martin vs. starling

[jr 2]

if i have cresent holes that starlings can't get in and nest will they stll try and chase the martins away;;was thinking that i don't need too trap starlings??????///

[Louise Chambers]

It's still a good idea to trap them; starlings will sit on housing and harass martins. Why not keep trapping until you rarely see them in your yard? Do a good deed for birds in your neighborhood.

[jr 2]

louise, still have my st1 trap open but haven't trapped a sparrow or starling yet;;trapped a couple starlings in it last year but don't think it is made for them;;i am thinking about building a starling trap;;seen different plans 4 them;;is there 1 that you would recomend???????thanks jr2

[Stretch]

amen Louise! you will be helping other landlords out if nothing else! hehe

[Doug Martin - PA]

JR2,

A good easy to build and inexpensive trap is simply a large wooden nesting box with a 2 inch hole. Mine has a removable lid held on with one screw.

You rig a bent wire to hold up a piece of plate metal and it pivots and lets the plate metal fall and close the entrance when triggered by them jumping into the box. You have to reset this trap manually.

I am trying to think where the directions are for building one. Seems it would be a "must" to have some type of starling trap. Mine is not fancy but it sure works good.

I also built a new NB Compact trap late last year. They are great repeaters as well.

http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/a ... wpage4.htm

Doug

[Don Strickland]

http://www.link not allowed/id239.htm

[dancingirl76]

It is funny that when we had our first house which had round holes that we had trouble over and over with starlings. I truly believe they were why we hadn't ever had any PMs set up shop, but once we switched to the crescent entrances the starlings tried a few times and then moved on. We haven't seen any. Now the House sparrows that's another matter, but it has become much quieter once we trapped and disposed of the little buggers and shot ones we couldn't trap. I have to say they are quite smart but not too smart for my .22!

Good luck!

[Chriscreole]

This is why you need to rid the dreaded Starlings at all costs!. I watched a starling kill my very first adult male Martin, darn starling pulled him half way out of the SREH gourd and pecked him to death, nothing I could do at the time, been shooting them ever since. Poor baby never had a chance against the bigger bird.

[klcretired]

jr 2,
The pmca sells a great S&S Repeating trap, if you can't afford it you could buy the plans to make one. I highly recommend the S&S Repeating trap ,once you install it, it works all year long every year for you and the Martins and if you erect it by an out building or tree the martins will not go near it. Mine has been up for many many years and is ony 20 ft from my gourd rack & LS Goliad House and I have never caught a Martin.
The S&S's just can't refuse that big ole 2" Round Hole Entrance it's Like a Magnet, here is a couple of pictures.
Kenny

[jr 2]

thanks don strickland;;;;larry melcher's trap very interesting;;going too try and make one when it warms up here and i thank everyone for their help with the martins;;i sure need it!!!!!! jr2