I've never had a round hole. Started out with restictive entrances (mostly crescent & clingers) and have done well. On the other hand it won't hurt anything to try some round holes and see what happens.
I know this comes up every season......
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Guest
Lislou,
I've never had a round hole. Started out with restictive entrances (mostly crescent & clingers) and have done well. On the other hand it won't hurt anything to try some round holes and see what happens.
I've never had a round hole. Started out with restictive entrances (mostly crescent & clingers) and have done well. On the other hand it won't hurt anything to try some round holes and see what happens.
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
Can't fault you with where the kids should go to school. But when its time to retire, you need to go east, not west, no martins west. Tell him maybe Georgia, no deserts, but he can play golf at the Masters (Augusta) and you can have your martins..lol
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
Hey Lisa, I noticed on a post to razman that you stated all you have seen around Wichita are trio's (aluminum) houses. Thats what I started out with also until 4yrs ago. I now have 5 trio's and 30 gourds. What has changed now is the Martins occupy all the gourds first then the trio's. So i'm thinking gourds would be a hot item in Wichita also..
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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Guest
lislou,
Okay, open a few round holes, and leave the others for right now. If you can get one pair martins to nest in a house with round hole, next year you can switch back, but that first pair will bring in other martins to your site.
I started my colony last year with all crescent openings. The martins acted like they did not know how to get into the natural gourd, bo 11, or bo9 gourds, but they did. I also was very nervous that I may not get my martins, because of the entrance. When one figures out how to enter, it will show the others, or mate. I got one pair last yr and they figured out the entrance, and then by the end of the season I had 7 pair with 31 fledging.
As of yesterday all 7 pair are back this year and I am waiting on the sy's to come into my area. I have all 24 gourds with tunnel crescent openings.
Predator control is hard work, you can not watch these birds 24/7 and you will have some piece of mind that while you are at the store or work or sleeping that just maybe your martins and eggs, and babies, will be safe with the crescent openings.
Okay, open a few round holes, and leave the others for right now. If you can get one pair martins to nest in a house with round hole, next year you can switch back, but that first pair will bring in other martins to your site.
I started my colony last year with all crescent openings. The martins acted like they did not know how to get into the natural gourd, bo 11, or bo9 gourds, but they did. I also was very nervous that I may not get my martins, because of the entrance. When one figures out how to enter, it will show the others, or mate. I got one pair last yr and they figured out the entrance, and then by the end of the season I had 7 pair with 31 fledging.
As of yesterday all 7 pair are back this year and I am waiting on the sy's to come into my area. I have all 24 gourds with tunnel crescent openings.
Predator control is hard work, you can not watch these birds 24/7 and you will have some piece of mind that while you are at the store or work or sleeping that just maybe your martins and eggs, and babies, will be safe with the crescent openings.