As I get ready to put up my gourds in a couple of months, I am having second thoughts about the prong type owl guards I have bought. I don't see them on any of the successful landlord pictures on this forum. Understand while there are large woodlots around my neighborhood, local landlords are successful with setups next to or under trees.
Since I didn't have them last year(my first) and was fortunate to get a pair and visitors should I change now? Am I risking anything by adding them?
Second thoughts on Owl Guards
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 !!!!
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
ahem...I will declare myself to be successful (grin) and try to post a photo from Cahokia Mounds, a public site near St. Louis, with the prong owl guards. I'm using these guards on racks at three different public sites around St. Louis.
From what I read about owls, there are two types of predation. Sometimes owls discover a busy colony and come and night and try to flush out adults and get at the babies -- this can be terrible, and maybe the only way to stop it is one of the cage guards.
Other type is when an owl, probably a GHO, silently picks a martin off a porch in low light at dawn or dusk. This is the type of predation that the prongs may deter, and may help a small problem from getting worse. So if the guards fit, I think you should use them, and at some point if you get owl predation at night, then consider a larger cage guard.
Now the photo... John M
From what I read about owls, there are two types of predation. Sometimes owls discover a busy colony and come and night and try to flush out adults and get at the babies -- this can be terrible, and maybe the only way to stop it is one of the cage guards.
Other type is when an owl, probably a GHO, silently picks a martin off a porch in low light at dawn or dusk. This is the type of predation that the prongs may deter, and may help a small problem from getting worse. So if the guards fit, I think you should use them, and at some point if you get owl predation at night, then consider a larger cage guard.
Now the photo... John M
Well there you go. Thanks. I am just a nervous newbie.
Last edited by Bulldog1 on Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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 !!!!
Another question: I added tunnels to 4 natural gourds. How much room between the porch and prongs are needed? Or do the martins just find a way?
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 !!!!
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
BK...it's actually a 2.5 and has been discontinued. The manufactuer, CUE, now offers 2 or 3 inch, I think. This one sits on top of a steel mounting post.
Bulldog...I'm not sure. I know the martins will adjust, but probably having the guard out front more-- and you can adjust them some -- would make harder for an owl to swoop up and and grab. I recently asked Steve Kroenke his opinion on these guards. (Steve has written articles about owl predation -- you can find in the archives.) He thought if an owl had to navigate the prongs and maybe brushed against it, it would give a martin sitting on the porch a chance to escape. John M
Bulldog...I'm not sure. I know the martins will adjust, but probably having the guard out front more-- and you can adjust them some -- would make harder for an owl to swoop up and and grab. I recently asked Steve Kroenke his opinion on these guards. (Steve has written articles about owl predation -- you can find in the archives.) He thought if an owl had to navigate the prongs and maybe brushed against it, it would give a martin sitting on the porch a chance to escape. John M