Dog kennel

[Mark Scott]

My son has a dog kennel with about 20 dogs inside, they never bark unless another dog comes in yard. It is located about 50' from my setup. This is my 3rd year trying and last year I had 3 martins and one that stayed about 3 weeks. I have a Super 24 system with a variety of natural and troyer verticle and horizontal, super, Bo-11, etc. I play the dawnsong, have 6 decoys, great flyaway on one side. 50 clearance on other 3 sides. Do not know of any other colonies close by. Located in central Va. My question, do you think having a dog kennel 50' away could be causing me problems attracting Martins?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

The dog kennels should not bother the martins. My guess is that your site is not open enough, as 50ft is not much space. Its too easy for hawks or owls hiding in a tree to swoop down and catch the martins. Also, how tall are the trees? Tall trees are worse than short trees.

Sounds like you have perfectly good equipment, so it has to be the trees or lack of martins.

Years ago, I cut down 8 trees in our back yard, and nearly immediately the martins liked the site much better. Now I also have a garden and flowers in the open area, plus many martins.

[Connie]

I too think it is the 50' clearance on 3 sides. That's awful close and makes it so easy for the predators. I have 3 dogs in the yard with my martins all the time. I have seen many many people on the forum say dogs are usually not the problem. I would clear the trees back first if possible, then if still no martins you might think dogs, but I doubt it.
Sending good luck your way,
Connie

[Leandortree]

Mark,
We don't live in a perfect world,and all our colony sites are not perfect, don't worry be patient. I have a lot of TREES at my site some as close as 30 feet away .My neighbor's has a huge cottonwood tree 40feet from my setup that is 70 feet tall, and they have Dogs too. I have a lot of trees on all four sides of my property; the martins just fly right through them. I have 15 foot tall Lilac bushes also no problem that I can see. My colony is in a martin rich area; there is an abundance of food here. Perhaps martins act different in other places? They would have had a different experience in other regions, who knows? My colony went from 31pair in 2011 to 46 pair in 2012 and fledged 200 plus young.
The one thing martin landlords, and want to be landlords must be diligent about, is keeping cavity nesting competitors out of their martin housing.
You have put up good housing the birds can see it from above, if they want to nest, and like it they will come.
Be patient, and good luck to you!

[RC Moser]

I agree open areas are nice but not required and the dogs IMO wouldn't be problem either. Problem as suggested maybe there are no or little PMs in you area (have you seen any flying around?). I would scout around see if anybody has PMs within 10 mile radius. If not you may just have to wait..till some stumble onto your site. I wouldn't cut down trees just to try and get PMs unless they are with 30 foot or so. For us in martin rich enviorment as long as squirrel can't just to the set up we attrach PMs. As for hawks and owls they will attack requardless of trees. Yes I agree they can hide better and sneak up better if trees are around but open area don't prevent hawks and owls it just reduces their changes of being successful.

[Mark Scott]

Thanks for all your answers, I guess I'm getting a little impatient. This will be my 3rd year and I did have 3 different Martins last year at my site, one sy stayed 2 weeks. He went in and out of several gourds. NO starlings or house sparrows, and have housing for bluebirds which nested in their own box and tree swallows that nested in their own gourd 50' away, although they did haress my martins some. I do know of other colonies 10 miles away. (the way a bird flies). Crossing my fingers this will be my year!

[RC Moser]

if you TS gourd is facing the PM colony you might try turning it away so the entry hole is not facing the PM colony??. Maybe they won't pay attention to the PM if their not looking at them going to and from the gourd?? I do this to bluebirds if I got nesting pair too close facing each other. Seems to work.


At least you got visitor's and they are in the area so there is hope on the horizon and it maybe this year beings you had visitors last year! Must be nice not having starlings and sparrows. If you get PMs might want to address Snakes (if you have any Corn, Black (rat), bulls in the area) Last would be owl protection when you colony takes off.

[diane davis-ms]

I also use to live within hollering distance of my backyard neibor. He had
a huge dog kennel with 46 or so hog dogs that never shut up
barking and my martins and neibors martins never payed the dogs any
attention.