I've just located about 12 of these old trio castles at an old farm. They are all over grown with trees. I'm trying to get in touch with the owner to see if he wants to get rid of them. I'd like to see them go to someone who could put them in an ideal location. E-mail me if interested. Thanks!
Mike
Anyone interested in some old TRIO castles?
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Peggy Riley
- Posts: 885
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:21 pm
- Location: TX/Tolar
These make great trap houses!
Peggy
Peggy
Last edited by Peggy Riley on Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well everyone, I talked to the owner today and he doesn't want to part with the houses. He says he doesn't get martins anymore(tree encroached) but still likes to watch the sparrows nest in them. You can imagine how that made me feel! I tryed to convince him how bad these sparrows are but he didn't care. I'm trying to talk him into at least letting me help him move them out farther from the trees. Sorry for getting everyones hopes up. I thought for sure these things had long been abanded.
Mike
Mike
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Didn't know there were any "old farms" in Florida anymore..would love to see photos. Try to work with the farmer; just let him have his sparrows if he must, but get one house out in a very open area. Maybe the local paper will do a story! Could lead to good things!
John M
John M
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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.
Mike,
I can relate to the frustration you're feeling regarding the guy wanting to keep his sparrow factory producing. However, DON'T give up!
I had to deal with a lady that was VERY religious that didn't believe in killing ANY animals. So I spent a few hours with her explaining that God also instructed us to be GOOD STEWARDS of his animals and we had failed when the guys brought the @#%$#@ birds over here. Now we must correct that wrong and at least manage them.
After a few more days, her husband went outside with his shotgun and started shooting starlings and sparrows. They got their first martins that year.
So my other $.02 - take a copy of the "Project Demolition" letter to him.
http://purplemartin.org/downloads/PDemolition.pdf
More effectively, find out if the Conservation dept. for your state has any information on native birds and the threat that sparrows/starlings pose. I find it more effective when the information is coming from a more trusted "authority" on the subject, than it being viewed as just my "opinion". For example, here is the Conservation dept. of MO's pamphlet on Purple Martins: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12199.pdf
Lastly, you can refer to another popular authority on this topic - Sialis
http://www.sialis.org/hospattacks.htm
You're in a tough, sensitive situation, so use the information as you see fit. It may just serve to make him mad. Who knows
. But there you go - you're now armed with more information.
I can relate to the frustration you're feeling regarding the guy wanting to keep his sparrow factory producing. However, DON'T give up!
I had to deal with a lady that was VERY religious that didn't believe in killing ANY animals. So I spent a few hours with her explaining that God also instructed us to be GOOD STEWARDS of his animals and we had failed when the guys brought the @#%$#@ birds over here. Now we must correct that wrong and at least manage them.
After a few more days, her husband went outside with his shotgun and started shooting starlings and sparrows. They got their first martins that year.
So my other $.02 - take a copy of the "Project Demolition" letter to him.
http://purplemartin.org/downloads/PDemolition.pdf
More effectively, find out if the Conservation dept. for your state has any information on native birds and the threat that sparrows/starlings pose. I find it more effective when the information is coming from a more trusted "authority" on the subject, than it being viewed as just my "opinion". For example, here is the Conservation dept. of MO's pamphlet on Purple Martins: http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12199.pdf
Lastly, you can refer to another popular authority on this topic - Sialis
http://www.sialis.org/hospattacks.htm
You're in a tough, sensitive situation, so use the information as you see fit. It may just serve to make him mad. Who knows
. But there you go - you're now armed with more information. "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