here is my plan and questions. ?
i have printed out the sparrow and starling (project demolition).
i now plan to drive around my area (Green Bay)and knock on people's doors with the hope of knocking down old martin housing--the type that is overgrown with trees and -- used by sparrows and starlings. i have been driving around Green Bay, Wi and the only martins i know of are at Bay Beach wild life park.
i have seen 20-30 houses in trees that are wooden and old- on permanent poles(cant raise or lower) that should be taken down.
my question- and i will do this volunteer- but i feel the PMCA should sponsor people to do this. It can only educate people and help the Martin.
Maybe the PMCA could give out gas coupons ($50) or something to the volunteers--then the volunteers could take pictures of the downed housing. Like i said i will be doing this this summer on my free time. Just an idea let me know what you think or any other ideas to rid sparrow and starling housing.
thanks,
mike neppl
green bay, wisconsin
project demolition
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Guest
I like the idea.
IMO: someone knocks on your door and wants something that you have, you are going to think, "What are you going to give me IF I let you take it down?" Because it's not bothering them.
The only problem would be someone then putting up another junky house in order to get another "$$". Maybe a once in a lifetime offer...
IMO: someone knocks on your door and wants something that you have, you are going to think, "What are you going to give me IF I let you take it down?" Because it's not bothering them.
The only problem would be someone then putting up another junky house in order to get another "$$". Maybe a once in a lifetime offer...
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Guest
I offer to do it for free and every now and then somebody will allow me to take one down. Usually they tell me that they like the Sparrows. NOTHING will convince them otherwise.
The Kroger store near my place has a dozen, or so, pair that move into the Kroger sign every year. It is ugly as ugly gets and they won't do anything about it. Bad PR killing birds, you know?
Good news is that my downtown area got incentives to upgrade their store fronts. Old junk came down and new stuff went up. There is nowhere for HOSP to nest now. There used to be hundreds of them all over the sidewalks and streets. Now you see almost none. A great plan would be for a city to pay a bounty on urban S&S.
HOSP are hitting my remote colony now. I have lost five eggs as of last Monday. I don't expect my next check to be pleasant. I have killed six HOSP there this year. For every one you get rid of two more will come. I expect to lose this colony within a few years. The HOSP numbers are too great to fight effectively at a remote colony. Perhaps a few pair will have success avoiding HOSP attacks and a small colony will survive.
Do what you can, but the war against S&S is lost. Only pockets of locally controlled S&S will allow native birds to remain unmolested.
The Kroger store near my place has a dozen, or so, pair that move into the Kroger sign every year. It is ugly as ugly gets and they won't do anything about it. Bad PR killing birds, you know?
Good news is that my downtown area got incentives to upgrade their store fronts. Old junk came down and new stuff went up. There is nowhere for HOSP to nest now. There used to be hundreds of them all over the sidewalks and streets. Now you see almost none. A great plan would be for a city to pay a bounty on urban S&S.
HOSP are hitting my remote colony now. I have lost five eggs as of last Monday. I don't expect my next check to be pleasant. I have killed six HOSP there this year. For every one you get rid of two more will come. I expect to lose this colony within a few years. The HOSP numbers are too great to fight effectively at a remote colony. Perhaps a few pair will have success avoiding HOSP attacks and a small colony will survive.
Do what you can, but the war against S&S is lost. Only pockets of locally controlled S&S will allow native birds to remain unmolested.
well i stopped at my first house today.
An elderly lady in a wheelchair answered the door. i saw a sparrow(martin) house loaded with sparrows. i mentioned how these birds are "basically evil"-- this was after some small talk about how she loves seeing the birds and thinks the houses are nice. she says she has 6 sons and one of the sons runs the bird houses. of course he is at work.
She was pretty receptive to my talk and took the "project demolotion" paper i had with me. She said she will talk to her son about it.
my guess is the houses will stay up. But you never know. Goes to show you how uneducated people are.
mike
An elderly lady in a wheelchair answered the door. i saw a sparrow(martin) house loaded with sparrows. i mentioned how these birds are "basically evil"-- this was after some small talk about how she loves seeing the birds and thinks the houses are nice. she says she has 6 sons and one of the sons runs the bird houses. of course he is at work.
She was pretty receptive to my talk and took the "project demolotion" paper i had with me. She said she will talk to her son about it.
my guess is the houses will stay up. But you never know. Goes to show you how uneducated people are.
mike
mike neppl
green bay, wi
green bay, wi
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Guest
Maybe a series of newspaper articles with pics in your local newspaper if you could convince the editor of all the pros and cons of management.I like your thoughts tho, positive thinking on your part.
dick
dick
Just did my 2nd stop.
another interesting story. i pull in the driveway and an older very heavy women answers the door. after she looks me up and down(i am 33) and i explain what i am there for. She says "go ahead". i walk in the backyard and this house is on a metal pole. i see a male house sparrow land on the house-he sees me and flys away. i proceed to shake the pole and the house falls off and almost hits me in the head. there was one sparrow nest in it.
so far so good. i attached a pic.
another interesting story. i pull in the driveway and an older very heavy women answers the door. after she looks me up and down(i am 33) and i explain what i am there for. She says "go ahead". i walk in the backyard and this house is on a metal pole. i see a male house sparrow land on the house-he sees me and flys away. i proceed to shake the pole and the house falls off and almost hits me in the head. there was one sparrow nest in it.
so far so good. i attached a pic.
- Attachments
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- Demolition of old martin house in Green Bay, Wisconsin, taken on May 21, 2008 taken by J Neppl.
- martin house demolition #1.jpg (245.07 KiB) Viewed 3850 times
mike neppl
green bay, wi
green bay, wi
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Guest
WOW! That thing is a wreck! Congrats on your first successful demolition and keep up the great work!
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KathyF
- Posts: 3522
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
- Location: Missouri/Licking
- Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.
Wow, you go Mike!! That is absolutely a great start! That is one nasty looking house. Man, you do have guts!
There is a great posting on here by Mary Dawnsong where she references the Wildlife & Game websites too. Here's a link: http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... ife#113092
I'm doing the same thing here, only I'm using Chuck Abare's article.
Best of luck to you! We're rooting for ya!
There is a great posting on here by Mary Dawnsong where she references the Wildlife & Game websites too. Here's a link: http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... ife#113092
I'm doing the same thing here, only I'm using Chuck Abare's article.
Best of luck to you! We're rooting for ya!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
update,
tonight i stopped at 4 houses with what appeared to be martin housing.
met a 70 old guy who told me if i take down the house what am i going to with the metal pole (in other words -the metal pole has to have something on it) i told him to put a bird feeder on it. he took my phone number -but was receptive to my talk.
another lady said she would have her son take down the house. guess i will see when i drive by.
another lady was outside when i pulled up and asked her- what type of bird house that was--she said "purple martin"-- have you seen any i asked--she said no. she kind of knew what she was talking about -but it was an old wood house -- i told her she should put up gourds.
last place nobody was home--so 2 places that should have old houses taken down --both are thinking about it. i would say the lady might- but the 70 year old man wont.
mike
tonight i stopped at 4 houses with what appeared to be martin housing.
met a 70 old guy who told me if i take down the house what am i going to with the metal pole (in other words -the metal pole has to have something on it) i told him to put a bird feeder on it. he took my phone number -but was receptive to my talk.
another lady said she would have her son take down the house. guess i will see when i drive by.
another lady was outside when i pulled up and asked her- what type of bird house that was--she said "purple martin"-- have you seen any i asked--she said no. she kind of knew what she was talking about -but it was an old wood house -- i told her she should put up gourds.
last place nobody was home--so 2 places that should have old houses taken down --both are thinking about it. i would say the lady might- but the 70 year old man wont.
mike
mike neppl
green bay, wi
green bay, wi
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Guest
Awesome!
Here is another idea. Trade in multiple unit martin houses (sparrow factories-in these cases) for a single bird house.
If they are so into the "birds" and don't want to take the house down...
Maybe some manufacturers can donate small bird houses for this.
Here is another idea. Trade in multiple unit martin houses (sparrow factories-in these cases) for a single bird house.
If they are so into the "birds" and don't want to take the house down...
Maybe some manufacturers can donate small bird houses for this.
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TrkrBob1949
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 7:20 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Belle Bower
Mike,
You are to be commended for what you are doing. It takes a lot of courage and conviction to approach someone at their home like that. I used to try to do it but almost got into a fight, so I quit. Many slumlords don't like to be reminded that they are....well, slumlords, and they take offense. Those people are the one's responsible for the decline of the purple martin.
I know you have limited resources, but here is a suggestion. Usually people will be more receptive to your overtures if you offer to replace their housing. People just can't ignore the opportunity to get something for free. Set a goal of how many houses you want to demolish in a year and buy enough cheap lumber to build that many replacement houses. Build a basic one room house and drill a 3/4" inch entrance hole in it. The slumlords won't know the difference, but the sparrows and starlings will--they won't be able to enter it. Don't worry about the durability of the house or how well it's constructed. Just throw the thing together. Mainly you just want to get it up to replace the dilapidated slumbird factory. Not all slumlords will require a replacement, so you may be able to replace more houses than you originally budgeted for.
This will require a little extra work on your part, but it will pay off for you in the long run. Once again, I compliment you for what you are trying to accomplish. I drive for Schneider National and I have been to Green Bay many times so I know what you are up against. Green Bay is a "mature" city with many old buildings and is a sparrow and starling paradise.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
You are to be commended for what you are doing. It takes a lot of courage and conviction to approach someone at their home like that. I used to try to do it but almost got into a fight, so I quit. Many slumlords don't like to be reminded that they are....well, slumlords, and they take offense. Those people are the one's responsible for the decline of the purple martin.
I know you have limited resources, but here is a suggestion. Usually people will be more receptive to your overtures if you offer to replace their housing. People just can't ignore the opportunity to get something for free. Set a goal of how many houses you want to demolish in a year and buy enough cheap lumber to build that many replacement houses. Build a basic one room house and drill a 3/4" inch entrance hole in it. The slumlords won't know the difference, but the sparrows and starlings will--they won't be able to enter it. Don't worry about the durability of the house or how well it's constructed. Just throw the thing together. Mainly you just want to get it up to replace the dilapidated slumbird factory. Not all slumlords will require a replacement, so you may be able to replace more houses than you originally budgeted for.
This will require a little extra work on your part, but it will pay off for you in the long run. Once again, I compliment you for what you are trying to accomplish. I drive for Schneider National and I have been to Green Bay many times so I know what you are up against. Green Bay is a "mature" city with many old buildings and is a sparrow and starling paradise.
Sincerely, Bob Bozeman
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
bob,
i think your idea is a great idea. but i cannot do that. the houses that i am taking down are in tree ridden areas. There is no possibility of martins-even with the "other holes" sparrows could get in.
my offer is to put up a bird feeder and that is where i am at.
this is not easy - but kind of fun for me. i do not have martins since I moved to Green Bay. i had 17 pair in Sioux Falls, SD--we just moved-haven't bought a home yet. this is kind of a project for me.
mike
i think your idea is a great idea. but i cannot do that. the houses that i am taking down are in tree ridden areas. There is no possibility of martins-even with the "other holes" sparrows could get in.
my offer is to put up a bird feeder and that is where i am at.
this is not easy - but kind of fun for me. i do not have martins since I moved to Green Bay. i had 17 pair in Sioux Falls, SD--we just moved-haven't bought a home yet. this is kind of a project for me.
mike
mike neppl
green bay, wi
green bay, wi
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
I think Bob's suggestion to offer a replacement house with 3/4" holes is excellent. House Sparrows cannot enter a 3/4" hole. I don't believe a House Wren can even get in - believe 7/8" is the smallest it can use. The house would be for appearances only - yard decoration - which is all most folks want anyway.
There is a problem with giving them bird feeders...
Most folks are going to buy the cheapest bird seed, which is mostly white millet. House Sparrows thrive on the stuff. I have managed to get a few of my neighbors to take down HOSP-ridden housing. I have had a much harder time convincing them to stop feeding cheap bird seed.
There is a problem with giving them bird feeders...
Most folks are going to buy the cheapest bird seed, which is mostly white millet. House Sparrows thrive on the stuff. I have managed to get a few of my neighbors to take down HOSP-ridden housing. I have had a much harder time convincing them to stop feeding cheap bird seed.
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
I like the idea, but I do have a question. Will removing the old houses actually reduce the HOSP population or just force them to find housing elsewhere & increase competition between HOSP's and PM's for the good houses? Are HOSP's dependent on human provided housing, too, just like PM's?
Rick
Rick
Everyone has great ideas and i think that building housing with very small holes is a good idea-that way uneducated people are happy with a house up--but no sparrows or anything can get in. but i am not going to build houses.
as far as if there were enough bird houses for all birds. i dont think that theory holds water because that would just mean even more sparrows.
in my 6 years of raising martins. my best luck was not with wood housing it was with gourds--more babies fledged. my goal is to take down housing that has no chance of martins--mostly inner city houses that are overgrown with trees. people would never get a martin there. the houses have just been left up over the years and are starling and sparrow ridden.
mike
as far as if there were enough bird houses for all birds. i dont think that theory holds water because that would just mean even more sparrows.
in my 6 years of raising martins. my best luck was not with wood housing it was with gourds--more babies fledged. my goal is to take down housing that has no chance of martins--mostly inner city houses that are overgrown with trees. people would never get a martin there. the houses have just been left up over the years and are starling and sparrow ridden.
mike
mike neppl
green bay, wi
green bay, wi