I have 8 gourds. I chose half SR SuperGourds and half round when I got my gourds. We shoot every starling that lands on the gourd rack, but now I'm worried that one might get in when we aren't looking and do its damage.
This is a new colony, with one pair nesting last year. It looks like 4 or 5 pair have chosen gourds now, though none have eggs yet. I am hoping they are going to lay some eggs one of these days.
Can I put something in front of the openings to modify them to be starling resistant? And if I do that, since there are no eggs yet, would there be a danger that the martins might abandon?
Help Please !!!!!
-
Diane Porter
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:30 am
- Location: Iowa
Diane Porter
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield, Iowa
-
Darryl Sparlin
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:01 pm
- Location: Webb City, Mo
Emil,
You are exactly right in what you say. I found out from experience how
easy it is to switch over from round to SREH. 4 years ago during the winter
I took all my doors off the houses, and switched them over. I also did all the
gourds. The next spring I was so worried that Imight have messed everything up. I worried about it for nothing. When the martins returned they
at first would fly up to the door and look in. Not one time did I ever see one
not be able to get in. Once they excepted that the change was made, they just slipped right in like they had been oiled down or something. I know for
fact that it made a world of difference in the condition of my colony. I started
trapping starlings like crazy. I love it when I see a starling fly up on the house and try to get in the SREH. They will immediately fly over to the trap, and the rest is history. Anyone that has doubts about SREH should go ahead and switch over, as long as they get the hole size right there is
no way a martin will not be able to get in. They will be doing their colony a huge favor.
You are exactly right in what you say. I found out from experience how
easy it is to switch over from round to SREH. 4 years ago during the winter
I took all my doors off the houses, and switched them over. I also did all the
gourds. The next spring I was so worried that Imight have messed everything up. I worried about it for nothing. When the martins returned they
at first would fly up to the door and look in. Not one time did I ever see one
not be able to get in. Once they excepted that the change was made, they just slipped right in like they had been oiled down or something. I know for
fact that it made a world of difference in the condition of my colony. I started
trapping starlings like crazy. I love it when I see a starling fly up on the house and try to get in the SREH. They will immediately fly over to the trap, and the rest is history. Anyone that has doubts about SREH should go ahead and switch over, as long as they get the hole size right there is
no way a martin will not be able to get in. They will be doing their colony a huge favor.
Darryl Sparlin
-
Bob Buskas
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
- Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada
Yvonne, I think you'll be okay, those SY males will learn to get inside, and sleeping out at night - that's what they do most of the year. Wait till they have a female they want to court - they'll be in like they are greased!
"In like they are greased" ....Thats funny.........they are typical males aren't they? I hear ya Louise....I'll be good
"In like they are greased" ....Thats funny.........they are typical males aren't they? I hear ya Louise....I'll be good
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
-
baileysambone
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:38 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Baton Rouge
The males both have females. I'm talking about 2 pairs here (4 birds).
I only saw one pair last night, and they still have not made in it. They are going from hole to hole trying, but have not managed it yet.
I'm not sure of the other pair, I did not see them last night.
And yes I did measure all the crescents with CALIPERS and they are correct.
I will keep everyone informed, so no response is needed.
Yvonne
I only saw one pair last night, and they still have not made in it. They are going from hole to hole trying, but have not managed it yet.
I'm not sure of the other pair, I did not see them last night.
And yes I did measure all the crescents with CALIPERS and they are correct.
I will keep everyone informed, so no response is needed.
Yvonne
2011 visitors
2012 1 pair ASY male, SY female 9 eggs, 8 hatched, fledged 5
2013 5 pair fledged 8
2014 4 pair fledged 15
2015 7 pair fledged 25
2016 10 pair fledged 31
2017 17 pair fledged 69
2018 18 pair fledged 69
2019 21 pair fledged 52 (biting gnats lost babies)
2020 17 pair fledged 53
2021 16 pair fledged 62 ( hard freeze in Feb for days. Lost 39 birds. My oldest and wisest)
2022 11 pair fledged 43
2012 1 pair ASY male, SY female 9 eggs, 8 hatched, fledged 5
2013 5 pair fledged 8
2014 4 pair fledged 15
2015 7 pair fledged 25
2016 10 pair fledged 31
2017 17 pair fledged 69
2018 18 pair fledged 69
2019 21 pair fledged 52 (biting gnats lost babies)
2020 17 pair fledged 53
2021 16 pair fledged 62 ( hard freeze in Feb for days. Lost 39 birds. My oldest and wisest)
2022 11 pair fledged 43
-
starling shooter
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:43 pm
- Location: Central MO
Emil- You have a ton of experience and add a lot to the is forum. There are new people who join all the time and ask questions. You add a lot!!
-
Don Strickland
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point
There are plenty of good landlords who prefer using round entrances, and there are plenty of good landlords who prefer using SREHs. To safely use round entrances, either the site must have very few starlings, which are trapped & shot, or the landlord may be home full-time, and have time to control the starlings.
Very good point Louise. I use round holes BUT, I am here nearly 100% of the time so I can watch closely and take care of the problem. Every day my traps and 22's are at the ready. Others, who can't be so watchful would benefit by using SREH.
Emil, I hope you don't quit. I have read probably all of your posts and they are very beneficial for lot's of folks. Keep on keeping on. I'm not offended by your observations although I may not entirely agree with all of them.
I'm still not going to clip a sparrows tail and release it...... :grin:
Don
Very good point Louise. I use round holes BUT, I am here nearly 100% of the time so I can watch closely and take care of the problem. Every day my traps and 22's are at the ready. Others, who can't be so watchful would benefit by using SREH.
Emil, I hope you don't quit. I have read probably all of your posts and they are very beneficial for lot's of folks. Keep on keeping on. I'm not offended by your observations although I may not entirely agree with all of them.
I'm still not going to clip a sparrows tail and release it...... :grin:
Don
-
James Strickland FL
- Posts: 2249
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:04 pm
- Location: Reidsville NC
- Martin Colony History: 2017 Had a lot visitors no Matins nesting, hoping 2018 will be different.
2018 Had 1 pair
2019 had 30 pair
Here is my 2 cents. Change over to SREH is hard when you have used Round Holes. I started switching and I rest better knowing that Starling can not get in. I was real nervous about them and the Martin did take to them. All of my entrances will be Sreh next year. I started off last year with 1 pair and now I have 4 nesting pair.
Emil I have read everything you have written on here and I have took a lot of your advice, THANK YOU! Please never stop giving it. I wish to grow my colony and I need your help in doing. Remember when you only had a few pair and you were trying to grow and were told to make changes and how hard it was to change.
Emil I have read everything you have written on here and I have took a lot of your advice, THANK YOU! Please never stop giving it. I wish to grow my colony and I need your help in doing. Remember when you only had a few pair and you were trying to grow and were told to make changes and how hard it was to change.
PMCA MEMBER
-
Bob Buskas
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
- Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada
Yvonne, when you changed to the Crescents, are they mounted low to the porch, 1/4" or less is very important.
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
Yvonne, I'm a first year land lord after trying for only 4 years and I know how difficult it is for us to see PMs making a change of entrances! I had 6 RH super gourds that 6 birds were using. The first pair was building their nest and I saw a starling looking in the gourds then flew to T-14 and tried to enter. After learning of tunnels and sreh to add to gourds I decided to change holes. Like you I watched them struggle at first and sit on porches at dusk and wonder if they got in. I watched them go from being apprehencive of entering to zipping right in. I made the decision to protect them as much as I could and if they didn't stay I had rather them be some where else for it would be more anxiety on me if I lost one bird to starlings that I could have prevented. PMs are more tolerant of changes than we give them credit. All gourds now have active nest and last check the one I was really concerned with had 2 eggs. So, hang in there as I know the stress your going through. Hubert
-
D&DRichardson-IL
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 3:43 pm
- Location: Illinois, Athens
Hello everyone!
I am new to the forum, but have been educating myself using this forum for about 2 years. The shared knowledge of the experienced martin landlords on this site is very much appreciated. My questions about using cresent openings are:
Should they be used on single compartment houses?
(I have read that they should only be used for expanded compartments.)
If we are not using them at the present, but have a pair working on a nest now, when would be the best time to introduce a cresent opening?
I am new to the forum, but have been educating myself using this forum for about 2 years. The shared knowledge of the experienced martin landlords on this site is very much appreciated. My questions about using cresent openings are:
Should they be used on single compartment houses?
(I have read that they should only be used for expanded compartments.)
If we are not using them at the present, but have a pair working on a nest now, when would be the best time to introduce a cresent opening?
After trying for 25 years:
2011 - 2 pair, 1 fledged
2012 - 1 pair, 5 fledged
2013 - 1 pair, 2 fledged
2011 - 2 pair, 1 fledged
2012 - 1 pair, 5 fledged
2013 - 1 pair, 2 fledged
-
Bob Buskas
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
- Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada
[quote="D&DRichardson"]Hello everyone!
I am new to the forum, but have been educating myself using this forum for about 2 years. The shared knowledge of the experienced martin landlords on this site is very much appreciated. My questions about using crescent openings are:
Should they be used on single compartment houses?
(I have read that they should only be used for expanded compartments.)
If we are not using them at the present, but have a pair working on a nest now, when would be the best time to introduce a crescent opening?
I have never converted a house to SREH at nesting time, so hope someone else that has more eperience at this posts a reply.
I am new to the forum, but have been educating myself using this forum for about 2 years. The shared knowledge of the experienced martin landlords on this site is very much appreciated. My questions about using crescent openings are:
Should they be used on single compartment houses?
(I have read that they should only be used for expanded compartments.)
If we are not using them at the present, but have a pair working on a nest now, when would be the best time to introduce a crescent opening?
I have never converted a house to SREH at nesting time, so hope someone else that has more eperience at this posts a reply.
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.