Neglected Public Super Martin Colony – Bossier City, La

[Gary-La]

I found this site earlier in the martin season this year off of Swan Lake Road at Hazel Jones Rd. and Little League Dr. Bossier City, La. There were no martins nesting only several house sparrow nests. I went back out there yesterday and took these pictures and added a satellite view as well. As you can see this site is pretty torn up.

But what a diamond in the rough! It's in a great open area next to a little league baseball fields, fenced with a walkway all around. The area is maintained (mowed at least) by the City of Bossier City Parks & Recreation. With some TLC this site could be revitalized into a thriving public learning super colony. A lot of potential here!

I contacted Bossier City Parks & Recreation, Superintendent of Maintenance and found out that this site was originally installed by Coates Manufacturing and maintained by Coates. But maintenance ended when the purple martin housing portion was sold off. Since then the site has deteriorated to what it is today. The Superintendent of Maintenance is open to fixing the site but needs advice on what to do and how to do it. I will be putting together a plan to fix and/or upgrade this site to the Superintendent of Maintenance in the next couple weeks

[AvianStewardess]

Wow! Sure hope that works out! It would be awesome if the parks department could partner with the kids' programs offered and make a win-win out of this one.

[DornCounty]

wow.. looks like a great project, with a great location.

Reminds me of a project.

[Linda Reynolds]

Great project, Gary. I know you will give it your best. I hope the *powers that be* will be cooperative.

The Coats condo represents a piece of history.

Much good luck is wished for you.

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Gary:

This appears to be a great site with a lot of potential, not only for the martins but for the visitors frequenting the area for park activities.

There appears to be at least eight different houses of various sizes. This would be a lot to manage even for a dedicated landlord. One possibility is to fix up a couple of the houses at the existing location. The remaining houses could be repaired and established at satellite locations around Bossier City and Shreveport. (I know Steve and his neighbor Bob have several satellite locations and possibly they are in need of additional houses for replacement or expansion. You would first want to determine who actually owns the houses: the park or Coates.)

Whatever plan you come up with, it is going to be a great winter project and appreciate your willingness to take it on.

Tim

[Gary-La]

Avian,
There's a lot of visibility to this site being right next to a baseball park. About the same season as the martins too!

Dorn,
Projects of all projects! I think it's worth the save.

Linda,
The Bossier City Super seemed interested to fixing up the the site. Bottom line will be the $ to bring it up to spec.

Tim,
The site, land and housing, is owned by the city parks system. I think too this site offers alot of martin exposure to people. I'll put together a couple plans of attack, a general fixer-upper (low cost) and an upgrade to SREHs and larger cavities plan (higher cost). If I remember correctly Bob has a shed in the back of his house with a bunch of PM aluminum housing parts! I believe he even has a sheet metal fabricating machine!

[Robert J]

Gary, i've been going by this site for the last five years three or four times a year. Never seen over 8 or 10 pairs of martins, twice that many sparrows and starlings. Its obvious some of the damage was done by vandals. There is i notice a fence panel missing. This site needs to be locked up and a sign or two put up. I always thought the this belonged to the Navy building next door. As Tim stated i would start back with less housing. My plan for what is worth would be take 2 of the larger houses enlarge the compartments with nest trays and for sure cresents, remove the condos for the same repairs which would take quite some time and install the 2 repaired houses on the large pole for next year. Replace the condos the next year. I can and would be willing to make these repairs at no cost, so if i can help just let me know.

Robert J
Shreveport La

[Gary-La]

Robert,
There's a lot to be done and could use the help. I'll private msg you.

[John Miller]

I'm fascinated by the "big house" and would be tempted to focus on it. However, I have concerns about so many holes close together and whether martins get so mixed up that their nesting success is lowered --- not sure.

But "what if" the structure was modified to deeper compartments -- so half as many holes but spaced out more, and of course deeper units with cresent holes.

Just brain storming. Sure wish you well with the project and wish I could help, but better work on park houses closer to home.

John Miller

[DornCounty]

Let's say that grouping is repaired and restored to the current standards.. SREH's, expanded compartments, ect..

How long would it take to build that colony back up to near full capacity?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Given the location in high concentration of purple martins, the openness of the site, I would say it would be full capacity in 2 or 3 years IF YOU CONTROL the starlings, sparrows, use snake guards and owl guards. The first year will be a nightmare trying to control the starlings and sparrows, they will viciously fight for "their" old home place.

[Gary-La]

John,
The large condo I posted a couple weeks ago in downtown Shreveport had martins nesting adjacent to each other with no problems. Both have porch dividers. I added a pic here with the two side by side. This super condo has 86 cavities, upgrade would make it 43. The overall site has 190 6x6 cavities, half that to make 6x12s would put it at 95 plus door change outs.

Dorn/Emil,
I think Emil is correct, at least 2-3 years. Yes, predator guards will need to be installed. Being in town, passive type control will have to be used, i.e. SREHs and PVC snake guards.

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Gary,

I don’t think Bob has ever seen that old martin colony in the Bossier City area and I know I haven’t. Bob has been managing satellite martin colonies in the Shreveport area for many years and I now help him.

We currently have five satellite martin colonies with most near Shreveport and there are just over 200 cavities, aluminum houses and Super Gourds. We use Trios, Lone Stars, and some of Bob’s designs.

Our satellite colonies are WELL occupied by martins each season though we do have some house sparrow problems, particularly early in the season at several of the sites. We clean out the sparrow nests early in the season and shoot/trap sparrows where we can. The established martins do a good job of protecting their nests from sparrows and even evict sparrows early in the season.

Since we can’t monitor satellite colonies regularly and these sites are located in more urban/suburban areas where starlings are often abundant, we use srehs to greatly minimize starling issues. We have had a few cases where starlings have breached crescent entrances and it happened this year at one colony. A pair of starlings moved into one of our Trio houses on a multi-purpose pole. Martins were in all the other compartments and the martins and starlings ignored each other. Bob “discreetly” shot the male starling and the female promptly abandoned the cavity.

I will tell Bob about this neglected martin colony site and perhaps we can help some with restoring the colony, too. It is a great open location and there are PLENTY of martins in northwest Louisiana. Keep me posted on your plans and maybe this old colony site can start raising martins again.

Steve

[Gary-La]

Hey Steve,
This site is on the east side of Bossier City located on a side street. I found it by accident when I went to a plumbing store on that side street. I believe most of your satellite colonies are the south side of Shreveport.

If we can get enough help, maybe this site can be upgraded and ready for the next martin season! I'll keep you posted.

[DAVE]

Just a thought, maybe Lowes would like to help sponsor this project. Can't hurt to ask!
Dave