Some years’ back I began plans to convert several antiquated satellite dishes into a gourd rack, and now, thanks to the help from several neighbors, I have a pretty awesome and unique rack.
The larger dish on top holds 32 gourds, while the bottom holds 24, for a grand total of 56 gourds. The inner circles of both dishes sport round-holed gourds, while to outside rings are crescent-entrances with porches.
A neighbor of mine who works at a metal shop designed the brace that joins the upper and lower dishes. The brace slides up and down with the help of 8 Teflon rollers, which prevents the rack from scraping the pole, and makes for a smooth ride up and down. The pole is iron 2” square, with a wall thickness of ¼".
So far my PMs have only checked out the gourds, but even though they seem to favor the wooden houses to this point, I’m sure they’ll warm up to the rack and what it has to offer. It should be interesting to see how they take to the new accommodations.
~Joe Del Gobbo, AKA Sparticus
Recycled Satellite Dishes w/pics
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Guest
- Attachments
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- Another look at the colony.
- DSC00003A.jpg (63.68 KiB) Viewed 7597 times
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- Closeup of the rack with gourds.
- DSC00002A.jpg (65.63 KiB) Viewed 7678 times
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- My colony site via bedroom window.
- DSC00001A.jpg (63.18 KiB) Viewed 7794 times
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Guest
I am new to all of this but i must say it is impressive. and it would seem to me that it gives great protection from not just predators but weather also. keeps that hot sun off top of gourds also. what a neat idea. all i have is a 12 unit house and 6 gourds....
are all your gourds occupied??? a great way to use up the satellite dishes that are just laying around collecting dust. I respect your imagination and hope it works as well as it looks
are all your gourds occupied??? a great way to use up the satellite dishes that are just laying around collecting dust. I respect your imagination and hope it works as well as it looks
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Guest
Now that is what I call 1st Class Accomodations byut you need to go pick up that piece of paper in the tree line up close to the tank. 
dick
dick
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Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
That is impressive. It really would offer some protection against predators I suppose. But it I would think it would be a great protector against the sun and rain and hail for that matter.
I'll admit it looks very sci-fi/futuristic. Maybe you'll get some birds from a galaxy far, far away.
I'll admit it looks very sci-fi/futuristic. Maybe you'll get some birds from a galaxy far, far away.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Looks great. If someone is driving down your road and off into a ditch, it's probably me.
John Miller
John Miller
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Guest
Wow! That is so creative. My husband just saw the pics and said he is going to make me a gourd rack out of two antique wagon wheels and used aluminum signs we have in the barn. He welds, so the modification shouldn't be too difficult - Thanks for the idea.
I remain hopeful I haven't lost my entire colony to the hawks last year, but still no PM's.
I remain hopeful I haven't lost my entire colony to the hawks last year, but still no PM's.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I've seen a few pics on here of people doing that but this is the only one I have seen were the mesh or or dish portion was left on the frame. it is interesting. Do you know about how much it weighs?
Great idea, very ingenious. 
"We can judge the heart of man by his treatment of animals." - Immanual Kant.
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OK, I'm going to be the one to question it. It looks great and it's very well built. I think it's a great idea to test and see if it will work. My concern is we don't know what the martins are thinking - will they think the mesh looks too much like a tree canopy? Please keep us updated and let us know if it works.
I hope they like it because it would give great protection to them - from sun and predators. If they haven't taken to it after a few years I would consider removing the mesh.
Wyatt
I hope they like it because it would give great protection to them - from sun and predators. If they haven't taken to it after a few years I would consider removing the mesh.
Wyatt
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Guest
Thanks for all the kudos, folks...lets me know all the effort is appreciated by people as well as birds.
To answer questions so far, the whole rack with gourds is estimated to weigh in at about 150-200lbs.;not lightweight by any means. With each super gourd weighing approx. 2lbs., the gourds alone account for over 100lbs.
Winds do have an effect on the system, but the truest test has already been passed when a front came through with 60MPH winds just a few days ago. The rack was hoisted to the top, and as you can see, it's still standing, although in the future, I'll be lowering it by 1/3 when strong winds/storms are forecast just to be safe.
For now, I've left the dish's wire mesh in place, as it sort of adds to the overall appearance. Although it contributes significantly to the rack's aerodynamic drag in even the lightest breeze, the good news is if necessary, it could be taken off with the removal of some sheet metal screws that hold it in place.
I realize I'm not the first person to think of using old satellite dishes for this purpose, but I never dreamed how good this particular project would come out. So far, I don't have any permanent residents, although I do have pleanty of PMs fighting over compartments in my houses.
Dick, I'll go get that piece of paper as soon as the rain stops and things clear up around here .
Again, thanks for the compliments and I hope everyone out there has a VERY successful year!
~Joe Del Gobbo, AKA Sparticus
To answer questions so far, the whole rack with gourds is estimated to weigh in at about 150-200lbs.;not lightweight by any means. With each super gourd weighing approx. 2lbs., the gourds alone account for over 100lbs.
Winds do have an effect on the system, but the truest test has already been passed when a front came through with 60MPH winds just a few days ago. The rack was hoisted to the top, and as you can see, it's still standing, although in the future, I'll be lowering it by 1/3 when strong winds/storms are forecast just to be safe.
For now, I've left the dish's wire mesh in place, as it sort of adds to the overall appearance. Although it contributes significantly to the rack's aerodynamic drag in even the lightest breeze, the good news is if necessary, it could be taken off with the removal of some sheet metal screws that hold it in place.
I realize I'm not the first person to think of using old satellite dishes for this purpose, but I never dreamed how good this particular project would come out. So far, I don't have any permanent residents, although I do have pleanty of PMs fighting over compartments in my houses.
Dick, I'll go get that piece of paper as soon as the rain stops and things clear up around here
.Again, thanks for the compliments and I hope everyone out there has a VERY successful year!
~Joe Del Gobbo, AKA Sparticus
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
I think your set-up is beautiful! I'd love to have one. Now I'm going to scouring the area looking for old dishes.
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Guest
Hey Joe,
Love that setup. I have one of the large dishes like yours that I want to convert to a gourd rack. If you don't mind I might holler at you for some info when I start. Looks like you did a first class job.
How sweet it is,
Love that setup. I have one of the large dishes like yours that I want to convert to a gourd rack. If you don't mind I might holler at you for some info when I start. Looks like you did a first class job.
How sweet it is,
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Guest
Once again folks, thanks you all for the compliments and "warm fuzzies" you've thrown my way. Several people have indicated they would like to build one themselves, and I have a few suggestions to pass along if I may.
First, if you're looking for the old satellite dishes and happen to find one, don't buy it...most people would be happy to be rid of these old techno dinosaurs as most aren't usable anyhow. Find someone who is willing to let you haul it away for nothing and be rid of the thing. If they want to charge you for it...just pass and look elsewhere. If you do happen to find one, make sure you take the round, iron brace that sits at the base of the dish and allows it to be mounted to the pole...you'll need this! The two dishes I obtained were very easy to remove...it was just a matter of loosening several bolts that held the dish to the pole and lifting it off.
Second, don't use anything less than a 2x2" square and 1/4" thick iron or steel pole...anything less would most likely bend and snap in high winds.
Third, USE A BRAKE WINCH...NOTHING ELSE! If your hand should slip while raising or lowering this type of rack using a regular winch, the ensuing fall would most likely end in death or serious harm to the operator. Please...safety first!
Lastly, be prepared to spend some money unless you work with metal and/or weld on a regular basis. This rack wasn't cheap to build and the gourds alone at approx. $20 a gourd x 56...well, you get the idea.
The dishes themselves are made of aluminum, which cuts down on the weight significantly. It's the bracket and gourds that packs on most of the pounds. Two small dishes would work, however nest checks would be somewhat more difficult since the bottom rack would not allow you easy access to the upper rack.
Okay, so that's all the info that's fit to print. If anyone has more questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I'll help in any way I can. Hope everyone has a great season with LOTS of PMs at their site.
~Joe Del Gobbo, AKA Sparticus
First, if you're looking for the old satellite dishes and happen to find one, don't buy it...most people would be happy to be rid of these old techno dinosaurs as most aren't usable anyhow. Find someone who is willing to let you haul it away for nothing and be rid of the thing. If they want to charge you for it...just pass and look elsewhere. If you do happen to find one, make sure you take the round, iron brace that sits at the base of the dish and allows it to be mounted to the pole...you'll need this! The two dishes I obtained were very easy to remove...it was just a matter of loosening several bolts that held the dish to the pole and lifting it off.
Second, don't use anything less than a 2x2" square and 1/4" thick iron or steel pole...anything less would most likely bend and snap in high winds.
Third, USE A BRAKE WINCH...NOTHING ELSE! If your hand should slip while raising or lowering this type of rack using a regular winch, the ensuing fall would most likely end in death or serious harm to the operator. Please...safety first!
Lastly, be prepared to spend some money unless you work with metal and/or weld on a regular basis. This rack wasn't cheap to build and the gourds alone at approx. $20 a gourd x 56...well, you get the idea.
The dishes themselves are made of aluminum, which cuts down on the weight significantly. It's the bracket and gourds that packs on most of the pounds. Two small dishes would work, however nest checks would be somewhat more difficult since the bottom rack would not allow you easy access to the upper rack.
Okay, so that's all the info that's fit to print. If anyone has more questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I'll help in any way I can. Hope everyone has a great season with LOTS of PMs at their site.
~Joe Del Gobbo, AKA Sparticus
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
I like your setup too, but I would be willing to bet that you would get the martins to the gourds faster if the mesh was removed. I tend to agree with wyatt on this one. But like what the others have said I like the protection the mesh offers too.
An attempt to be funny here, John, wouldent it be eaiser to drive into the guys yard and then look at his setup instead of driving by and possibly going into a ditch?
An attempt to be funny here, John, wouldent it be eaiser to drive into the guys yard and then look at his setup instead of driving by and possibly going into a ditch?
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
My thoughts was that the martins may get their toenails caught in the mash. I have a 10' that I removed the mesh from and added 24 gourds on a singlr dish and the martins sueely enjoy it.wyatt wrote:OK, I'm going to be the one to question it. It looks great and it's very well built. I think it's a great idea to test and see if it will work. My concern is we don't know what the martins are thinking - will they think the mesh looks too much like a tree canopy? Please keep us updated and let us know if it works.
I hope they like it because it would give great protection to them - from sun and predators. If they haven't taken to it after a few years I would consider removing the mesh.
Wyatt
I have two 7.5' dishes I may do the same as this with for 09. Also I paintedit white to comensate for the hoe southern sun. John in Alabama
ROLL TIDE