How low is too low ?

Siberman · Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:14 pm

I regularly fish at the county park on Sandlin . Several homes have their martin housing mounted on the shoreline or at the end of a private pier. One particular home , however , has the house roughly 20' from the human house and I've never seen it more than 6' from the ground.

There's a ton of martins around but I haven't been able to tell if they're nesting in the "low-rise" . There aren't any trees between it and the lake but the other side's flight path is blocked by the main house.

Would this work or do I need to go educate these folks ?

Bulldog1 · Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:20 pm

Well tonite with 80 mph winds predicted my are lowered all the way. Of course they are still closed up and martins are 2 weeks away at least.

Emil Pampell-Tx · Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:48 pm

I would not try to educate those folks until I had more info, such as: Do they have martins staying there? Martins have been known to nest in some rock piles on the ground, or in some low shepherd hooks.

Don · Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:17 am

I wouldn't try to "educate" them if I were you. I have over 100 nesting pairs and never have a box that high. Most of mine are about four feet high. It is possible that they know what they are doing.

Tony · Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:18 am

Glad to see you respond Don, I was going to reply about having seen pictures of your setup in Minnesota just a couple feet above the water.
I have heard there are no sparrow or starling problems as they won't nest over water, is that true ?
I have two sites on lake front lots in NW Iowa but my poles are on the lake shore. I would like to try some over water this year. If I wade in to knee deep water and drive in a T post, how much of it should I leave above water ? I will then put two or four gourds on the top of that post.

D'Nese · Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:33 am

I have 2 shepards hooks with gourds that are used every year. Last year, first scout was sitting on the house that was at the bottom of pole. We hadn't raised it yet so they don't care, as long as its clean, the fridge is stocked and the vacancy sign is up!!!!

Don · Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:02 pm

Starlings and sparrows will nest in my boxes but not for very long. In 26 years I have perhaps 4 or 5 of each here. Some I trap or shoot before they start nest building the others were trapped after they snuck in.

I drive the "T" posts in about 18 inches. I put the "wide plate" into the sand and face it so it is the best for wind resistance. Occasionally I need to straigten a box but I have never had one tilt enough to be a problem. If the boxes are too high wind becomes a serious problem.

Tony · Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:06 pm

Thanks for the reply Don. I am certainly going to try at least one pole with a few gourds in the water this year.

Siberman · Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:43 pm

Don : any problems with water snakes ?

Jim Spetzman · Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:51 am

Hi Don! A few years ago, Don taught me about Martin housing over water and last year I had 28 pairs. My housing is only 2 feet above the water and it is just fine. When the adults are feeding the young at the door, they drop alot of food in the water and it is fun watching the fish fight over the bugs. I also havent had a sparrow of starling start to make a nest. I have never had a problem with snakes in the water.

Siberman · Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:56 pm

We have a few more snakes down here, Jim.

I've seen nerodia climb trees and rat snakes swim ( although rarely) . How far from shore are your houses ? Lose any fledglings to large fish ?

First time I've seen this and I'm intrigued .

Barrowdog · Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:42 am

We moved ours next to the pier because of fledglings ending up in the water. As far as we know most made it to shore but being wet is very dangerous for them and our water is pretty warm. Also being next to the pier makes it easier to tend to them.
Sue

Jim Spetzman · Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:03 am

I live on a lake that has all kinds of species of fish including Bass and Musky and see a lot of swirles under the houses when insects are dropped. I will see an ocassional dead young Martin on the bottom of the water. Most of the time, when a youngster falls in the water, it will swim to shore and all the adults will squak like crazy so I know somthing is wrong! Lot of times I will put them back in their hole only to have them jump out an hour later. Most of them are ready to fledge and the next day they a gone. My house is 50ft from the water and the Martin houses are about 20ft out in the water where it is about knee deep. Along the shore are massive maple trees that hang out over the water and the Martins desire for water makes them not even worry about the trees close to the water. I have 6 grandkids that love to fish and are constantly running back and forth on the dock that is about 5ft from some of the housing and the birds could care less! Another problem is the property lots are only 75-100ft wide and with about 150+ birds flying around, that is alot of activity for such a small place. I have one neighbor next door that has Barn swallows making nests under her pontoon and when she is on her dock, the swallows will dive bomb her and she gets mad and thinks it is my birds that are doing that. I have told her many times about the difference between Swallows and Martins and to her a bird is a bird. I would like to put up more housing but my wife thinks that it is a little extreme for such a small space. I know Don W. puts up a electric fence wire from one house to another to keep the rif-raff out but where I am, there isnt that many enemys to contend with. I would like to add a picture, but I cant figure it out.