Should I install owl guards now?

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hoopsnut
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:29 pm
Location: Iowa/Dawson

I need to equip my houses with owl guards this season and I was wondering if the martins adapt without any problems if I start the season with them attached.

I made a couple out of a piece of 2" by 4" welded wire fencing. I made them so that the only point of attachment is at one spot on the bottom, so they are easy to remove for nest inspection.

What do folks think?

Thanks in advance.
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DSCN0233 (800 x 600).jpg
DSCN0233 (800 x 600).jpg (117.36 KiB) Viewed 1586 times
The fencing is attached at the top with a couple fence wires bent down and hooked to the roof and on the bottom a single 12 gauge cooper through the bottom floor.
The fencing is attached at the top with a couple fence wires bent down and hooked to the roof and on the bottom a single 12 gauge cooper through the bottom floor.
DSCN0234 (600 x 450).jpg (60.96 KiB) Viewed 1609 times
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Carlton
Posts: 1959
Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.

I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.


At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.

At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.

I like your idea. Looks good!

Your martins will have NO PROBLEM with the guard being on there right from Day 1. I had a Trio house with a full cage and many of the martins preferred that house. I guess they felt safe in there and it gave them more perching space as well.
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

That's almost exactly how I did mine. Works out good and the martins accept the change very quickly. I waited until the eggs were hatched before making the change,don't know if it would have made any difference but didn't want to take a chance of scaring them off.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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hoopsnut
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:29 pm
Location: Iowa/Dawson

Thanks fellas, my question was answered the minute my first female arrived. The two males immediately made it past the wire and now both males as well as the female are able to get in.

Actually the female acted like she had seen this type of owl guard before.

I'm off to make 9 more sets. I'm going have think about how I will protect my Trio Castle.
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