I thought I would share my experience with my new setup. I had a T14 and was cleaning out HS nests every other day. In early spring I gave the T14 to my brother and I ordered 14 BO11's and made my own 'rack' so I could still use my wood pole.
The BOs have the availabe tunnel with crescent openings. I have seen sparrows but NONE have ever entered a gourd. Amazing!
Are three others out there with the same experience?
BTW, I have been trying to get Martins for 5 years. This is the first year we have seen them entering our housing. None staying yet but it is encouraging.
No Sparrows
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PM Pataskala
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:37 pm
- Location: Ohio/Pataskala
Dick Robinson
2016 - Dagnabbit - Still a lonely wannabe landlord.
2015 - Still no martins
2014 - No luck yet... Not seeing many martins in the area.
2013 - First year trying. I've done everything to attract PM's except giving them free airfare to get here. Maybe I'll do that too !!!
PMCA Member
2016 - Dagnabbit - Still a lonely wannabe landlord.
2015 - Still no martins
2014 - No luck yet... Not seeing many martins in the area.
2013 - First year trying. I've done everything to attract PM's except giving them free airfare to get here. Maybe I'll do that too !!!
PMCA Member
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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.
Ok that is amazing. I have 8 gourds (4 under two houses) and the sparrows love them. A combo of Supergourds and Troyer Horizontals. I am jealous. Keep an eye of course and I so hope the investigators become your colony starters!
Deb
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
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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PM Pataskala
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:37 pm
- Location: Ohio/Pataskala
Do your gourds have tunnels? I have seen sparrows look in, then fly away. My gourds have been up since the first of March. Seems strange to me but .... still no sparrow nests.
Dick Robinson
2016 - Dagnabbit - Still a lonely wannabe landlord.
2015 - Still no martins
2014 - No luck yet... Not seeing many martins in the area.
2013 - First year trying. I've done everything to attract PM's except giving them free airfare to get here. Maybe I'll do that too !!!
PMCA Member
2016 - Dagnabbit - Still a lonely wannabe landlord.
2015 - Still no martins
2014 - No luck yet... Not seeing many martins in the area.
2013 - First year trying. I've done everything to attract PM's except giving them free airfare to get here. Maybe I'll do that too !!!
PMCA Member
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Mhoover
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 10:30 am
- Location: Indiana/Monticello - White County
- Martin Colony History: Started with 2 pair in 2014 - 7 eggs -7 fledged
I normally don't have HS trying to build nest in my S&K gourds until after the martins arrive. It is like the HS do not know that the gourds can be nested in until the Martins do so.
It could also be that I try to have the gourds up a couple of weeks before the first martins arrive just so I can shoot at the HS without worrying about any martins getting in the way.
It could also be that I try to have the gourds up a couple of weeks before the first martins arrive just so I can shoot at the HS without worrying about any martins getting in the way.
2017-5 pair
2016-4 pair- 18 hatched-18 fledged
2015-1 pair -Both ASY- 6 eggs-5 fledged
2014-2 pair- 1 ASY-M/SY-F-1 ASY pair - 7 eggs-7 fledged
PMCA Member
2016-4 pair- 18 hatched-18 fledged
2015-1 pair -Both ASY- 6 eggs-5 fledged
2014-2 pair- 1 ASY-M/SY-F-1 ASY pair - 7 eggs-7 fledged
PMCA Member
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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.
I do have four Troyer Horizontal Gourds so they have the long tunnel entrance. Sparrows like them as well as everything else. But the trap that goes with them works well.
Deb
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
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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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
At my site the HOSP definitely prefer the T-14 to any type of gourd. It seems that they are more attracted to any type of house than they are to gourds. However, they certainly will still try to nest in a gourd so be vigilant.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72