Excluder vs Crescent Openings
If I'm reading the catalogue right, both the excluder, modified and crescent openings are all designed for the purpose of excluding starlings. What is the advantage of using the excluder over the crescent? Is it easier for the martins to enter? I use the aluminum porch clips on my super gourds and it does appear the martins have to wiggle a bit more to enter the crescent over the round openings. The day I hung my gourds- I saw a starling. They are persistent in my area. Would like some advice from landlords using these entrances as I'm wanting to order some more gourds for the season. Thanks!
At the beginning of the season last year I ordered all new excluder doors to replace my existing round entrances. I also struggle with starlings. The birds seemed to really struggle with the entrances. A few made it in but the others would just stick their head in and try to fit and then back out. Maybe I wasn't patient enough. I was afraid the birds would abandon the house. After a week of wringing my hands, I ordered all new crescent opening doors. It removed my stress and the birds went right in! I had no problems with the starlings entering the crescent entrances.
-
John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
All these openings work pretty well to admit martins and restrict starlings.
Years ago when crescents first came into common use, it was found that starlings were entering some crescents and efforts began to develop the perfect mouse trap... shape of a SREH opening that would block starlings and reasonably admit martins.
The problem actually often was the placement and not the SREH. Any SREH needs to be close to the floor to stop starlings, and crescents placed no higher than one-fourth inch -- I prefer about one-eighth -- will block most starlings, from my experience in a starling infested public park. You personally have a challenge with the gourd clips as the porch actually is one-half inch below. More on that in a minute.
The original excluder is the most snug SREH, but sometimes martins won't enter -- at least at an unestablished site. It's 30.0 mm tall, same as the crescent, but has less space overall. Martins will use it at an established site.
The excluder II is 30.5 mm tall and martins really zip right through, once they learn. It's one of my favorite entrances to feel safer, but is best used at established sites. Other entrances are variations of cuttting your blanket here or there and putting it on another side, and also of trying to develop something that isn't patented. entrances with pips are patented.
You can improve your clip situation by gluing on a little plank on the front porch with a dab of caulk or liquid nails to bring the level up some. I use a light-weight fake wood trim board and cut short lengths for this. But you probably better secure the clip to the gourd with rivets or tiny sheet metal screws, in case the weight in front causes the porch to fall forward or loosen.
Hope this helps...will rely on others here to correct me if I've goofed anything, and add to this, as I'm off to make toast.
John M
Years ago when crescents first came into common use, it was found that starlings were entering some crescents and efforts began to develop the perfect mouse trap... shape of a SREH opening that would block starlings and reasonably admit martins.
The problem actually often was the placement and not the SREH. Any SREH needs to be close to the floor to stop starlings, and crescents placed no higher than one-fourth inch -- I prefer about one-eighth -- will block most starlings, from my experience in a starling infested public park. You personally have a challenge with the gourd clips as the porch actually is one-half inch below. More on that in a minute.
The original excluder is the most snug SREH, but sometimes martins won't enter -- at least at an unestablished site. It's 30.0 mm tall, same as the crescent, but has less space overall. Martins will use it at an established site.
The excluder II is 30.5 mm tall and martins really zip right through, once they learn. It's one of my favorite entrances to feel safer, but is best used at established sites. Other entrances are variations of cuttting your blanket here or there and putting it on another side, and also of trying to develop something that isn't patented. entrances with pips are patented.
You can improve your clip situation by gluing on a little plank on the front porch with a dab of caulk or liquid nails to bring the level up some. I use a light-weight fake wood trim board and cut short lengths for this. But you probably better secure the clip to the gourd with rivets or tiny sheet metal screws, in case the weight in front causes the porch to fall forward or loosen.
Hope this helps...will rely on others here to correct me if I've goofed anything, and add to this, as I'm off to make toast.
John M
-
Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
I am with John on this one.
The excluder II is easy for Martins... but tough on starlings. All 3 of my pairs chose this entrance over all the other types.
I had one female take a little while to figure it out but all others zip in and out from the start.
Bear in mind that a credit card gauge cut to 1 3/16 works great to test your entrances. You would be surprised how many are a 1/16 too small. I use a dremel tool to get it to specs.
The excluder II is easy for Martins... but tough on starlings. All 3 of my pairs chose this entrance over all the other types.
I had one female take a little while to figure it out but all others zip in and out from the start.
Bear in mind that a credit card gauge cut to 1 3/16 works great to test your entrances. You would be surprised how many are a 1/16 too small. I use a dremel tool to get it to specs.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
Good info, I was wondering about the height placement of my clingers, I guess I got it right. I started out with round holes and yes I got Starlings. I changed out to crescents I made myself and did not get anymore Starlings. I have used all types of SREH's since, this year however I will be using clingers and connelly's. I wonder if you put a round hole at the same height as the porch would that not also work?
Rob.
Rob.
2009. 98 eggs, 66 hatch, 61 fledged.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion
. first egg May 25 in a BO-11
2018. Population stable.
2010. 114 eggs, 89 hatch,70 fledged.
2011. 96 eggs. 80 hatch,68 fledged.Heavy Merlin preditation.
2012. 89 eggs. 56 hatch, good fledge. Guards installed. Merlin not sighted at houses.
2013. First Egg May 24, first Baby June 13.
2014. successful.
2015. successful.
2016. Martin's population decline, suspect new housing in the neighborhood. Merlin eating well also!
2017.Population explosion
. first egg May 25 in a BO-112018. Population stable.
-
John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Rob...A low round hole might slow some starlings, espeically if the hole were a little under 2 inches...but I'd think some would push in.
Doug..you are so right about SREH accuracy. I've found crescents in several brands of plastic houses and in gourds that were too small...setting the landlord up for failure. One should check the accuracy by making a guage out of something like a tapered credit card, marking a thin line at 1 3/16 inches, and inserting it. You don't want to over open, but if the entrances are too tight, martins often won't enter.
another interesting point about SREH that I learned from Thurman Seber, an experienced landlord in Tennessee. Once a starling enters some moderatly restrictive SREH, such as a crescent placed too high, and is nesting, they likely won't be stopped by raising the porch level. Most SREHs are intended only to deter. Trap one inside and he can bolt out.
John M
Doug..you are so right about SREH accuracy. I've found crescents in several brands of plastic houses and in gourds that were too small...setting the landlord up for failure. One should check the accuracy by making a guage out of something like a tapered credit card, marking a thin line at 1 3/16 inches, and inserting it. You don't want to over open, but if the entrances are too tight, martins often won't enter.
another interesting point about SREH that I learned from Thurman Seber, an experienced landlord in Tennessee. Once a starling enters some moderatly restrictive SREH, such as a crescent placed too high, and is nesting, they likely won't be stopped by raising the porch level. Most SREHs are intended only to deter. Trap one inside and he can bolt out.
John M
Last edited by John Miller on Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've been hosting purple martins for over 30 years now and I've tried all the new fangled crescents/excluders etc that they have out on the market. The biggest thing I've found through these trial and errors is that my birds seem to have more trouble getting into them than they are worth. I've also concluded over the many years that the best starling/sparrow retardant is a well managed site. I went back to the round holes several years ago and found that if I was diligent to trap and remove the nasties, then my birds did alright and were much happier. This is of course my own personal experience and not intended to serve as a cure all for everyone. I will be starting all over again this year as my family and I moved this past summer into a new house. I've got the gourd rack set and just waiting for them to return to our area. Fortunately, the neighbor just over my fence had a house up last year and it had several purple martins. It shouldn't be too hard to entice some of them over to my gourds. Another observation over the years that given the choice, purple martins seem to prefer roomier gourds over houses. At least here in my neck of woods. I hope you all have houses and gourds full of little purple birds! They are on their way. 
Steve
Steve
Steve Smith
-
Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Steve, I did what you are doing for many years, and your management method works good if you are home to manage it.
I have my gourds set up for SREH, and don't have a lot of starlings. I have trapped on average about 10 starlings/year. Since I am retired, I am home most of the time to manage the colony, to keep away the S&S. I however want the SREH because I am not home all of the time, and I don't want the starlings to kill a nest of martins.
An important point to make is that the type of entrance is not as important as the location of the SREH. If you put the entrance flush with the floor, you can use nearly any type of entrance and it will stop most of the starlings. I simply suggest that you use one that the martins can enter the easiest...I will have more on this subject later, as I am testing a new type of entrance, and it looks promising...I must wait and see if the martins can enter it easily..
I have my gourds set up for SREH, and don't have a lot of starlings. I have trapped on average about 10 starlings/year. Since I am retired, I am home most of the time to manage the colony, to keep away the S&S. I however want the SREH because I am not home all of the time, and I don't want the starlings to kill a nest of martins.
An important point to make is that the type of entrance is not as important as the location of the SREH. If you put the entrance flush with the floor, you can use nearly any type of entrance and it will stop most of the starlings. I simply suggest that you use one that the martins can enter the easiest...I will have more on this subject later, as I am testing a new type of entrance, and it looks promising...I must wait and see if the martins can enter it easily..
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps