Has anyone tried anti wing entrapment inserts?

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Bcorbs1217
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.

I had a few round hole gourds that I had covered with metal SREH cut outs I made years ago. Needless to say they were a little worse for wear. I purchased some anti wing entrapment SREH inserts to give them a try. Has anyone used these or have an opinion on them?
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

Not with gourds. My Trendsetter housing came with them. However, after never having wing entrapment in my previous S&K housing with crescent entrances I have had two in the TS's. I have had them for four years I think. Year 2 and 3 both had one wing entrapment death. Both times I freed a PM stuck in the compartment when removing the deceased one. Both times have been early in the season and apparently when two adult females were fighting over the same compartment.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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Bcorbs1217
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.

For some reason the entrances look so small. Maybe it's because the depth of the insert. Oh well, I have a skinny SY male (no mate yet, fingers crossed for him) that has been checking it out. :grin:
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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Don Troha
Posts: 367
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:14 pm
Location: Texas/Houston

I've got four BO9s. Two with homemade wing guards and two with the wing guards made by S&K. Both are working fine. The birds are going in and out with no problem.
2025 - 15 pair, 56 fledged
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Bcorbs1217
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.

Thanks, Don. I'm glad to hear it! Do you use porches with the ones from S&K?
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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Don Troha
Posts: 367
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:14 pm
Location: Texas/Houston

Yes. The porch is flush with the bottom of the entrance on the outside. On the inside there's already an inner porch that's offset from the bottom of the entrance by about 3/16 inch, so I cut off the bottom of the off-the-shelf wing guard sold by S&K to make it fit. I don't have a pic of this & the gourds are occupied now. This is a pic of my DIY version which looks similar from the inside as the S&K version after it's installed:
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o61 ... fdad22.jpg
Last edited by Don Troha on Mon May 29, 2017 12:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
2025 - 15 pair, 56 fledged
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Don Troha
Posts: 367
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:14 pm
Location: Texas/Houston

I found my pics of the S&K wing guard installed on the BO9s. The bottom of the wing guard was removed because the third tab was in the way and the gourd already has an inner porch anyway. If you're installing these on a natural gourd, you'd want to keep the wing guard as-is with all three tabs since you won't have that inner porch.
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o61 ... 8bdylq.jpg
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o61 ... 0wzihk.jpg
Last edited by Don Troha on Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2025 - 15 pair, 56 fledged
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Bcorbs1217
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:22 am
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Martin Colony History: Active colony since 2005.

Thanks, Don. Great pictures to put my mind at ease with the installation! I don't have inner porches but was going to try some tread tape especially on the NL gourds. They seem to feel a bit more slick and slippery compared to the supergourds I have. One SY/f insisted on a NL gourd though her ASY/m mate tried to lead her to a supergourds. The male has trouble getting in and out so I'll see if some traction will help. Thanks again for the pictures. They're very helpful.
Becky Corbett. PM landlord since 2005; 12 supergourds.
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