I want to thank everyone for the help with my starling problem. It's hard to believe that for the first time in 4 years or maybe 5 that all these starlings are getting in my conley II entrances.
I have not made any modifications yet since the martins have started egg laying and I don't want to disrupt that any more than the starlings have been.
I have got 4 starlings so far...but I had to go to an old trick of mine by putting glue traps in the gourd. I know this is dangerous but they had run the martins out of the gourd and I only do it when I am home and can monitor the gourd.
Again thank you everyone for the suggestions...and I will do the modifications this winter...I seem to have stopped the starling problem for now...there has not been any here for 2 days now.
Good Luck to everyone, and everybody in Missouri look out, there seems to be a lot of smaller starlings this year.
Thank You everyone
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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.
Art,
I am glad that you seem to have your starling problem under control.
My sister has 2 pair which are showing commitment to her site. She is going to install the full Lewis mods on her Conley II entrances in the next couple of days.
She will report to us if there is any problems with her pair accepting the Lewis mods.
She is glad that if her 2 pair have any significant hesitation, then she can easily remove any part of the Lewis mod.
I expect less than 5 minutes hesitation.
I wish I could be there to time how long it takes the martins to enter the Lewis SREHs.
Back at the beginning of this season, I added flush porch elevators to my Trio crescents. I could not detect any hesitation to that change. Zip, zip.
Last year, I added hawk/owl guards on two separate Trio houses. The martins hesitated about 30 seconds on that change. They hovered and did several flybys before they zipped in. Then they acted as if nothing had changed.
I will not deny that I was a little nervous each time. But the martins proved that nest fidelity is strong in them.
Good luck with your martin colony this year.
Mark.
I am glad that you seem to have your starling problem under control.
My sister has 2 pair which are showing commitment to her site. She is going to install the full Lewis mods on her Conley II entrances in the next couple of days.
She will report to us if there is any problems with her pair accepting the Lewis mods.
She is glad that if her 2 pair have any significant hesitation, then she can easily remove any part of the Lewis mod.
I expect less than 5 minutes hesitation.
I wish I could be there to time how long it takes the martins to enter the Lewis SREHs.
Back at the beginning of this season, I added flush porch elevators to my Trio crescents. I could not detect any hesitation to that change. Zip, zip.
Last year, I added hawk/owl guards on two separate Trio houses. The martins hesitated about 30 seconds on that change. They hovered and did several flybys before they zipped in. Then they acted as if nothing had changed.
I will not deny that I was a little nervous each time. But the martins proved that nest fidelity is strong in them.
Good luck with your martin colony this year.
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.
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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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Art - happy to hear that! I know it's unnerving to watch them hesitate at the door, but the common wisdom on this forum seems to be when the martins have eggs / nestlings is the *best* time to make the conversion as they are (as they say in Poker), "all in". 
And yes, I'm seeing smaller starlings this year too. For the first time, one was trying to nest in our tractor shed behind a support rail in a very skinny opening. Once I shot her, I observed how small she was. Not sure why they're smaller, but that could get to be a problem.
And yes, I'm seeing smaller starlings this year too. For the first time, one was trying to nest in our tractor shed behind a support rail in a very skinny opening. Once I shot her, I observed how small she was. Not sure why they're smaller, but that could get to be a problem.
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Mark,4th Gen Martin Fan wrote:Art,
My sister has 2 pair which are showing commitment to her site.
Mark.
This is good news!! Last time I checked with Janice she wasn't having any martins showing interest. I hope these two pair stay. Please tell her I am keeping my fingers crossed and best of luck!!
Connie