YUCK!
Cleaned out my house & last two gourds yesterday... ugh. I forget from year-to-year how messy these tenants are.
'18-- 8 nests, 39 eggs, 19 fledged
'17-- 10 nests, 40 eggs, 38 fledged
'16-- 9 nests, 47 eggs, 41 fledged
'15-- 9 nests, 42 eggs, 21 fledged
'14-- 8 nests, 38 eggs, 35 fledged
'13-- 5 nests, 23 eggs, 19 fledged
'12-- 4 nests, 19 eggs, 13 fledged
'17-- 10 nests, 40 eggs, 38 fledged
'16-- 9 nests, 47 eggs, 41 fledged
'15-- 9 nests, 42 eggs, 21 fledged
'14-- 8 nests, 38 eggs, 35 fledged
'13-- 5 nests, 23 eggs, 19 fledged
'12-- 4 nests, 19 eggs, 13 fledged
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
We just finished our two sites, all gourds. so glad to be done! but still have to do two houses, one gourd rack, at public site here....
We use toilet bowl brushes, kitchen scrubbies, a rag for wiping off exterior at end, some small brushes to go inside vent elbows and interior porches - wheee!
We use toilet bowl brushes, kitchen scrubbies, a rag for wiping off exterior at end, some small brushes to go inside vent elbows and interior porches - wheee!
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I used the advice of having a power washer to make quick work of cleaning gourds. What use to take 7 days of cleaning now takes 8 hours. In the years past I had to soak 7 gourds at a time and then scrub like crazy. I purchased a 2000 psi power washer this year and was very pleased with he outcome.
I have been thinking in the last 2 years about how long it takes me to clean the gourds out and this year was the longest. Glad to read this post because now I know its not strange or isolated to me for the time it takes to clean those babies out... 
Would anyone have a recommendation of a cleaner that could be sprayed in soiled gourd compartments. maybe left for a while to loosen up hardened dirt/poop or so forth which can be washed out much easier?
I'm thinking that mold/mildew scum removal gel stuff used for shower tiles and corners. Thinking that stuff will eat and loosen up hardened dirt and stuff.
Would anyone have a recommendation of a cleaner that could be sprayed in soiled gourd compartments. maybe left for a while to loosen up hardened dirt/poop or so forth which can be washed out much easier?
I'm thinking that mold/mildew scum removal gel stuff used for shower tiles and corners. Thinking that stuff will eat and loosen up hardened dirt and stuff.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged