Hotel California height?

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NancyinEnidOK
Posts: 158
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Enid

Hi, everyone! I'm getting ready to put up my Hotel California. Does it need to be raised to a height comparable to Martin housing, or would a shorter pole suffice? What height is recommended? (I am hoping to have to extract HOSP from it frequently, and it would simplify things not to have to raise/lower, but will do WHATEVER IT TAKES.) Thanks to all for any guidance you can provide!
Nancy

PMCA MEMBER
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Bulldog1
Posts: 700
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:33 am
Location: Mississippi/Hamilton

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here
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 !!!!
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NancyinEnidOK
Posts: 158
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Enid

And my favorite lyrics (as regards HOSP, at least), something like this:

". . . you can check out any time you like,
but you CAN NEVER LEAVE . . ."

:twisted:
Nancy

PMCA MEMBER
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Peggy Riley
Posts: 885
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
Location: TX/Tolar

Mine sets about 8 ft. Also one of my favorite songs, love the Eagles.

Peggy
PMCA Member
2017 101 pair
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sully
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:49 pm
Location: Chrisney Indiana

I know they recomend higher but one of the nicest colonies I've ever seen was no more than 8 ft.
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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..

Like my height in the 10/14ft range ...
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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SoIndyDon
Posts: 237
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:45 am
Location: Indiana/Scottsburg

My Hotel California ("you can check out, but you can never leave") is on a 10 foot pole and the entrance hole sits at 8 ft.
Fledged over 3,000 martins in beautiful southern Indiana since 1996.
Started 2 colonies and mentored 3 colonies with total fledged >4,000 martins into the world.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

If you have nearby trees that are 40 to 60ft from the poles (or even 100ft), then its best to have the housing up higher because of hawks.

If you have a wide open place, then it can be 8 to 10 ft with no problem.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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MamaBruff
Posts: 1466
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
Location: SW Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.

:oops: Still learning. What's a Hotel California? Derrr
~Mary B~

Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

Mary,
Sparrow and Starling Control Hotel.
I love it. Even I was curious when I saw the topic on the Forum Index.
I believe that a few people are going to assume that the question is directed to the actual martin houses or gourd racks.
Now I have got the song stuck in my head. It's okay I really like the song.
For the S&S, "And I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell."
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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MamaBruff
Posts: 1466
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
Location: SW Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.

OOOOOH! 8)
~Mary B~

Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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Jeff Robinson
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
Location: Rogersville, Missouri
Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor

Hotel California...my fav karaoke song, and I can slaughter a song, but not that one!

Welcome back Nancy - sent you a PM!

Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

When I listen to the song with the lyrics all the way through, I cannot help but laugh and laugh.
In the repeating trap, the S&S are saying to each other:

And she said,
"We are all just prisoners here, of our own device."

Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

I keep trying to use our sparrow hotel lower, so it's less fuss to remove the guests after they check in, but for my yard, it works better when raised UP. My hotel is an 8-unit Trio Grandma, equipped with all spare-O-door traps - what a nice way to help control them!

http://shop.purplemartin.org/Spare_O_Door-details.aspx

You could do this with any small, easy to raise system, using other traps, too - like UST. http://shop.purplemartin.org/Universal_ ... tails.aspx but then need to use hole reducers on exterior so that you only trap HOSP. Some landlords make a single box that holds a spare-O-door as its front, too.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

"Relax," said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!"

I cannot get it straight in my head,
Who is the Night Man among us?

Mark.
Last edited by 4th Gen Martin Fan on Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Steve Martin
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:38 am
Location: Tx/Bastrop

Jeff Robinson wrote:Hotel California...my fav karaoke song, and I can slaughter a song, but not that one!
Next song Another One Bites the Dust :twisted:
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

After SREHs are installed, the next song is

"Hit the Road Jack"

That suggestion came from my wife after I told her about "Hotel California" and "Another One Bites the Dust."

Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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Chriscreole
Posts: 781
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
Location: Texas, Hutto

I don't think it matters the lil HOSP will explore it at any height, I have my traps just laying in the grass and seem to catch more.
Image
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
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