How to put SREH on round-hole supergourds
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Jack Gulvin
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:47 pm
- Location: New York/Westfield
I have a dozen supergourds and starlings have been a problem. I'd like to change to SREH with little or no cutting of the gourds. Any ideas on how to do this?
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
Hi Jack,
Not sure how you would do that without cutting the gourds.
I have used tunnels with starling resistant entrance holes with porches. You would drill or by using a jig saw a hole the size of the tunnel, 3 or 4", I don't recall exactly what it is, and just insert the tunnel and caulk it with silicone caulking. Once that dries, it's pretty solid.
If you go this way, try to put the tunnel as high as you can underneath the perch, so that the added weight makes the gourd sit level. If you put the tunnel lower, the weight of it will cause the gourd to tilt forward.
I am sure if you do a search on the Forum, you'll find step by step pictures on how to do that.
Good luck,
Bill
Not sure how you would do that without cutting the gourds.
I have used tunnels with starling resistant entrance holes with porches. You would drill or by using a jig saw a hole the size of the tunnel, 3 or 4", I don't recall exactly what it is, and just insert the tunnel and caulk it with silicone caulking. Once that dries, it's pretty solid.
If you go this way, try to put the tunnel as high as you can underneath the perch, so that the added weight makes the gourd sit level. If you put the tunnel lower, the weight of it will cause the gourd to tilt forward.
I am sure if you do a search on the Forum, you'll find step by step pictures on how to do that.
Good luck,
Bill
Last edited by bwenger on Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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
It is recommended that you take a tunnel that has an SREH on it, and enlarge the hole to fit the tunnel, and then use Lexel caulk to fasten it. That is about the only way to modify it that I can think of.
Some people don't have a jig saw, but that is all that is required. Plastic gourds are extremely tough, you do not hurt the integrity of the gourd by cutting holes or enlarging a hole. Just fill any cracks with caulk.
Maybe you can caulk a SREH entrance onto the gourd, and put a porch under it, but it may be hard to do.
As mentioned above, if you add anything heavy, it changes the balance point on a gourd that is hanging from a wire. I attach my gourds so that they do not swing or move, so its easy to add anything, it still is straight on the gourd rack. If you have a certain kind of arms on the gourd rack, then you can purchase no-rockers to fasten the gourd so it does not swing, then you can add anything. then you can put the tunnel as low as possible.
Some people don't have a jig saw, but that is all that is required. Plastic gourds are extremely tough, you do not hurt the integrity of the gourd by cutting holes or enlarging a hole. Just fill any cracks with caulk.
Maybe you can caulk a SREH entrance onto the gourd, and put a porch under it, but it may be hard to do.
As mentioned above, if you add anything heavy, it changes the balance point on a gourd that is hanging from a wire. I attach my gourds so that they do not swing or move, so its easy to add anything, it still is straight on the gourd rack. If you have a certain kind of arms on the gourd rack, then you can purchase no-rockers to fasten the gourd so it does not swing, then you can add anything. then you can put the tunnel as low as possible.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Jack Gulvin
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:47 pm
- Location: New York/Westfield
Thank you to Bill and Emil. A heavy tunnel would cause tilt, plus I'm not eager to do major sawing. These gourds are not mine. They belong to a widow lady and were a gift from her son. I've wondered about a short tunnel attached to the gourd with screws, or maybe having the access cap modified to also serve as an entrance.
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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
Jack maybe you could purchase a flat sreh, and mold it with real hot water to fit the gourd, then attach it with some small screws or push pins, then add a porch with pushpins. I never did this but it may work.
Also, you may be able to attach an SREH by putting washers behind the SREH, getting it level, and then attaching with screws. Get it to fit with washers, then attach.
Also, you would then need an inside porch so that the martins can exit easily. If you don't use an inside porch, they may accidently get trapped.
Also, you may be able to attach an SREH by putting washers behind the SREH, getting it level, and then attaching with screws. Get it to fit with washers, then attach.
Also, you would then need an inside porch so that the martins can exit easily. If you don't use an inside porch, they may accidently get trapped.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
hi Jack -
The hole will have to be enlarged, since width will need to go from 2-1/8 to 2-3/4, maybe not that much.
I think a flat SREH plate could be attached with pins and caulk, but think it would be better to leave it flat and fill gap with caulk, than try to mold it. That might distort the SREH so that starlings can get in.
I am looking for instructions & photos, I know there were some in Update.
The hole will have to be enlarged, since width will need to go from 2-1/8 to 2-3/4, maybe not that much.
I think a flat SREH plate could be attached with pins and caulk, but think it would be better to leave it flat and fill gap with caulk, than try to mold it. That might distort the SREH so that starlings can get in.
I am looking for instructions & photos, I know there were some in Update.
Possibly these?Louise Chambers wrote:I am looking for instructions & photos, I know there were some in Update.
http://purplemartin.org/update/9(4)conversion.html
Here's another article on converting a round hole Super Gourd to the Excluder entrance:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... rGourd.htm
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... rGourd.htm
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Matt, that first link is what I was thinking of, thanks - you are so quick to find things! Last photo in article addresses super gourd sreh conversion.
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Hi Jack,
Go to my link below That i posted on the pmca w/ pic's and instructions of easy steps to convert to sreh's, hope this helps you
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10040
Go to my link below That i posted on the pmca w/ pic's and instructions of easy steps to convert to sreh's, hope this helps you
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10040
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
someone put out a new tunnel with a flange on the end that's shaped to fit the face of a supergourd, you fasten it by driving small screws through the flange and into gourd wall, don't know if you would have to enlarge your existing round hole but it seems possible to leave as is??
~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
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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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
CUE has that flange and tunnel for the supergourd....just got a sales brochure today in the mail and saw it
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Here is an old photo of a Super Gourd that we modified. We added a short (so as not to cause imbalance) homemade tunnel with a crescent SREH. It also contains an interior and exterior, double porch. The interior double porch helps to prevent wing entrapment, as it extends fully to each side of the 4" tunnel.
Although the tunnel is externally shorter than what we use on the naturals, a good part of it extends into the gourd. This has not posed a problem for martins, and we still find the nest bowls and young on the same side of the nest each year, directly under the access port.
We have only had to refurbish the caulking every couple of years, but other than that, this has proven to be a problem-free modification.
Although the tunnel is externally shorter than what we use on the naturals, a good part of it extends into the gourd. This has not posed a problem for martins, and we still find the nest bowls and young on the same side of the nest each year, directly under the access port.
We have only had to refurbish the caulking every couple of years, but other than that, this has proven to be a problem-free modification.
- Attachments
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- Modified Super Gourd
- SG Front 1.JPG (53.06 KiB) Viewed 5593 times
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
Jack Gulvin wrote:I have a dozen supergourds and starlings have been a problem. I'd like to change to SREH with little or no cutting of the gourds. Any ideas on how to do this?
PM sent
2013, back in the game with a pair at my satelite colony that has eggs due to hatch around July 7th
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Jack
gonna say how "I" do it. I know you said you don't want to cut, but it's not hard.
Get the 3 inch diameter SREH tunnels from Sandy Bunn. these are hand made from PVC pipes and sentra plates. A bead of caulk or liquid nails as caulk will be all you need to secure these.
Just mark a hole and cut it out with a jig or hole saw. Slide in the tunnel. Hold up the gourd on wire to see how level your tunnel is and you can move it slightly up or down, then caulk around it. It's really quick; I'd think easier than fiddling with a plate.
John M
gonna say how "I" do it. I know you said you don't want to cut, but it's not hard.
Get the 3 inch diameter SREH tunnels from Sandy Bunn. these are hand made from PVC pipes and sentra plates. A bead of caulk or liquid nails as caulk will be all you need to secure these.
Just mark a hole and cut it out with a jig or hole saw. Slide in the tunnel. Hold up the gourd on wire to see how level your tunnel is and you can move it slightly up or down, then caulk around it. It's really quick; I'd think easier than fiddling with a plate.
John M
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Jack Gulvin
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:47 pm
- Location: New York/Westfield
Thank you to all who responded. Especially Matt, who sent me to my stack of Update back issues and the detailed article that got me going. I now have a prototype, using a simple flat plate for the bottom of the crescent and a bit of cutting to make the top of the crescent. Quick, cheap and little cutting. The colony owner and occupants will be happy and I am too.