Getting ready to put up gourds for this season. Is it a good idea to spray or treat the gourds for mites before putting them up? If so, what is the best treatment? Also, is it best to provide some nesting material in the gourds or just let the birds take of that.
Thanks
Mites
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Tim Stover
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:04 pm
- Location: Tennesse/Madisonville
i sprinkle some sevin dust under the nest and in the nest material put a big hand full white pine needles oak leaves or straw hay or what ever you have the sevin will keep mites away all year if it stays dry good luck
Tim
Tim
2009 2pair 2010 24pair 2011 106 pair
2012 124 pair
2013 145
2014 170 pair
+
2012 124 pair
2013 145
2014 170 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
Bill, I put about a 1/2 teaspoon of sevin dust into the nest before I hang the gourds. First I put in the nesting material, then I add some sevin dust. If the dust gets wet which it eventually will, then it loses its toxic effect after 10 days. You may not see any mites the rest of the year, but if you do then treat the gourds again. You can put it into the gourds any way you wish, any place and it will kill all the mites within one day. I check a few of my gourds when the babies are about 3 weeks old to see if mites are present. The mites are easy to spot on a white gourd, some may be crawling on the outside.
We have about 15 martins at our site now.
We have about 15 martins at our site now.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
I take my artificial gourds down a week or so before expected arrivals, clean out the old nesting material then hose out the inside and outside. A suction type basting tool is used to draw 10% Sevin Dust then squirted into the bottom of the gourd. I would say that about a teaspoon full works fine. I then stuff the gourds with fresh pine straw, twirl it around and press it down then add a handful of small oak leaves. The reason I do that is because the Martins will add a few leaves if you don't. I also provide the martins with cracked oyster shells, mud, grass and twigs on an elevated platform.
I am not one of the resident experts on here but I have a flourishing colony that cranks out a ton of little ones every year so I must be doing something right.
The one problem that I do have is if a little one prematurely falls out of the nest (and I don't know which gourd it came from) I have found that placing it in one of the nests usually results in rejection and the bird is destined to die. The experts say to put it in a box inside your house and give it food and water until it is strong enough to fly. That has never worked for me. The experts also suggest that you inventory each house every couple of weeks. That way, if one falls out you will know where it came from. I confess that I don't do that (mainly because of time constraints and one set of housing that is not easily accessible.
There is a lot of work to do if you are a PM landlord but it is well worth it to hear and watch them all spring and summer. I have been listening for that first familiar chirp every day. Any day now.
I am not one of the resident experts on here but I have a flourishing colony that cranks out a ton of little ones every year so I must be doing something right.
The one problem that I do have is if a little one prematurely falls out of the nest (and I don't know which gourd it came from) I have found that placing it in one of the nests usually results in rejection and the bird is destined to die. The experts say to put it in a box inside your house and give it food and water until it is strong enough to fly. That has never worked for me. The experts also suggest that you inventory each house every couple of weeks. That way, if one falls out you will know where it came from. I confess that I don't do that (mainly because of time constraints and one set of housing that is not easily accessible.
There is a lot of work to do if you are a PM landlord but it is well worth it to hear and watch them all spring and summer. I have been listening for that first familiar chirp every day. Any day now.
dc1gator@CoyoteRidge
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Bill. You will need to add a few hefty handfuls of white soft pine needles slightly above level of the entrance. the needles will compress down. Martins will take it out if they don't like it. It is vital to add material if there are no traction strips for the martins to grip onto when exiting the gourd. they will just slip on the smooth plastic gourd interior without traction.