Merry Christmas from Archer Lodge NC

[dhjohnson]

Wishing all Forum Friends a Very Merry Christmas!

This is our martin rack transformed into a 27' tall Christmas Tree! Multipurpose...we love it!

Looking to the 2016 Martin Season!

[Louise Chambers]

That is gorgeous, Deb! Very festive - the martins would approve Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

[taxidermy lady]

Very creative!! Love your artistic talent!
Merry Christmas!

[Cheryl S]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and yours, too.

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Debbie,

That is an awesome Christmas Tree. Yes, I'm sure if your Martins could see it they would approve. It does look good.! I'm still trying to learn how to posts photos. I'll get it sooner or later. Have pinched a nerve in my spine. Will need an MRI and operation. Hope I can get through it before my birds arrive. In process of installing 3 new style poles. What kind of man made gourds do you prefer? Merry Christmas to you & yours...

Rodger

[dhjohnson]

Hi Rodger,
Sorry you are dealing with aches and pains now. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Man made gourds...hummmmmm. Personally I like modified super gourds and Troyer Horizontals. We have taken old round hole super gourds and installed tunnels with an Excluder 2 entrance and porch. I had two nests with 7 eggs last year in those. The THG needs vents and a method of water proofing (Done that) the birds love them! At some point, We will probably move toward all manmade gourds. But I do like the naturals, if they have a thick skin. More trouble and up keep but so much potential for creative inovation!

You are too close to not visit when you are better! Yes I agree that our martins would like the big christmas tree! Our neighbors slow down to watch! The grand kids love it too!

Got to plan for 2016...ours could arrive right around the first of March or just after!
Take care of yourself and be safe!
Debbie

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Debbie,

I think you're about 2 hours 30 minutes away from here, Mt. Pleasant,NC. Just a nice little afternoon drive. I'm hoping I can get through this back operation before my birds arrive. A friend helped me concrete some gourd pole anchors and I done some welding on his truck. We trade out work projects all the time and everybody gets satisfied. That makes 3 pole anchors in the ground, with 1 still waiting. I've decided to get one of the Gemini Pole systems, but that will be next year. Have a spot all ready for it.

I have super gourds, excluders, Troyer Horizontals and Big Bo's. S & K makes a tunnel now for the original (old style) Big Bo gourds. The tunnels bolt right up to the gourd increasing the family living space dramatically. Plus the tunnel aids in protection from Hawks & Owls. S & K make a new version of the Big Bo gourd that incorporates it's own individual tunnel. I did not like those. I also felt that the Martins would not like them, especially from the inside. The way the inside porch was made seemed like it may impair the fledglings from having easy access to the inside tunnel and eventually to the exit. I don't have any natural gourds. My Dad gave me about a dozen huge natural gourds and I gave them to a lady who did crafts. So I can't say that I've had any experience with natural gourds at all. I believe Taxidermy Lady was wanting some as an attraction asset. Don't know if Marrtins would be more attracted to a Natural gourd or not. My Dad always said the birds liked the brown gourds better than the white. We're talking about back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Those gourds were very small with just one type of entrance - Round.
BUT.........My Dad had 1000's of birds. He lived right on the River with extremely tall power lines which the martins just loved.
He was old fashioned I guess. Never did nest checks. Just put the poles and gourds up and let nature take it's course.
BUT........He had the birds. He had so many the town of Albemarle, NC made a Registered Bird Sanctuary, (Complete with official sign) out of his property. Like you said about folks coming to look at your Christmas Tree. People would come from all over just to watch his Birds. It was really something back then.

Rodger

[Dave Reynolds]

Debbie --- Great job on the tree,,, Merry Christmas to you and yours... It won't be long now for the 2016 arrivals..
Have a Happy New Year... and many Martins..

Dave

[dhjohnson]

Thanks Dave!
Merry Christmas to you and your family too!

[Mark Scott]

Looking good Debbie!! I usually put a star on mine, but this Fall I took down my whole rack system and brought in basement. Greased, two coats of wax and leaving in basement til March 1st. Hoping for a break out year. Hoping Barney and Clyde will bring back lots of friends.

[dhjohnson]

Hey Mark!
Merry Christmas! Wishing you a breakout year in 2016 too!
They might arrive earlier than expected!

[Matt F.]

Merry Christmas to you as well Debbie!
Love the photo!

[D Little]

Wow that is very cool....I actually had been thinking of doing something like that with my poles but never followed through.

Donnie

[dhjohnson]

Many thanks to all for the kind words!
Time to shift gears to the 2016 Martin Season! They are back already!
Go Florida!