t-14 problem

kborder · Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:25 pm

this is not a huge problem with only 2 instances we know of, but two is two too many! We have 4, t-14s, and in 15 years we have twice found when either cranking up or down, a bird has gotten trapped and died in the 3or4 inch space between the top of the 3-hole side of the house and the pole.

this is very disturbing, and was wondering if anyone has a quick fix they could suggest, and interested to know if anyone else has had this problem.

on another note, we were happy that with Ohio weather this year, we got our first two back on Easter Sunday. Bad thing is, it's been high teens to mid twenties the past three nights and this is day three of temps in low 40's with 12-15mph biting winds. Forecast tomorrow and on will be 50's and 60's. Do you all think my two will be able to hold on until tomorrow? I tried flipping eggs and mealworms last eve, but they just watched

Louise Chambers · Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:25 pm

I have heard of roosting bats getting injured/killed that way, but not martins before your report. I'd make a cover or shield that closed off the open area about the pole. If could be fastened to house roof or to top of pole. You have to leave a slight space but it probably could be 1/2 inch, no more. I'd try lightweight wood, painted, or thin plastic. Hopefully others will have ideas too.

Charles B · Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:24 pm

I added a closed box that fills the space between the four boxes. The box rides up and down the pole with the house.

Trishy · Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:39 pm

You might try putting eggs and mealworms by the openings on the house. Hopefully they have gotten a little something to eat since they have been there, or they will probably be getting pretty weak. You probably should kill the mealworms or they might crawl away. Good luck. I hope they make it.

kborder · Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:47 am

Louise, we did have one bat also that was killed this way. When we lowered one house, we heard it screeching and by then it was too late. I like the picture posted by Charles. If I can just get my husband to help it looks like a great idea!

I'm wondering if the bats would still be able to squeeze through though. If it keeps the martins safe, I'm all for it.

Louise Chambers · Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:28 pm

It looks like a good fix to me, too. Bats can squeeze into such tiny spaces, it would be hard to keep them out. Maybe we can think of something, so many good ideas come from the collective brain of the forum.

M.Stephens · Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:41 pm

Charles B wrote:I added a closed box that fills the space between the four boxes. The box rides up and down the pole with the house.

Charles I noticed you are using a rope and pulley to raise your T-14. Yours is the first one that I have ever seen. Is that safe with the weight of that house?

pmlover · Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:05 pm

3 of my birds made it back to new concord ohio easter as well
Thank God they made it thru the last 3 cold days.
I was worried sick they would die

Charles B · Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:37 pm

M.Stephens wrote: Charles I noticed you are using a rope and pulley to raise your T-14. Yours is the first one that I have ever seen. Is that safe with the weight of that house?

You raise a good point. The house is indeed heavy, and I avoid ever being directly under it. The support is not rope, but is steel cable attached with a steel bolt. The pulleys are arranged as a block and tackle to give a mechanical advantage, which lets me raise the pole using just a battery-powered drill with an extension that lets me sit out of the way. This also means that when I let the winch free-wheel, the friction is enough to let the house just gradually slide down the pole. Here's a closeup of the lower pulley attachment.

But I'm a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy: I also attach a 2 x 4 and to the pole using elastic cords to hold the board against the pole; the end of the 2 x 4 rests on the steel ground stake. The quick-release predator guard fits over the 2 x 4.

A couple of years ago I did a write-up on my hardware. http://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~branch/i ... ount1b.doc
Since then I have replaced the wood ground pole with the steel ground stake. My hardware is similar to a design described by Chick Abare, except mine is for a square pole and uses the block and tackle pulley arrangement. This has made it through some pretty good Alabama thunder storms, but I still keep the house about two feet down from the top during windy periods. If it ever does fall, it could be pretty spectacular, but I'm hoping that it is pretty close to fail-safe. Comments or suggestions would be welcome.

Charles