where are my birds
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jeff gregory
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:45 pm
- Location: little chicago/sc
after trying for 3 years in 07 i finally got 1 pair. they came in late april. then in las6t year i figured i would see my pm'S A LOT EARLIER but idid not see any till may and agian only 1 pair! and this year i seen one scout over a week ago and nothing since ihave 2 racks tottaling 28 gourds and i geuss 1 pair this year to show for it!! this is so fustrating!
Hi Jeff.
It appears that your using only gourds? Do you know if there are any established colonies near you, and if so, what are they using?
There are a lot of places, where the Martins seem to prefer one type of housing, over another. Sometimes (certainly not always) folks that put up gourds, and houses, sometimes notice an overwhelming preference to one over the other.
It appears that your using only gourds? Do you know if there are any established colonies near you, and if so, what are they using?
There are a lot of places, where the Martins seem to prefer one type of housing, over another. Sometimes (certainly not always) folks that put up gourds, and houses, sometimes notice an overwhelming preference to one over the other.
Hey Matt, where abouts are you in Houston? I'm up on the north east side, near the lake and 1960. What type of housing/entrances are you using?
Jeff, I originally had a lone Trio 8 compartment house, round entrances, and never got any PM's in it. A neighbor had an S&K barn with SREH, and had several pairs. So I bought an S&K house with SREH, and that same year had my first pair in the S&K. The martins around me all go straight for the S&K over my Trio or Heath castle (don't ever buy a Heath BTW, they're rubbish compared to Trio/Nature Home).
But, I think it may just be the SREH holes that attract them. I changed my Trio 8 over to SREH holes this winter, and the martins are now showing much more interest in it. Before, they would rarely go in/out of the compartments.
I've also started moving my decoys around regularly, and it always seems to bring around more visitors after I move them.
It's a good idea to find a nearby colony and see what they are using.
Cheers,
Michael
Jeff, I originally had a lone Trio 8 compartment house, round entrances, and never got any PM's in it. A neighbor had an S&K barn with SREH, and had several pairs. So I bought an S&K house with SREH, and that same year had my first pair in the S&K. The martins around me all go straight for the S&K over my Trio or Heath castle (don't ever buy a Heath BTW, they're rubbish compared to Trio/Nature Home).
But, I think it may just be the SREH holes that attract them. I changed my Trio 8 over to SREH holes this winter, and the martins are now showing much more interest in it. Before, they would rarely go in/out of the compartments.
I've also started moving my decoys around regularly, and it always seems to bring around more visitors after I move them.
It's a good idea to find a nearby colony and see what they are using.
Cheers,
Michael
Cheers,
Michael
Michael
Howdy Michael.MRodgers wrote:Hey Matt, where abouts are you in Houston? I'm up on the north east side, near the lake and 1960. What type of housing/entrances are you using?
I'm down near NASA. I'm using a modified Trio house. It's basically a 12 unit DR-12N, that's had an extra floor added, making it a 3-story unit.
I have some 6"X12" units, equipped with the Trio crescent doors, and some 6"X6" compartments, using the regular round-hole doors.
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Al Denton
- Posts: 1468
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:31 pm
- Location: Carolina Shores NC
- Martin Colony History: New site and housing for 2018...Trendsetter 12. 1 pair of subs. Fledged 5...2019...11 pairs
Hey Jeff
After years of trying I finally got a colony started in 2006 with an ASY male(fledged 4) In 2007 that same male returned(fledged 6, still just one pair) Last year I had a scout here in early March, but nothing after that. I assume for some reason my male of previous years didn't survive the migration. Maybe he just aged out. It can be frustrating for sure....especially having just one pair. You just never really know what to expect the next year. Keep your fingers crossed though. Maybe they're running a little late this year.
After years of trying I finally got a colony started in 2006 with an ASY male(fledged 4) In 2007 that same male returned(fledged 6, still just one pair) Last year I had a scout here in early March, but nothing after that. I assume for some reason my male of previous years didn't survive the migration. Maybe he just aged out. It can be frustrating for sure....especially having just one pair. You just never really know what to expect the next year. Keep your fingers crossed though. Maybe they're running a little late this year.