (pictures attached). The pole has a winch attached, so I can check on the birds and adjust the house. Also, I added some molded plastic inserts from... somewhere, can't remember which website.... that make it possible to open a round hole or a crescent SREH hole. Lastly, I have decoys up on top of the house, 2 of them, and I plan on playing the Purple Martin dawn song and daytime chatter when SYs come in.

And in case you're wondering, I do plan on adding predator baffles. That's next on my list.

Having said all of this, I have some questions I was hoping someone could answer, someone more knowledgeable than I on Purple Martins:

-I've read I should not try SREH holes the first year because they won't bother until they achieve site fidelity. Is this right? I do have starlings in the area. Could I try opening the round holes and then changing them to SREH after the birds make their home?

-How should I open up the compartments? I keep watching the scout survey and waiting to see yellow in my area, Northeast Houston. Once I do, should I open up one apartment per unit and be prepared to kick out Sparrows daily? Or should I keep everything closed until I see Martins landing on the unit. My wife and I both work, so I have very limited windows to check on the house during daylight hours, mostly just evenings. And then do I always keep the same number open over time? So if I have 4 open and three are taken today, then I open 3 more tonight to keep 4 open at all times?

-If and when I do get Purple Martins, I'm assuming I won't hit capacity the first year. Should I close off all apartments that are not occupied by Martins after the SYs have made it through?

Thanks for the help!

[Louise Chambers]

You can start a new site with SREH holes, many have done that. You could convert most and keep a few round holes too.
You can open some entrances now and hope to attract adult martins that either did not nest last year, or are looking for new home (old home removed, had failure at old site, etc). Use the time to trap house sparrows and perhaps starlings. Open those that you can see easily for now.
Good time to open some is right now - good luck.

[Jangles]

Thanks for the response. I took your advice and opened up 3 SREH holes last night. Haven't seen any Martins around this year, but maybe 'll get lucky.

[flyin-lowe]

Do you have any martin colonies close by? If not you could get a copy of the "dawn song" CD. It is one of the best tools to draw martins in to a new location. If you have neighbors or active colonies close by the martins will spot that house and check it out. Many people start new colonies with SREH, and a huge number of martins fledge from colonies with SREH so that is all they know.

[Jangles]

This is a great point. Thanks for bringing it up.

I do have the dawn song CD. I actually just converted it into MP3 on my iPod to play it through a loud speaker outside, though I haven't started playing it yet (hopefully tomorrow morning). I hear 4-6 AM is the ideal time. Is this when they migrate?

I also own the daytime chatter cd, and I plan on playing that one while I am away at work. Probably put it on a timer, maybe from 8-noon or something. Sound about right?

And I would be happy to make only SREH holes available as I want to protect my Martins, but I've read this deters them if it's their first year, though both of y'alls responses is leading me to question that notion.

[Mhoover]

I started my colony with SREH entrances and I am probably the only one in this immediate area that uses them. If the martins want in the cavity they will go in. It may take them a few minutes to figure out how to do it but they are soon going in and out smoothly.
Good Luck.

[Jangles]

Thank you Mhoover.

[Archer]

Many people have faced a little SREH anxiety, this recent post will help. https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... =2&t=32808

[Insectivore Villa]

Started my colony 6 years ago with with two T tens and not a clue as to what I was doing. The first year we got nine pairs, 2nd year 16, third 19, and it has just kept going. All SREH, no round holes. It is a tough leap of faith to wait and watch as they figure out the SREH, but they do. Keep one round hole open for piece of mind, but keep that pellet gun or whatever handy because you are gonna need it.
Good luck, they are right around the corner for us hopefully.

[Jangles]

Y'all inspire a lot of confidence about the SREHs. I'm convinced.

Thanks for all the input.

[handyman315]

Had the same angst over SREHs as I continue to struggle to establish a PM colony, but SREHs have NOT been my problem.

Just as the more senior members say, the PMs figure it out, e.g., I'm retired and have the time to watch and they do just that, i.e., figure it out. At first, you'll see the PMs kinda hunker down and in they go and out they pop, pretty soon without even the noticeable hunker down.

Starlings will be a MUCH bigger problem without SREHs!

Beautiful house. Good luck.

[avesrun]

What Handyman said! Looks like you're in a residential area so starlings will/may drive you crazy with ANY round holes. Took me 5 years but finally got nesters using all sreh. One year I decided to have a few round holes and I switched them back in less than 48 hours! Lol! Starling air rats took to em like white on rice! Very nice looking t14 with owl guards. Best of 2017 to you,
TimG

[Retpsub]

Jangles, Check my post on Mar 14 "Houston Area". In about 20 years of martins this year is about my worst. Still have only 3 birds that come in each night. Wish there were more but that's ok for now. Others in the Houston area seem to be having a normal year but that can change for me quickly. Hang in and keep looking for them. The first year will probably be your hardest. *BW*

[Jangles]

Retpsub, I actually read that post just yesterday. Wonder what the issue is this year for you?

Avesrun & Handyman315, thanks. I'll be using the SREHs this year for sure. I need to start trapping Starlings and Sparrows, but that involves buying or building traps, and my build list is backed up and the Purple Martin money well is dry (according to my wife). I've cashed in all my chips for the pole and house, so maybe next year.

I've got another question if someone knows the answer...

I plan on playing the Martin Dawn Song from 4-6 and the Daytime Chatter from 6-12, all on my patio speakers (see picture). Unfortunately the speakers face down. If standing on the patio and at full volume, it would be like standing right next to a swarm of martins. It's not painfully loud, but it's more than you would want for 30 minutes. Once you step away from under the patio though, it starts to diminish. I walked around the other side of the house. I could still hear it, but it was pretty soft. Is this going to work, or do I need to mount a loud speaker facing up? I mean, birds have good hearing, right? They'd hear it easily if they perched on the house, but 100 feet in the air? I don't know.

Any advice?

[Okie]

Changing the subject a bit, what kind of tree did you plant? What is the mature height of that tree? It looks close to the PM house. Might be an issue, might not.

[Jangles]

It's a Texas Mountain Laurel. They grow incredibly slowly, and should reach a mature height of around 15 feet. It won't be a problem for a while, if then, but I didn't have many options. That corner was the most open and the furthest from my house, which unfortunately happens to be only 25 feet away. My plan is to establish a Martin colony in the next 5 years, then move it more to the center in the back yard if I can.

[Okie]

Good plan