Wow!!! Finally may be a landlord!!!

[Mitch Booth]

Hello Everyone,

I've been trying for the last 5 years to attract Purple Martins here in the Portage Lakes area of Ohio. My setup is marginal, as there just isn't enough open flyways. I live right across the street from a premigratory roost on Nimisila Lake and in mid August I literally have thousands of purple martins circling the house when the dawnsong plays. I don't post often on the website but there are a few of you who may recognize my story.

Well... long story short we bought a new home. Let me try to set the scene here. We've been looking for some lake front property for some time. We finally found a lake front home and with some tree removing I had my site selection all made and ready to get the post hole digger out! I was fairly confident I would finally be able to get a colony started. We went through the house 3 or 4 times and after two months of going back and forth we lost the deal. That same day I ran across an 11 acre parcel with an acre and half pond and essentially our dream home that sat back off the road by 12-1500 feet. Driving down the 1000 foot drive that opens up to this dream home was absolutely breath taking. Now the good part. I see this T-14 house across the pond....? Hmmm I wonder if it was active or not last year? Does the T-14 come with the property? I asked the realtor to ask the owners and sure enough, yes yes yes on all counts!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't hardly keep my excitement contained..... My wife and I are absolutely in love with the home and property!!! I would like some opinions on where I should place my Deluxe Gourd Rack with the 12 Supergourds. If you view the property from Google Earth or Google Maps and hit satelite view you'll be able to see the T-14 across the pond from the house. The address is 6149 Renninger Rd. Akron Ohio 44319. There is a current windmill pond areator sitting across the pond from the house and the current location of the T-14 is also across the pond from the house between the ponds edge and tree line. At first I wanted to put the gourd rack on the (house side) of the pond (real far) from the T-14 house. Not sure if this is a good idea or not and my wife would much rather have it as far from the house as possible. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I have plenty of room to place it anywhere on the property.

Anyhow I'm really excited for this year!!!!

Looking forward to you experts out there where you would place the gourd rack! Thanks everyone!

Mitch

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

My first project would be to talk to the wife, try to convince her that you like to watch the martins, and you want the house a bit closer.

The exact location is not critical, its such a nice place for martins. I would put the house near the west end or the east end, on the house side of the lake, as near to the home as the wife permits.. However, keep it a good distance away from the smaller trees (or bushes). Don't put it real near to the neighbors house, gotta keep them happy too!

[jeanf]

Congrats, Mitch! What a gorgeous piece of property! We bought our house 2.5 years ago with a little Grandpa Trio 12 on it... I was elated because I remember my grandfather landlording when I was a kid. I can only imagine your excitement of finding your dream home with a T14 already on it!!

[Ed Pace]

Looks very nice Mitch, ( your in ). It would be nice a little to the left, still closer and away from the trees and inline with the house. Good luck,,a dream come true,,.
Ed

[Stretch]

wow. very exciting. great story...you have to keep us posted. post photos!!!

[dc1gator]

I agree with Emil. My houses are about 60 feet from our deck (which overlooks a 5 acre pond about 130 yards away). It is absolutely enjoyable to sit on the back deck after a hard days work while enjoying both the purple martin air show and a cold Bud Light. One word of caution though, when the little ones fledge they will use your roof as a landing strip. That is no problem for me. Good luck.

[Bill Pec]

Hi Mitch,

Congratulations on the purchase of such a beautiful piece of property. So happy you are getting an established PM colony.
My daughter lives in the next town of Green. A word of caution. Be prepared to protect your new colony from lots of Starlings and English Sparrows. Each time I visit my daughter I am overwhelmed by the number of these invasive birds I see there. I hope they are less numerous in your area.

Enjoy the passion

Bill

[M.Stephens]

Mitch, in my opinion I would put the T-14 and the gourd rack to the left of your driveway by the pond in front of the work shed. I believe the T-14 is too far away to enjoy and monitor at it's present location. Congrats on your new home!!!

[Mitch Booth]

Bill,

I currently live in Green now!! My insurance office is also in Green. Yes, we have a ton of HOSP and Starlings here in Green. I struggled the last few years with a break barrel air rifle and accuracy issues. The extreme recoil constantly jarred the scope and every few shots would get a shot severals inches off target. I finally got so fed up with it, that I went out and bought the Benjamin Maurauder. I have absolutely no problems eliminating sparrows off the aluminum Watersedge PM house and confident enough in my shot placement from 5yds to 40 yds that I have not dinged the aluminum house yet. I can make dime size holes all day long with this rifle at 35 yards. If anyone is looking for an affordable (most aren't)PCP the Marauder is the real deal!!!!

Mitch

[Ed Pace]

Hi Mitch; I wrote before, I just thougt that if your wife wasen`t sure if she wanted them to close, then where I sugested might be a good place. But if was Me I would do like Melcom said, put them on the house side of the lake, except I would fit it in near your beach so you could enjoy looking a them from inside your house. At least your going to get them so see how it goes for the adults, if there to far, then hurry and put up gourd rack,by mid May in time for the subs. Just a thought.
Ed

[Tim Stover]

yes is what i would say i like emil ideal close to the house if wife permits mine are very close i believe they feel secure when close

[Bill Pec]

Hi Mitch,

I'll be in Green next week. Might see you. Glad you have a Marauder. You should have many hours of live target practice and go through lots of ammunition. Here in my area of rural Virginia we have only a few Starlings hanging around and no House Sparrows so my Gamo Air Rifle isn't used much. The few Starlings that do show up usually take the one way trip into a box trap.

Bill

[Mitch Booth]

Hey Bill,

If you have time and happen to drive by Arlington and 619 stop into the office to say hi and so I can put a face to the name. You can't miss my Allstate office on the corner. I'm right next to where the old Speedway gas station used to be.

Mitch

Also if you visit your daugher this coming August be sure to check out the premigratory roost on Nimisila Lake. It is quite a site to see that many birds in one location. The Portage Lakes Purple Martin Society has a pontoon boat which gives tours. Something to do but be sure to wear a hat!

[Bill Pec]

Mitch,

Thanks for the information and invitation. I will make a point of stopping to see you.
I didn't know about the Nimisila Lake roost. Thanks. My daughter and her three boys visited the Portage Lake site and enjoyed the martins. They usually spend a few weeks with us in the summer and enjoy seeing the martins up close and personal.
My daughter lives on King Drive just around the corner from the Career Center and she has a nice large yard. If it were not for all the Rat birds it would be an ideal site for a martin colony. I decided not to put a site there because it would be more of chore than a joy for her.

Bill