Gemini rack arrived!!

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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.

My new Gemini rack arrived today as well as my new S&K Big Boi 11+ gourds within gourds. Excited to put them all together and assemble prior to the April arrival of Martin’s. I figured out a way to rig the S&K gourds to fit better in the Gemini round rack holders. Very exciting!!
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Dale D
Posts: 329
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:11 am
Location: Orlando, Fl
Martin Colony History: Landlord since 2004

jpp77 wrote:My new Gemini rack arrived today as well as my new S&K Big Boi 11+ gourds within gourds. Excited to put them all together and assemble prior to the April arrival of Martin’s. I figured out a way to rig the S&K gourds to fit better in the Gemini round rack holders. Very exciting!!
The Gemini is a really nice rack. I am sure you will be happy with it. Best of luck to you in 2018!
Orlando, FL Landlord since 2004
Offer 42 Cavities Total
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cnevett27
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:40 am
Location: Washington, MO
Martin Colony History: Hosting martins for about 5-6 years, keeping records back to 2014. Using all gourds-horizonal Troyers and Excluders
2018 33 pair, 140 fledged
2017-25 pair, 106 fledged
2016 25 pair, 87 fledged
2015 24 pair, 70 fledged
2014 21 pair, 43 fledged

Looking forward to seeing pics once its all up!
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pmlover
Posts: 805
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:30 pm
Location: OH/New Concord

i have two of hem and love them
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged

2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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GeneP
Posts: 525
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
Location: Kansas, Lawrence
Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.

Fun to see adults get so excited about our hobby.
Nice to see another Lawrencian on the forum. I live in the city and had 18 pair plus 2 male subs last season.

Hope you have a great season!
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Your going to love the new rack... I did see it in the catalog... Good looking,, Have fun putting it together... :wink:

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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MichaelH
Posts: 586
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:10 am
Location: IL/Gillespie
Martin Colony History: 2015 28 cavities 2 pairs
2016 big upgrade 56cavities 16 pairs great year
2017. 76 cavities 36 pairs
2018. 146 cavities

Yes you will love that r@ck it’s very good pretty easy to put together too and looks great I put one up a month ago with worm gear winch ,will look forward to seeing pics very exciting sure you will love it very sturdy system good luck this season
2018 146 cavities.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

That has always been my favorite gourd rack. Never owned one just love the looks of them, the price tag......that's a deferent story.
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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tor
Posts: 279
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:35 pm
Location: Marlboro County, SC
Martin Colony History: 2025 Capacity: 96
72 Hor / Vert Troyers on 3 X Super-24's.
24 Hor Troyers on Gemini-24.

2026: We'll see.
2025: 92 pair - Fledge: 405
2024: 72 pair - Fledge: 356
2023: 72 pair - Fledge: 342
2022: 72 pair - Fledge: 322
2021: 71 pair - Fledge: 325
2020: 72 pair - Fledge: 336
2019: 70 pair - Fledge: 320
2018: 60 pair - Fledge: 297
2017: 36 pair - Fledge: 189
2016: 16 pair - Fledge: 79
2015: 4 pair - Fledge: 21

The Gemini is a nice looking rack. Only have Super-24, but the next time I expand, I might get one. Seems to be a well made rack.
Tor
Marlboro County
South Carolina

Purple Martins Of South Carolina
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MichaelH
Posts: 586
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:10 am
Location: IL/Gillespie
Martin Colony History: 2015 28 cavities 2 pairs
2016 big upgrade 56cavities 16 pairs great year
2017. 76 cavities 36 pairs
2018. 146 cavities

emini rack arrived!!
by jpp77 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:54 am

My new Gemini rack arrived today as well as my new S&K Big Boi 11+ gourds within gourds. Excited to put them all together and assemble prior to the April arrival of Martin’s. I figured out a way to rig the S&K gourds to fit better in the Gemini round rack holders. Very exciting!!

Was just wondering if you got any of you new racks together yet I am sure you are itching to get them up look forward to pics of your upgraded site
2018 146 cavities.
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Spiderman
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:19 am
Location: Gladewater, Texas

I bought my first Gemini 24 rack a couple of years ago. 3" pole is very sturdy in big wind. I bought a 2nd one last year both have the horizontal gourds. They are nice systems, putting the band on is a little tricky, but it all worked out.

My Martins are transitioning from older wooden houses to the plastic gourds. They were about 50/50 nesting last year.
Colony started in 2002

Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds

2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS

*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
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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 spent the weekend putting some of the gourds togther. I love the Big Boi gourds and the 11+ with it's inner and outer shell sure seems like it would help with keeping the nests cooler. We shall see.

I'm looking forward to putting the Gemini rack together. The sturdier pole is what I really wanted. Winds can get pretty crazy here in Kansas and lowering my 1.9" round pole was difficult as it would spin. I had to use a C-clamp to hold it in place any time I lowered the rack a little for storms. Was a pain. It's definitely a PRICEY rack. The way I look at it, I'm set for many years now. Last years colony had 5 nests and the rack will hold up to 24 gourds. Since the Big Boi 11+ are just a little heavier, I will probably not go all the way to 24, but I still have plenty of room to expand.
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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.

Trying to attach images of the gourds, just to see if I can make it work
Attachments
martin.jpg
martin.jpg (99.61 KiB) Viewed 6555 times
martin2.jpg
martin2.jpg (72.52 KiB) Viewed 6555 times
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Dale D
Posts: 329
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:11 am
Location: Orlando, Fl
Martin Colony History: Landlord since 2004

Good job! Looks like you have the picture thing down to a science.
Orlando, FL Landlord since 2004
Offer 42 Cavities Total
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