Entry Plugs

[Charlie Rogers]

How is the best way to make plugs? They weren't plugged off this past winter.

Charlie Rogers

[Jeff Robinson]

Charlie,

What type of entries do you have?

For SREH crescent holes, you can buy a pool noodle and cut it lengthwise, then cut the crescent-shaped pieces thick enough to fit each hole.

Some use a couple clothes-pins to block their round holes.

Other options are to buy the winter-stops/products online.

Jeff

[Bob Fraser]

clothes pins work. anything to block unwanted birds from going in. styrofoam pieces. pool noodles (usually hard to find in the winter though... maybe some stores will be putting out their spring stuff soon).

[jr 2]

hi charlie;;;i have my tunnels pluged with the cresents plugs that came with them and on other holes i just use wide masking tape or duck tape;; the pool noodle or clothes pins is maby better but i just used what i have;i have most of my compartments open and i now have a spar-a-door in each of the 4 houses now;;glad there is still no pm here yet; still too cold;especially at night;;;jr2

[Louise Chambers]

I have seen a lot of sites where landlords use duct tape - one drawback is that it tends to leave a sticky residue behind when it's removed, and that residue could get onto martins' feathers as they come and go. Masking tape seems to stick just as well and does not leave residue behind, at least in my experience (I use masking tape to fasten door fronts with smaller entrances up when trapping HOSP)

[~Ray~Gingerich]

My vote is for the pool noodle. I cut 1" slices and that works better than anything I used before, the plugs adjust to the entrance size and stay in place. You can even chose your favorite color

[Laura Dore]

I used the pool noodles this year. But those pesky HOSP peck at them until they can knock them out. Curses on them! I may have to try the clothespins next. I only have one adult male that resides in one of my three houses at this point. Comes in at exactly 7:40 every evening. So bizarre....it's like he has a stopwatch!

[tonyg]

I use duct tape as I have over 90 gourd holes to plug in early season..works fine for me..(cheap)..

[Bulldog1]

Foam pipe insulation - works just like pool noodles

[Indiana_Tom]

I also use the foam pipe insulation. It is like the swim/pool noodle but made to go around a pipe. It is cheap and easy to work with. You buy it in 4 foot lengths and just cut off a 1 or 2 inch piece. It can be squeezed down and fitted nicely into any of the starling resistant entrances. It is somewhat like a stiff closed cell sponge. I like to let a little air flow in and out for ventilation even with the entrance blocked to help the inside stay dry. The pesky House Sparrows will try to peck at the foam on occasion but all you need to do is look at it every so often and see if another piece is needed. For me, that also gives me a chance to do the only hunting I still do.

That is my two cents (since I got change back after buying the pipe insulation)

Any home improvement store should carry it.

Tom

[Charlie Rogers]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and help.

[Matt F.]

Here's an additional article about using the pool noodles.......
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... tPlugs.htm