Audit my site?

[MY FYN 79]

Good Evening,

If I got some pictures up, would someone be willing to offer critique for our setup to see if anything should be changed or we just need more patience?

I built a fairly unique gourd setup on a utility pole.

Trapped 37 HOSP in 2021, trapped 81 HOSP in 2022, 9 this year. A couple stragglers in the van ert, mostly big days in the repeater. Sparrows are few and far between and I havent seen any near the gourds.
Pulled our other bird feeders after winter for the first time, so very little other bird activity besides the barn swallows. Tree swallows never showed back up this year.
No other pest or predator issues, this really felt like the year we could finally get a pair to stay and hatch eggs.
Played the morning vocalization on a loop from roughly 6am to noon everyday.
Martins showed up daily, in and out of gourds a lot, then less and less visits and they are gone now. Every now and then we hear them fly overhead cackling away.

This will be our 5th year now.

1st year had a sighting
2nd year had a pair investigating
3rd year had more here, pair laid eggs and HOSPs ended up poking holes in eggs. Got serious about trapping HOSPs.
4th year, started out good, tree swallows showed up and Martins ended up leaving.

[oppomojo]

If I got some pictures up, would someone be willing to offer critique for our setup to see if anything should be changed or we just need more patience?

Yes

[flyin-lowe]

Definitely post some pictures of your housing and also post a google earth screen shot from above. A lot of times that tells more of a story than just pictures of your housing from the ground. There are plenty of very smart people on here who can help you out.

[MY FYN 79]

Thanks everyone.

I’ll get the pictures up tomorrow. Images are very large!

[MY FYN 79]

Martin Pole 5.jpg

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Martin Pole 4.jpg

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Martin Pole 3.jpg

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Martin Pole 2.jpg

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Martin Pole 1.jpg

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[MY FYN 79]

I have one more image to add which is a large runway for the Martins.

Google Earth is actually several years old and we've cut down a lot of trees since then.

Martin Pole 6.jpg

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[oppomojo]

79, that is a great looking place you have and your pole is very unique....I like it! Does it go up and down easily for nest checks and trapping? Martin Pole 1 shows a tree on the right side, how close is that or is one that was cut down? I believe you can do everything by the book but if you don't have a few productive sites around, it makes it more difficult.

I would;

Dig an acre pond close by.......lol

Try to offer food when they arrive

Be seen and talk to them when they arrive

Never give up hope and enjoy your nice home

Good luck

[flyin-lowe]

Looks like there is enough open areas to get martins. The biggest concern with the set up as is, is predator protection. On that pole these is not a current way to keep birds protected. Raccoons and snakes would have no problem getting up that pole. Given the size of the pole the easiest thing to do would be an electric fence type predator guard. I have never used them but plenty on here do. You would need a hot wire going up that pole at least for feet high.
Many people getting started claim they don't have predators in their area, but I can assure, even though you might not see them, if those gourds were full of birds, it's just a matter of time before ground predators find them.

[C.C.Martins]

I'm glad you have had success with ridding the area of sparrows, wonderful place looks quite attractive!!!

I think its now just a matter of that first pair, good sign they are visiting.
If tree swallows are nesting near by, offer them a home a bit away so any investigating martins don't get run off.
I hope you fill up, beautiful place, they will be in good hands.
Tom

[MY FYN 79]

Thanks for the compliments folks. Country life has its share of issues also, but wouldn’t trade it for anything!

The closest tree is the pine and it’s 32 feet away. The rest are further out.

I have a winch with pulley on top so it goes up and down easily.

Tried to get a variety of gourds to give a good selection. Super gourd, Troyer horizontal, Troyer vertical, bo11 plus with bo9s under them with bo stackers. I have more S&K gourds here, is more always better?

Although I’ve never seen a predator up on the pole, point taken that it would be easy for one to scale it. How high should one be? Not sure if it would help but often considered finding some pvc pipe, cutting it in half and screwing it onto the post.

Even my wife gets excited for the Martins now too when they show up. Gotta get some to stick around for her.

[Kuemic]

Wish we had your wide open site! You're doing everything you can, especially trapping HOSP. I've included a link for using electric fence material for a predator guard. We made this improvement on our two poles last season and we sleep well at night. Brad Biddle is the expert on this topic: https://youtu.be/Anc0ST3BK_I

Otherwise, it can be a long journey to attract purple martins for sure, but worth the wait. We finally have 8 nesting pairs this season, though it may seem like a small colony, we feel very blessed. This forum has been a great help for us! Good luck to you!

[flyin-lowe]

The number I have heard most commonly is 48 inches to the top of the predator guard, but that depends on what type of guard you use. I use 12 inch PVC pipe that is cut down the middle and then has clasps on it to pull it back tight around my T 14 poles. I make sure there is 48 inches between the top and bottom clasp. There are pictures floating around of snakes stretched straight out from the ground to the top of a stove pipe type guard that is 3-4 feet off the gound.

[Dave Reynolds]

.. Looks like a great site.. Plenty of room to fly to the gourds.. May try playing the "Dawn Song" from time to time.. It's just a matter of time before they find you.. The "Dawn Song" may help you.. Good Luck .. Keep us posted how things are going..

Dave

[MY FYN 79]

Thanks for all the tips.

The pole is 7”, I’ll see what I can come up with for a predator guard.

I have a few extra BO9 and BO11 plus gourds. Is it always better to have more gourds? Meaning I should hang whatever I have in this cluster, or could it end up being too much?

[EdH]

I really like your country setting, wish I had it. Besides the suggestions about the predator guards, I would like to suggest the following. This is just my opinion but the change I would make is have the gourds on their own pole. Don't have something that extends above their housing. I am familiar with a house like that and they never had Martins. They might have an imprint that tells them to be at or near the top of a pole. Also, is that a light at the top of the pole, is it on at night? I am not sure that would be conducive. Again an imprint thing, most houses don't have a light above the house. Good luck, don't give up.

[MY FYN 79]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I was actually considering putting in a separate pole, the cost is a little tough for me though.

Has anyone built a setup like this before?

https://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com/2021/0 ... k.html?m=1