Photos attached - Open for advice/suggestions

[David sh]

I'm attaching a few photos of some of our housing. Just asking for anyone who more experience to take a look and see if there are things evident that I should change. I don't have pole guards on most of these systems but I do have them on hand to install on any of the houses that may house martins. The row of pines behind housing in one of photos is about 150' away.

Thanks to anyone who offers takes a look and offers any advice. I just can't cut the pines. My wife says no way.

[Brad-AL]

What is in the other direction, away from the pines? I think I can see that you have some natural gourds. There is no better Martin magnet than a large natural gourd. I live about an hour north of you and Martins won't give a 2nd look to a house in my area. 150 feet away from trees is generally enough, but a row of trees is bad juju for getting Martins. If you can move a gourd rack further from the tree line, that would help. There should be plenty of Martins around your general area.

I can't tell if the gourds on the cable are natural or plastic. Natural gourds strung on a cable is hard to beat. If you aren't using SREH on your natural gourds, I would sure recommend it. My colony was started with all SREH holes. Add some tunnels to the SREH on some 10-12" natural gourds and you'll have the perfect Martin gourd.

[bwenger]

David, you have a good looking site.

If you had two pairs last year, you should probably have 8-10 pairs this year. Those two pairs and the young ones probably brought a lot of lookers down last summer and many of them will return to nest this year.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[David sh]

Thanks for replies. In other direction is a power line then a pond then more trees but they are farther away thanks to pond . This pond was put in after Martin season next year so I hope it helps. I felt the row of pines could be a problem. I still have many gourds that are not in pictures that have tunnels. We stil have a good many left to hang too. Most are plastic but I do still have some more naturals as well. We have a few hawks around. Mostly red tails and it seems that often the visiting martins engage them and then don't return afterwards. Our martins have not paid attention to houses either but closest colony has 3 houses with only a few gourds. Defiantly hope we get a few extra pairs so I don't have to question the odds of their survival soo much. I think we just really need more martins to arrive for the season. Hopefully the warm weather this week will do it.

We certainly had many visitors last year especially at fledgling time. Wow, that wa fun times.

Earlier lt year, it looked like we may get up to 5 pairs but for some reason some did not stay to nest. Who knows but I'm still hoping and trying my best start a strong, well managed colony.

[Guest]

i thought down south martins are less picky?? i live on Long Island NY and my site (took 2 years) isnt as good as that and i have 3 (had) last year 3 successful pairs.....yours looks good

[John Miller]

David

Looks like a garden nursery. I always get a good feeling about a very open site that's in proximity to human activity. This looks ideal to me, if it has mostly open flyways on three sides.

I look forward to more photos this season of the housing covered in martins.

John

[Dave Reynolds]

I'm no expert, but it sure looks good to me, nice pics.. Good luck..
Dave

[TheCav-MO]

Looks like a beautiful well cared for site to me. I would think you will be picking up quite a few more birds this year. Best of luck to you and post some pics with lots of birds when you get them.

[Greg]

I don't see any problem with that row of pines. 150 ft is more than enough distance.