Every year since I started this venture, I have done some kind of mod. or changed something from year to year, to see if it would make a difference. My original plans were to move my gourd rack and house to a different spot in the yard before next year to see if it would help.
I've had so many martins show an interest this year, that now I'm second guessing my planed move, after reading Mike Scully's post this year about the way his martins reacted at his school site.
The dilemma being, if my site wasn't good enough for them this year as is, it may not be good enough for them next year ether. If the subbie that was so interested just didn't find a mate he may return next year ASY and have no trouble, but if I move everything it might throw him off all together. If I make the wrong decision I'm still "waiting" for martins.
I personally think I'm set up in the best spot, but as we all know, it don't boil down to what "I" think! Any thoughts?
To move or not to move?
Hello,Gobbler T.... I tried for years to get martins with out any luck
I tried everything that could be thought of, I have moved and changed
my poles a million times, But still didn't have any luck.
But two years ago i gave up on getting martins, i just put my gourds
in the same spot and I told the Good Lord i had tried everything i
could to get them.
And i was leaving it up to him because they were his. And would you
believe last year he blessed me with a pair,and this year i had a pair
plus even got one extra SY male late in the season.
Sure wish you the best of luck with getting your colony started..
I tried everything that could be thought of, I have moved and changed
my poles a million times, But still didn't have any luck.
But two years ago i gave up on getting martins, i just put my gourds
in the same spot and I told the Good Lord i had tried everything i
could to get them.
And i was leaving it up to him because they were his. And would you
believe last year he blessed me with a pair,and this year i had a pair
plus even got one extra SY male late in the season.
Sure wish you the best of luck with getting your colony started..
1990 -2009 trying
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
2010 1 pair 2young fledged.
2011 1 pair, & 1 SY male...6 young hatched 5 fledged.
2012 1 pair...4 young fledged.
2013... Back to starting over...
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Indiana_Tom
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:01 am
- Location: Paragon, Indiana
Gobbler T,
I wish I had the correct answer for you. Here is a thought. I know you had a lot of lookers this year. Here is what I think if you can swing it.
I use gourds for my martins but either way, if you have a good spot to try, can you put up just three gourds in the new location. The odds are that the first year you get martins, you will only get one or maybe two pair. three gourds in the new spot would work.
I don't have any idea what your location looks like but you know the location of the house or gourds is important. I picked the most open area on my property. I tried close to the house by my lake but there were too many trees. Before the first season ended, I moved the T-10 and 4 gourds quite a ways from the house into a large open field. I got my first pair that year. My martins seem to prefer the highest nest cavity first and although there isn't a tree within a hundred feet, they pick the nest that looks out to the most open spaces first. They like the most open flyways first.
I would have much preferred they had liked it when their house was close to my house. Now, I can hear them from outside the house but because of trees, and them being 300 feet away, can't see them.
I build my own racks systems so the cost isn't too bad.
I hope you have a great season next year and have several pair move in. My first year I had one pair and the stress of them coming back the next year get intense.
Good wishes
I wish I had the correct answer for you. Here is a thought. I know you had a lot of lookers this year. Here is what I think if you can swing it.
I use gourds for my martins but either way, if you have a good spot to try, can you put up just three gourds in the new location. The odds are that the first year you get martins, you will only get one or maybe two pair. three gourds in the new spot would work.
I don't have any idea what your location looks like but you know the location of the house or gourds is important. I picked the most open area on my property. I tried close to the house by my lake but there were too many trees. Before the first season ended, I moved the T-10 and 4 gourds quite a ways from the house into a large open field. I got my first pair that year. My martins seem to prefer the highest nest cavity first and although there isn't a tree within a hundred feet, they pick the nest that looks out to the most open spaces first. They like the most open flyways first.
I would have much preferred they had liked it when their house was close to my house. Now, I can hear them from outside the house but because of trees, and them being 300 feet away, can't see them.
I build my own racks systems so the cost isn't too bad.
I hope you have a great season next year and have several pair move in. My first year I had one pair and the stress of them coming back the next year get intense.
Good wishes
2009, 1 pair of SYs w/4 eggs - wait, no 4 babies and all 4 fledged. What a great experience.
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
Thanks guys,
Tom,
I have 18 gourds up now. Are you suggesting that I put up another pole with 3 gourds on it in a different spot? I've read here depending on witch thread your looking at that more is better, and that less is more. It's kinda confusing!
Some say really pile them on, while others say it will look like a ghost town. Some say they had too many cavitys and when they downsized they got martins.
I know it's tough to come up with the correct answer, when there is no correct answer. I just don't want to waste another year where they are, or ruin next year by moving them.
Tom,
I have 18 gourds up now. Are you suggesting that I put up another pole with 3 gourds on it in a different spot? I've read here depending on witch thread your looking at that more is better, and that less is more. It's kinda confusing!
Some say really pile them on, while others say it will look like a ghost town. Some say they had too many cavitys and when they downsized they got martins.
I know it's tough to come up with the correct answer, when there is no correct answer. I just don't want to waste another year where they are, or ruin next year by moving them.
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
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2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
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Indiana_Tom
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 10:01 am
- Location: Paragon, Indiana
Hi Gobbler T,
I am not sure where I read about it but I think somewhere on this site. Either in the archives or in the older PMCA magazine articles posted here.
Anyway, if someone has an older martin house or gourd rack and are planning to replace it with a new one, it recommends to put the new one up and have both for a year before removing the old one. I realize these would be at the same location.
My thought was to add a small rack to your new location without removing the one in place this year because you have had so many visitors.
I don't know the distance between you current location and the new location you are thinking about. I have over 10 acres so multiple sights might still be spread out quite a bit.
This is only my thought and may not be correct. If you offer several small sites it might be better for attracting that first pair. The only problem that I can foresee is that you could get nesting martins in two different sites.
This may not be the right answer but if you have had a site up for several years with no results, I don't think it would hurt anything and might be what works in getting that first pair.
Best of luck
I am not sure where I read about it but I think somewhere on this site. Either in the archives or in the older PMCA magazine articles posted here.
Anyway, if someone has an older martin house or gourd rack and are planning to replace it with a new one, it recommends to put the new one up and have both for a year before removing the old one. I realize these would be at the same location.
My thought was to add a small rack to your new location without removing the one in place this year because you have had so many visitors.
I don't know the distance between you current location and the new location you are thinking about. I have over 10 acres so multiple sights might still be spread out quite a bit.
This is only my thought and may not be correct. If you offer several small sites it might be better for attracting that first pair. The only problem that I can foresee is that you could get nesting martins in two different sites.
This may not be the right answer but if you have had a site up for several years with no results, I don't think it would hurt anything and might be what works in getting that first pair.
Best of luck
2009, 1 pair of SYs w/4 eggs - wait, no 4 babies and all 4 fledged. What a great experience.
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
2010, 2 ASY pair and 2 SY pair 18eggs / 14 fledged.
2011, 12 pair with 49 eggs, 43 fledged.
2012, 20 pair with 113 eggs as of 1 June
2013, 22 pair with 112 eggs as of 9 June
2014, 23 pair with 113 eggs
Tom,
Thats really not a bad idea. I could use a couple naturals and maybe a coffee can, or a chalet that I built. I'm sitting on about 3/4 of an acre, so I can't spread out too far!
I was thinking about 40 feet or so, not a real big move, but a new location all the same. Mike had trouble with his birds with a 60 foot move. Of course he had resident martins returning. I don't per say!
Thats really not a bad idea. I could use a couple naturals and maybe a coffee can, or a chalet that I built. I'm sitting on about 3/4 of an acre, so I can't spread out too far!
I was thinking about 40 feet or so, not a real big move, but a new location all the same. Mike had trouble with his birds with a 60 foot move. Of course he had resident martins returning. I don't per say!Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
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2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Gobbler T,
I love your idea of offering a new rack with some "naturals" on it. I have offered natural gourds before and the Purple Martins love them. This may be the best idea for anybody who has spent several years trying to attract Purple Martins. The dark interior of natural gourds breaths better and offers a safe feeling that the female Purple Martin seems to prefer.
If I had somebody to do all the maintenance on a bunch of natural gourds, they would be all I would hang for my colony. Guess, I'm basically lazy... oh, well...
Give it a whirl - sounds like a simple, fairly inexpensive test. If there are Purple Martins looking for a place to nest in your area and they find natural gourds at your house -- well, I would bet money --
Good luck,
Sincerely,
Laverne
I love your idea of offering a new rack with some "naturals" on it. I have offered natural gourds before and the Purple Martins love them. This may be the best idea for anybody who has spent several years trying to attract Purple Martins. The dark interior of natural gourds breaths better and offers a safe feeling that the female Purple Martin seems to prefer.
If I had somebody to do all the maintenance on a bunch of natural gourds, they would be all I would hang for my colony. Guess, I'm basically lazy... oh, well...
Give it a whirl - sounds like a simple, fairly inexpensive test. If there are Purple Martins looking for a place to nest in your area and they find natural gourds at your house -- well, I would bet money --
Good luck,
Sincerely,
Laverne
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
Laverne,
I offered 8, 10"-12" naturals for 4 years before going to the BO11s. I have 2 naturals up now. This is one of the reasons for the question, should I move them around in the yard. I'm stumped!
I offered 8, 10"-12" naturals for 4 years before going to the BO11s. I have 2 naturals up now. This is one of the reasons for the question, should I move them around in the yard. I'm stumped!
Tony
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
I wouldn't move your existing housing. You had a buncha visitors, and that would be answer enough for me..... And a few gourds hanging in a different location won't hurt at all. Once you're established you could take to down. But that's just ME.....(smile)
Johnny
Johnny,
That seems to be the consensus. Guess I need to get to work on another pole! When I took my original pole down I stored it under the shed. I don't think I need anything that big. I have yet another pole, and with some quick modification it could be a gourd rack by dark! 
That seems to be the consensus. Guess I need to get to work on another pole!
When I took my original pole down I stored it under the shed. I don't think I need anything that big. I have yet another pole, and with some quick modification it could be a gourd rack by dark! Tony
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I agree with some of the others, I'd leave the gourd rack where it is, as long as it's in the best spot you have to offer it. You've been trying for several years without getting a nesting pair, so make sure it's in the most open spot you have. Don't worry about how far it is from your house. I would put up 4 or 6 natural gourds in a different spot. If you go with SREH make sure they are porched. Without a doubt, martins can enter them easier with a porch. A porched 3" round tunnel would be even better.
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Guest
Hey Gobbler
I had both gourd racks and a house 100ft downhill from our home and on the advise of some fine folks on this forum i moved one uphill 40ft from our house and in a short time we had martins.The first pair started out in the rack that i moved ,but in a short time moved from it down to the rack 100ft from our house that is downhill and are currently nesting in a gourd with 5 eggs.The next 2 pair have settled into the rack that i moved uphill and are setting on eggs as well.I feel that the rack up by the house that i moved seems to be the one that really brought them in,that said the martins are nesting in both locations.In my opinion with all the visitors you have had i would agree with leaving your old rack where it is and adding a few gourds at your new location.I'm by far no expert i'm just going by my own experience. Wishing you the best of luck with getting yourself some martins
Todd
I had both gourd racks and a house 100ft downhill from our home and on the advise of some fine folks on this forum i moved one uphill 40ft from our house and in a short time we had martins.The first pair started out in the rack that i moved ,but in a short time moved from it down to the rack 100ft from our house that is downhill and are currently nesting in a gourd with 5 eggs.The next 2 pair have settled into the rack that i moved uphill and are setting on eggs as well.I feel that the rack up by the house that i moved seems to be the one that really brought them in,that said the martins are nesting in both locations.In my opinion with all the visitors you have had i would agree with leaving your old rack where it is and adding a few gourds at your new location.I'm by far no expert i'm just going by my own experience. Wishing you the best of luck with getting yourself some martins
Todd
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
Hey Gobbler T
I'm going to overhaul my entire set up from my cheap S&K and tripole and build a Super System 24 all Troyer Vertical Gourds I'll put up the T-14 in another location in the yard. and let those pesky HOSP can have the old S&K unit.
I'm taking a BIG risk changing things around But I think it'll be worth the risk. I've been studyin and seems the Gourds always fill up first and the houses last with late commers. So I'm with ya on the moving thing. Good luck. Wish I could box up a few birds for ya and send them your way!
I'm going to overhaul my entire set up from my cheap S&K and tripole and build a Super System 24 all Troyer Vertical Gourds I'll put up the T-14 in another location in the yard. and let those pesky HOSP can have the old S&K unit.
I'm taking a BIG risk changing things around But I think it'll be worth the risk. I've been studyin and seems the Gourds always fill up first and the houses last with late commers. So I'm with ya on the moving thing. Good luck. Wish I could box up a few birds for ya and send them your way!
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
Thanks to all who have replied and shared their thoughts and experiences. My dilemma was simply to move or not to move. Adding more had not even entered the equation. It's simple, easy and wont mess up any martins. It's comforting to know I can count on ya'll to keep me strait.
Who knows, there may be a whole flock of martins come next spring, and I may need the extra gourds!
Who knows, there may be a whole flock of martins come next spring, and I may need the extra gourds!
Tony
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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.
Tony,
My concern for you is you may not be offering enough in the way of different cavity and entrance choices.
I have 16 pair, but not one pair has chosen the particular gourd you are offering. Although it is a good gourd. Females are pretty picky at a new site.
Consider adding one or two of the other types gourds or housing.
1. Excluder II w/excluder II entrance
2. Troyer Horizontal w/ conley II
3. large wooden compartments. w/excluder II
I mentioned at the beginning of the season you may regret not putting up housing that you had stored away.
Put up whatever you have, and offer as many different choices as you possibly can, in as many different locations in your yard that may attract them. Then work from there (after you get them) as to where you want them.
Leave the current rack where it is. You are capable of building a wood house with a few large compartments or some wood chalets and putting them on a pole. Add a couple of the other popular gourds too. Get some Excluder II entrances. They like them.
My concern for you is you may not be offering enough in the way of different cavity and entrance choices.
I have 16 pair, but not one pair has chosen the particular gourd you are offering. Although it is a good gourd. Females are pretty picky at a new site.
Consider adding one or two of the other types gourds or housing.
1. Excluder II w/excluder II entrance
2. Troyer Horizontal w/ conley II
3. large wooden compartments. w/excluder II
I mentioned at the beginning of the season you may regret not putting up housing that you had stored away.
Put up whatever you have, and offer as many different choices as you possibly can, in as many different locations in your yard that may attract them. Then work from there (after you get them) as to where you want them.
Leave the current rack where it is. You are capable of building a wood house with a few large compartments or some wood chalets and putting them on a pole. Add a couple of the other popular gourds too. Get some Excluder II entrances. They like them.
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.
Thats what I'll plan to do. Put up another rack and hang different types of housing. I'll even hang my mailbox house on there!
Come to find out, all this planning may be for nothing. I found out today that a house that I've always been fond of is coming up for sale. It sits on 7 acres and has about a 1 1/2 acre pond on it. The property is about 95 percent open. Fabulous spot to host martins! I've spent hundreds of days next door, and I've seen lots of martins there. If all goes well it may be a blessing that I don't have martins here.
Come to find out, all this planning may be for nothing. I found out today that a house that I've always been fond of is coming up for sale. It sits on 7 acres and has about a 1 1/2 acre pond on it. The property is about 95 percent open. Fabulous spot to host martins! I've spent hundreds of days next door, and I've seen lots of martins there. If all goes well it may be a blessing that I don't have martins here.
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
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Tony -- there you go
See, things happen in mysterious ways. The 7 acres sounds nice, and the pond is icing on the cake. As you can read in my profile I tore down all my old housing and rebuild everything in a different place in 2010. I was afraid I was going to draw a blank this year in the new location, but everything came out OK. One pair of ASYs in a crescent gourd facing to the SE and one pair of SYs in a round hole gourd facing due north in the same rack. I have babies and everyone is enjoying the hecks out of things. SYs hatched two little boogers today. So far 5 babies and 3 eggs to go.
Ole Paul P
See, things happen in mysterious ways. The 7 acres sounds nice, and the pond is icing on the cake. As you can read in my profile I tore down all my old housing and rebuild everything in a different place in 2010. I was afraid I was going to draw a blank this year in the new location, but everything came out OK. One pair of ASYs in a crescent gourd facing to the SE and one pair of SYs in a round hole gourd facing due north in the same rack. I have babies and everyone is enjoying the hecks out of things. SYs hatched two little boogers today. So far 5 babies and 3 eggs to go.
Ole Paul P
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Virgil McCoy
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:06 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Alexandria
- Martin Colony History: Purple Martin Landlord since 2006
I raised the height of my gourd racks from 10' to 20' and it made a huge difference from lookers to takers !
Proud to be a fourth generation Purple Martin landlord.
Paul,
It is a beautiful place but I ain't there yet. I still gota convince the wife and the bank! She's never seen it before. And the banks are so tight right now. I know a guy who got turned down for a new house loan because his debt ratio was too LOW! 
Virgil,
Thats interesting, I changed mine from 22 feet to 14. Your going one way and I'm going the other!
It is a beautiful place but I ain't there yet. I still gota convince the wife and the bank!
She's never seen it before. And the banks are so tight right now. I know a guy who got turned down for a new house loan because his debt ratio was too LOW! Virgil,
Thats interesting, I changed mine from 22 feet to 14. Your going one way and I'm going the other!
Tony
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Try putting up another pole with a very shoddy looking house. Make sure the pole leans over quite a bit and remove the bottom floor- just enough to expose a couple compartments. Maybe locate this setup next to a tree. Put up a bunch of house sparrow decoys too and stuff tons of grass in a couple of the compartments- enough so that the gras busts through any crack and seam. This practice seems to work for many of my neighbors and they had dozens of martins thís year
Seriously, maybe another pole wouldn't be a bad idea. Try an inexpensive tritel pole with a low cost PM house. Something completely different alongside your superb gourd rack might be what the doctor ordered.
Seriously, maybe another pole wouldn't be a bad idea. Try an inexpensive tritel pole with a low cost PM house. Something completely different alongside your superb gourd rack might be what the doctor ordered.