two martins lost to wing entrapment

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It did the trick, I haven't had a wing-hang since. The tool is just a rotary file for a drill. If you have a drill press it would be even easier, but a drill will work. I'm sure they have some at your local Lowes or Menards.
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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

In Jan 2006, I recommended rounding off the corners of crescents:

http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... entrapment

The photo is long gone due to space limitations.
Last edited by Emil Pampell-Tx on Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

Thank you. Thats what I wanted to read. Great info! I will now try to modify my crescents your way.


Thanks Emil


Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair

I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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John Miller
Posts: 4867
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Glynn

Rounding corners may help, but may not address the reason wings gets trapped, and reasons can vary in different housing. I see from your profile you are using the Troyer tunnels? On the older horizontal gourds, one needs to eliminate the inner lip on the fronts of the older gourd front to create a more smooth entry inside -- eliminating the front foyer -- and secondly, create a guard on the inside of the added tunnel, or you could experiment with putting the guard outside, if your guard is snug over the top and the sides.

see this thread for how to make guards.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... t+flat+bar

John M
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

John

I have the newer Troyer tunnel gourds purchased this year. They have the anti wing entrapment molded in. Should there be any concerns with them?

I also purchased wing entrapment guards from the PMCA for my Alamo with crescents. Just trying to cover all bases for when I get martins.

That is excellent wing entrapment design and work on the older troyer tunnels. I'm sure that saved a lot of martins.



Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair

I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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John Miller
Posts: 4867
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

Glynn

I think both guards you mention will greatly reduce the risk, but I can't say if all risk will be eliminated. I might have magnified these guards -- thicker or more snug -- had I designed them, but probably they are fine. I'm confident they will greatly reduce risk and that's about the best I can say.

John
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

J Gragg or Emil

Would you guys choose the exact rotary file needed for rounding the crescent corners and post the site where to purchase. I'm unsure of what I need. There are so many. I would really appreciate this.





Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair

I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
Top
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

I used the standard dremel sanding disk, it looks about 1/2inch od. I might add that this corner rounding may not completely stop wing entrapment, but it most likely will help. I had martins for over 40 years, and I never had wing entrapment, so its not common problem for many people. It seems like wing entrapment occurs at some selected sites, which is strange, so it may not be a problem for you
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Glynn B - LA
Posts: 320
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
Location: Louisiana West Monroe

Thanks Emil.





Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair

I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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Scott D.- La
Posts: 823
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
Location: Louisiana

The Crescent is no different than any other SREH in regard's to adding Wing Entrapment Guard's and they will stop entrapment. Install the Guard's and you will not have to worry with modifying the entrance, IMO!
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Ken&Sheryle - TX
Posts: 649
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:21 pm
Location: Helotes/Texas

We had the same thing happened in our Lone Star crescent hole....it was horrible; we lowered the house down and there were three Purple Martins, one was blocking the hole...probably stuck....it's a tragedy....I will have to go back and look over what y'all did to prevent it from happening. So sorry for your loss...it hasn't happened but once in 10 years but that is one to many times.

:)Sheryle
Martin's Rule!!!!!!!!!
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