My 3 babies are 16 days old in an obround T-14 compartment with a flat wooden porch that is 3 inches deep and 6.5 inches wide along front of compartment. I saw the male knock the female off the porch once, and was wondering once the babies are on the porch and not able to fly well, will they be knocking each other to the ground? If so, I would put some type of railing up before that happens.
Anyone have an opinion?
Does T-14 porch need "railing" to prevent babies p
-
John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Hi Sharon
I've been following the progress of your babies! My hat is off to you.
Re: porche railings....There's some pros and cons. Con: Makes it easier for owls to cling on, sparrows to perch, and if there's a little space below, a martin on uncommon occasion in fighting may get a wing trapped under it. Pro: I think they help fledgings a bit to gain a foothold, especially when they are just learning to fly and returning to the house to roost. Whether they keep one from getting knocked off is unclear to me; many folks say no. So, no definitive answer. I'm thinking a railing that's flush with the floor might be a good compromise, just to help a flapping fledgling get a grip. One also could freshly paint the surface and sprinkle a little sand on for traction.
John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo
I've been following the progress of your babies! My hat is off to you.
Re: porche railings....There's some pros and cons. Con: Makes it easier for owls to cling on, sparrows to perch, and if there's a little space below, a martin on uncommon occasion in fighting may get a wing trapped under it. Pro: I think they help fledgings a bit to gain a foothold, especially when they are just learning to fly and returning to the house to roost. Whether they keep one from getting knocked off is unclear to me; many folks say no. So, no definitive answer. I'm thinking a railing that's flush with the floor might be a good compromise, just to help a flapping fledgling get a grip. One also could freshly paint the surface and sprinkle a little sand on for traction.
John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo
-
Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Of Course we have an opinion - and we will be very happy to share it with you!sharon wrote: Anyone have an opinion?
I have never had a railing on any of my porches. A railing is more for the parents to perch on than to prevent fallout of nestlings. Rarely will a nestling fall out or off the housing for no reason. A nestling found on the ground before ready to fledge is usually there because the nest cavity has become unbearable.
You'll see, Sharon. They'll stick their little heads out of the entrance hole - probably all three at once. But, they won't go out onto the porch until it is time to fledge.
As John said, the porch seems to assist the returning fledgling when it is time to go back into the cavity in the evening. But, I'll bet if you had "no" porches the fledglings would still get back inside that cavity - the same as they will get out.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
-
Guest
thanks...
then for today...no railings. don't need to help the hawks....I liked the paint and sand idea...don't know how I could get that done now though...wouldn't want the house down while the paint was drying...I assume paint might take an hour or so to dry....the parents are still going in and out a lot this afternoon.
then for today...no railings. don't need to help the hawks....I liked the paint and sand idea...don't know how I could get that done now though...wouldn't want the house down while the paint was drying...I assume paint might take an hour or so to dry....the parents are still going in and out a lot this afternoon.
Last edited by Guest on Fri Jul 15, 2005 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Sharon - you don't need to do anything to that T-14. Even if you did, painting should not be done during the PM nesting season.
Your T-14 is made from wood and the surface of wood is easy for Purple Martins to get a grip on (even painted without sand). Purple Martin males will frequently rest hanging on to the inside surface of a natural gourd. He'll stay there all night. Makes me wonder if they aren't more closely related to the Chimney Swift than we thought...
Any changes you are going to do should probably wait until this winter - you know when you're snowed in up yonder.
Did I understand you to indicate your T-14 has "no" porches at all?
Edit: - no - of course it has porches - she meant perches or railings...
Your T-14 is made from wood and the surface of wood is easy for Purple Martins to get a grip on (even painted without sand). Purple Martin males will frequently rest hanging on to the inside surface of a natural gourd. He'll stay there all night. Makes me wonder if they aren't more closely related to the Chimney Swift than we thought...
Any changes you are going to do should probably wait until this winter - you know when you're snowed in up yonder.
Did I understand you to indicate your T-14 has "no" porches at all?
Edit: - no - of course it has porches - she meant perches or railings...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
-
Guest
OK...will leave well enough alone...no railings or paint and sand for this season....the porches are painted white now, and over the years I have seen sy males come crashing into the females when they get so excited that a female is coming to the house. He actually pushed her off, she started to fall, and then flew away not to return. Those sy males are so exciteable....thrashing around all over insteading of going into a hole and singing sweetly!!! I think I was lucky to get the asy male this year....you could tell he had a better technique to get females....plus he knew how to fly without crashing around.
-
Guest
Sharon..., you have already received good advise.. in fact the railling will not be of any help to keep babies from falling out.. I GET THE BEST RESULTS from gourds with no perches,, they stay inside till they are sure and do not take chances... Victor