I have had some ASY visitors, but no takers. I surmise they are from the neighbor's gourd racks down the road.
My questions are 1) What is wrong? and 2) The Trendsetter Nestbox Trap won't fool the dumbest HOSP. What is the TRICK?... (I tried camouflaging with their weedy nest stuff, but they stick their heads in and move it around, exposing the shiny trip wire! So I put a glue trap in there while I was outside working in the flowerbeds, and wouldn't you know, visiting ASY's came to call! So here I go running to the house, crank it down, remove trap, and crank it back up... visitors gone)
My housing (Trendsetter 12 with 4 THG, all SREH) is in an open area, more than 40 feet from the nearest tree, and about 35 feet from my residence. I have a wonderful East-West "runway". There are 2 ponds nearby. I live in a rural area on 5 acres.
S&S Control: I have tried keeping the gourds open, as well as a compartment on each side of my house, but I wind up chasing my tail, as the HOSPs keep coming and coming. They mess up my PM nestboxes with their grassy junk and POOP, and they sit CHEEPING to beat the band. Their shrill call is like fingernails on a blackboard! So in the interest of sanity, I have plugged 3 of my gourds leaving 1 open, and have 3 compartments of the house open on sides I can see to monitor. I am shooting, trapping and terminating the S&S. I have a tally of 16 ES and 18 HOSP since putting my system up a month ago. (The PMCA NB Trap, Gilbertson trap, and my trusty air rifle) I only feed Safflower seed which S&S do not like, so they are ONLY here for housing. I feel compelled to control the little buggers not only for the sake of my future PMs, but also for my Chickadees and BBs on eggs, both in BB housing.
Yes I have a lifelong despise for S&S, ingrained long ago by my grandfather who had PMs for years at the edge of his large garden. To finally be able to live at a PM suitable location is a dream come true. BUT the battle of the HOSPs and the worry and waiting is getting me down.
Any advice or criticism is welcome.
Thanks,
Mary
Wannabe Landlord Questions
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Leandortree
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:10 pm
- Location: Saskatchewan/Grenfell
MamaBruff,
You need to wait ! Never use a STICKY TRAP without first placing a cavity entrance hole REDUCER on the entry hole.
Reduce the hole to 1.5 inches, that will keep your Martins out. Other natives can still get in! A sticky TRAP is a Deadly TRAP never use it unless you have to! Put some small feathers inside your nest box TRAP ,and WAIT!
Don't forget to keep your eyes on all your TRAPS! You may need to release a Native
Good Luck Mama , There is nothing wrong with you site ! You will need to WAIT ! Smile
You need to wait ! Never use a STICKY TRAP without first placing a cavity entrance hole REDUCER on the entry hole.
Reduce the hole to 1.5 inches, that will keep your Martins out. Other natives can still get in! A sticky TRAP is a Deadly TRAP never use it unless you have to! Put some small feathers inside your nest box TRAP ,and WAIT!
Don't forget to keep your eyes on all your TRAPS! You may need to release a Native
Good Luck Mama , There is nothing wrong with you site ! You will need to WAIT ! Smile
Saskatchewan "The land of living skies"
Leandortree colony
2012-46 pair 200+ Fledged
Leandortree colony
2012-46 pair 200+ Fledged
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Keep up with that trapping you are doing this right and it sounds like you got some potential Martins to attract nearby.
I know how difficult it can be to intitially clear the territory for the Martins. It took me years to control competitors. Tough job!
Looks to me like the subbies coming will be key for you this season. I would occassionally close up everything push the S&S to traps and keep an eye out. When Martins arrive to investigate get out there and open everything for them. They will appreciate your attentiveness and nothing else in the housing.
Just don't close up shop and not be around to open for investigating Martins. I can still remember having things closed up, hearing Martins, my heart would pound as I hurried to open things up for them.
Sparrows absolutely never give up once they choose a spot in your housing. They are such sneeky devils.
Doug
I know how difficult it can be to intitially clear the territory for the Martins. It took me years to control competitors. Tough job!
Looks to me like the subbies coming will be key for you this season. I would occassionally close up everything push the S&S to traps and keep an eye out. When Martins arrive to investigate get out there and open everything for them. They will appreciate your attentiveness and nothing else in the housing.
Just don't close up shop and not be around to open for investigating Martins. I can still remember having things closed up, hearing Martins, my heart would pound as I hurried to open things up for them.
Sparrows absolutely never give up once they choose a spot in your housing. They are such sneeky devils.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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threelilkids
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:11 pm
- Location: Denham Springs, La
- Martin Colony History: 2014 1 pair 3 hatched 3 fledged
2015 1 pair 5 hatched 5 fledged
2016 1 pair 5 hatched 4 fledged
2017 2 pair 8 hatched 8 fledged
2018 4 pair 15 hatched
Sparrows eat salflower here, I use sunflower with very little salflower mixed in and it worked better at keeping sparrows at bay at the feeders. The only thing that has worked on starlings for me was a starling can repeat trap, but I only had starlings nesting in my house rafters, as soon as I had no more starlings is when the martins landed. They know if starlings are near. Good luck and never give up.
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Thank you everyone! M
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Mary,
I love your setup. It really looks great. I like that you have a variety of housing, it appears as though you do have a very open place. Nice.
Also, I LOVE your screen name.
Good luck, I really hope you are able to attract martins. I leave all my compartments open and trap trap trap. I have a little .22 that I use birdshot and am able to really get rid of a lot of pests.
I love your setup. It really looks great. I like that you have a variety of housing, it appears as though you do have a very open place. Nice.
Also, I LOVE your screen name.
Good luck, I really hope you are able to attract martins. I leave all my compartments open and trap trap trap. I have a little .22 that I use birdshot and am able to really get rid of a lot of pests.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
That house looks familiar! So beautiful. Do you play the dawnsong or daytime chatter CD's? I think this does help. You already have the visitors but maybe it will call in the subbies. Being down the road from someone is the perfect set up for those 90% of subbies that go in nearby areas. I bought a $20 little CD/radio from Wally's that has a repeat function and I run an extension cord to it. The music has been monotonous to my husband after several hours but I like it. Go figure! I used it initially this year because mine seemed slow to come home but I stopped when my first birds arrived.
You help me to suck it up and eliminate S&S and hopefully I can help you to hang in there and not get the blues! I just know your lifelong dream will be realized!
Deb
You help me to suck it up and eliminate S&S and hopefully I can help you to hang in there and not get the blues! I just know your lifelong dream will be realized!
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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Archer
- Posts: 786
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:09 pm
- Location: Manitoba/Altona
- Martin Colony History: six pair in 2014, have grown to 52 pairs in 2017.
You have a great looking spot there, the martins will find you in time. Looks like you have room for expansion too The only thing I see that you are missing is the predator guard. Once you have some martins you will want to protect your colony.
Allan
The only thing I see that you are missing is the predator guard. Once you have some martins you will want to protect your colony. Allan
2011- first year trying, a few visitors.
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
2012-One ASY pair, raised two young, lots of subby visitors. So thankfull.
2013-daily subby visits.
2014-Six SY pairs
2015-18 pair, 83 fledglings
2016-36 pair, 147 fledglings
2017-52 pairs, 192 fledglings.
2018-60 pair, 246 fledglings.
2019-59 pair, 238 fledglings.
2020-62 pair.
2021-65 pair.
2022-63 pair.
2023-60 pair
2024-62 pair
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement! I feel a lot better now!
I am not playing dawnsong, but my resident Mockingbird is
Surprisingly the CD and player is one accessory I have NOT bought yet! DebA, I love your setup too!
Yes I DO have a predator guard; will wait until I get PMs to install it, as the house goes up and down a lot right now with all the trapping of HOSPS. Even got use out of my new Troyer-Haskell Tunnel Trap this morning! (Figured out that the rubber band has to be on the oval ring to get them) 3 HOSPS terminated. And yes, I do monitor my traps closely when they are set!
Maybe I am a little obsessive, but 1 HOSP is one too many, I will not stop until it is gone! But more always come.
The constant vigil of protecting and killing is getting to me, I guess. But that is a fact of life if one wants a S&S free space. I will think of it as Landlord Boot Camp! Surely the subbies will arrive soon!
Purple Hugs to All!
Mary
I am not playing dawnsong, but my resident Mockingbird is
Surprisingly the CD and player is one accessory I have NOT bought yet! DebA, I love your setup too! Yes I DO have a predator guard; will wait until I get PMs to install it, as the house goes up and down a lot right now with all the trapping of HOSPS. Even got use out of my new Troyer-Haskell Tunnel Trap this morning! (Figured out that the rubber band has to be on the oval ring to get them) 3 HOSPS terminated. And yes, I do monitor my traps closely when they are set!
Maybe I am a little obsessive, but 1 HOSP is one too many, I will not stop until it is gone! But more always come.
The constant vigil of protecting and killing is getting to me, I guess. But that is a fact of life if one wants a S&S free space. I will think of it as Landlord Boot Camp! Surely the subbies will arrive soon!
Purple Hugs to All!
Mary
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
you might try a decoy,it and dawnsong did it for me but took awhile, keep up the fight,once you get the martins exstablised the s&s problem will get easyer, good luck!! you will make it joplin folks as we well know are fighters,and survivors.
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Ben@SWMichiganPM
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:57 pm
- Location: Michigan/New Buffalo & IL/Chicago
I have a very similiar setup and story as yours. I went with the Troyer vertical gourds on the Trendsetter 12.
House sparrows are a lot to handle. I'm only at the site one to two days a week so I can only trap the day I'm there. The trap for the Trensetter house is terrible. Never works. They always know something is different.
I'm having a lot of success with the Troyer tunnel trap. But I didnt know I needed to keep the rubber band. I threw it out when I opened the packaging. How does the Rubber band help? EDIT: (Just found out the Rubberband doesn't affect the metal trap. The rubberband helped with a previous version of the trap.)
Other notes: I have round entrances on the gourds in hopes of upping my chances. But starlings took over all the gourds in 5 days of me not being there. So I am switiching to SREH on the gourds. I have a predator guard ready for when I actually get martins. I have the dawnsong playing everyday on a timer. Starting 15 min before sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset for 30 min a time. I used pine shavings as bedding. I have a decoy you can see in the pic. One of the pictures is taken from inside the house the other is just standing in the backyard. I'm a little worried I'm too close to the gazebo or that big tree.
I will hold out hope for both of us. Patience is a virtue. (But I'd really like to know what we can be doing better to speed up the process)
Ben
House sparrows are a lot to handle. I'm only at the site one to two days a week so I can only trap the day I'm there. The trap for the Trensetter house is terrible. Never works. They always know something is different.
I'm having a lot of success with the Troyer tunnel trap. But I didnt know I needed to keep the rubber band. I threw it out when I opened the packaging. How does the Rubber band help? EDIT: (Just found out the Rubberband doesn't affect the metal trap. The rubberband helped with a previous version of the trap.)
Other notes: I have round entrances on the gourds in hopes of upping my chances. But starlings took over all the gourds in 5 days of me not being there. So I am switiching to SREH on the gourds. I have a predator guard ready for when I actually get martins. I have the dawnsong playing everyday on a timer. Starting 15 min before sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset for 30 min a time. I used pine shavings as bedding. I have a decoy you can see in the pic. One of the pictures is taken from inside the house the other is just standing in the backyard. I'm a little worried I'm too close to the gazebo or that big tree.
I will hold out hope for both of us. Patience is a virtue. (But I'd really like to know what we can be doing better to speed up the process)
Ben
- Attachments
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PMCA member. Trendsetter 12 system on Lake Michigan, 2011: 1 pair laid eggs, lots of vistors, 2012: added dawnsong and decoys, no luck (Had a wren take over the house), 2013 added four Troyer gourds to up my chances.
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Ben,
You have a great location, IMHO, for birds or people! Wow!
The tunnel trap has a wire oval on the end of the wire. I found that when I used it w/o the rubberband, the HOSP would never trigger it, prob b/c it is so much smaller than a Starling, he just hopped right trough. So I added the rubber band back the way it was. It goes around the middle of the oval to reduce the size so the HOSP triggers it as he pushes into it. Just FYI, if you put on the SREH openings. HOSP will still get in, GRRR!
I'm gonna do like kcscriv and get a PM decoy today.
Then we wait.... The weather will warm, the bugs will swarm, and the subbies will come.
You have a great location, IMHO, for birds or people! Wow!
The tunnel trap has a wire oval on the end of the wire. I found that when I used it w/o the rubberband, the HOSP would never trigger it, prob b/c it is so much smaller than a Starling, he just hopped right trough. So I added the rubber band back the way it was. It goes around the middle of the oval to reduce the size so the HOSP triggers it as he pushes into it. Just FYI, if you put on the SREH openings. HOSP will still get in, GRRR!
I'm gonna do like kcscriv and get a PM decoy today.
Then we wait.... The weather will warm, the bugs will swarm, and the subbies will come.
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
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Connie
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:05 pm
- Location: WALKER, LOUISIANA
- Martin Colony History: Had my site up to 22 gourds of which most (+/-3) stayed occupied.
Downsized to 17 gourds due to back surgeries. Had 14 families in 2017 but did not do nest checks due to health. Feeling better in 2018 and hoping for a good year.
Ben,
What a beautiful place to live! I would love to live on a lake, a river, a pond heck maybe a canal even.....lol.....
Beautiful. I can't imagine looking out my windows to that view every day. Must be a wonderful feeling. Then again, I freeze living where I didn't have 9 months of summer and 3 months of fall.....lol Strange weather down in the LA bayou.
PS. nice set up too. The PM's are going to love it there.
What a beautiful place to live! I would love to live on a lake, a river, a pond heck maybe a canal even.....lol.....
Beautiful. I can't imagine looking out my windows to that view every day. Must be a wonderful feeling. Then again, I freeze living where I didn't have 9 months of summer and 3 months of fall.....lol Strange weather down in the LA bayou.
PS. nice set up too. The PM's are going to love it there.
Connie