Today I took the wadded up plastic bags out of the entrances to my 20 condo units here at Cypress Bend as well as the 22 units at Tradewinds Park. I repaired a couple of predator guards and added a few new perches. Those houses are READY AND WAITING purple martins! Come on any time you are ready!
I still need to remove the bags from the entrances of my 10 TVG's at Quiet Waters Park and I am adding 6 Exluder gourds on shepherd's hooks here on my condo grounds. They will be right beside the lake near the condos that have been fully occupied now for years. See what happens.
I really do not expect to see any martins before January 23rd but who knows. They seem to be arriving early north of me here in Floraduh!
Carl
Ready to See Purple
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
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AnnieM
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:57 pm
- Location: Spring Branch/Canyon Lake ~ Mystic Shores, Comal County, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 28 - 17 pair
2017 - Full house for first time. 24 gourds all occupied. :-)
Hi Carl, I've been thinking about adding some Excluder gourds on shepherd's hook also. I did some searching on line, but didn't find any hooks that I thought were tall enough and substantial enough. Where did you find yours, how tall are they, and did you provide them with any additional support?
We're in Texas 30 minutes north of San Antonio. Our martins returned Feb 29 last year, but I got excited when I saw the first arrival reports! Thanks for your help.
We're in Texas 30 minutes north of San Antonio. Our martins returned Feb 29 last year, but I got excited when I saw the first arrival reports! Thanks for your help.
PMCA Member
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
Mine are strong. 84 inches tall. Got free delivery from Home Depot.
I have seen pics posted online of gourds occupied by nesting martins and they appear to be lower down than mine would be. Now I will say that the gourds in the pictures are within sight of an established colony nesting on the traditional tall pole. I am trying some near my established colony and some RIGHT BESIDE our lake a short distance away but not really in sight of the established colony pole. Let me/us know how you make out. Interesting.
Carl
I have seen pics posted online of gourds occupied by nesting martins and they appear to be lower down than mine would be. Now I will say that the gourds in the pictures are within sight of an established colony nesting on the traditional tall pole. I am trying some near my established colony and some RIGHT BESIDE our lake a short distance away but not really in sight of the established colony pole. Let me/us know how you make out. Interesting.
Carl
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
from Purple Martin r us posting
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AnnieM
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:57 pm
- Location: Spring Branch/Canyon Lake ~ Mystic Shores, Comal County, TX
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 28 - 17 pair
2017 - Full house for first time. 24 gourds all occupied. :-)
Thank you for the pics! I will check out Home Deep and also maybe our Lowes and Tractor Supply. I'll look for the 84 inch ones. I'm thinking some of these Texas snakes might be able to reach the bottom of those gourds so I need them as high as possible! 
Our colony is "small but mighty" and I don't want to increase the number of gourds much, but want to try the shepherd's hook idea and see what happens. We have a small pond as a reservoir for our well and maybe I might try one over there. It's maybe 100 yards or so from the gourds but they can see it all from the air. Thanks again for the info and I'll let you know what happens as the season progresses.
Our colony is "small but mighty" and I don't want to increase the number of gourds much, but want to try the shepherd's hook idea and see what happens. We have a small pond as a reservoir for our well and maybe I might try one over there. It's maybe 100 yards or so from the gourds but they can see it all from the air. Thanks again for the info and I'll let you know what happens as the season progresses.PMCA Member
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied
2012 - 4 pair
2013 - 11 pair
2014 - 12 pair
2015 - 14 pair
2016 - Arrival Feb 29/17 pair
2017 - Full house first time-24 gourds all occupied