This far south in Georgia we don't have tree swallows, though I wish we did. Up in the mountain areas of north Georgia I've seen them nesting, but none in central Georgia where we are.
I made a screech owl box a few years ago, and hung it on a tree in the woods. As far as I know, nothing but squirrels used it. Not long after I placed it, I moved to Costa Rica for a couple of years, so I wasn't able to really observe it. I took it down to start from scratch and have yet to put one back up for them.
We have a 4 acre pond that my dad built about 18 years ago, and parts of it are rather shallow. I put up some metal posts with PVC houses for prothonotary warbers, and they love them. I think they prefer them over water. I had a wood duck box up as well, but I've since moved it to another pond, as we've had an alligator living in the larger pond, and I didn't want to have it eat the woodies.
Hosting Other Nesting Birds
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rtanner77
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 10:47 am
- Location: Georgia/Milledgeville
- Martin Colony History: We've hosted purple martins since around 2002 and currently have 5 gourd racks with 22 Excluder gourds, 9 Super gourds, 18 Troyer gourds, 4 Bo gourds, 6 natural gourds, and 3 homemade boxes for martins to use.
"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living." -Sir David Attenborough
Seth,
No sawdust for me. Of course, my emphasis on Purple Martins. But Bluebirds are bonus.
No sawdust for me. Of course, my emphasis on Purple Martins. But Bluebirds are bonus.
PMCA member
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
My dad, who will turn 84 this year. build hundreds of bluebird boxes for conservation efforts in east central Illinois over the past decade or so. He still has a few of the boxes in "kit" form, ready-to-assemble, which made them easier to ship/transport to the conservationist groups (and got the volunteers more "engaged" via the simple assembly process).
He's going to mail me one. I'm not sure how many bluebirds are active in the Gulf Coast Texas area (south of Houston).....but I'm going to offer some housing.
update 3/26: Dad sent me one his kits (dated 2003), and after some quick assembly work, here's the result:
Kevin
He's going to mail me one. I'm not sure how many bluebirds are active in the Gulf Coast Texas area (south of Houston).....but I'm going to offer some housing.
update 3/26: Dad sent me one his kits (dated 2003), and after some quick assembly work, here's the result:
Kevin
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- bluebird_house_sm.JPG (92.48 KiB) Viewed 2218 times
Last edited by kehunter on Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
2016 - 6 cavities in Royal Wing/S&K house + 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 1, 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches on pole 2
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
2015 - new homebuilt 3 cavity house plus 3 BO9 gourds with tunnels porches on second pole, in addition to prior setup. 15 pairs, 54 fledged
2014 - 6 6x12 house cavities (plastic Royal Wing/S&K), plus 6 BO9 gourds with tunnels/porches offered; 12 pairs, 50 fledged
Rtanner77, sounds as if you are living the dream. I love to hear on the forum other people hosting more then just martins. Taking in all that nature has to offer. I have a Squirrel house made of a tier. It is real cute. Found it online. I have starlings in it. Squirrels are scarce here. (Where I lived before had a squirrelly that would come to my lap for peanuts.)Just now got one coming to my jar feeder here. Every time it goes towards the tier the starlings hit him. I walk out the door he is gone. He will take some work.
2008 1 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
2009 3 pair
2010 7 pair
2011 20 pair
2012 44 pair 280 eggs 210 fledged
2013 67 pair.
2014 67pair
2015-2022 67 pair
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Jose Rodriguez
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:34 am
- Location: FL/Belleview
In Florida we have 2 Bluebird houses 30' from the Martin houses. They get along just fine. They do share the Martin perches at times.
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