Empty t-14

~Ray~Gingerich · Tue May 13, 2014 8:20 am

I have this T-14 that stands empty or nearly empty every year, it had SK tunnnels but since I wasn't having much luck I took the tunnels off and added regular porches and owl gaurd wire but the martins are showing little interest, they all go to the gourd racks.The real mystery is they use my T-14 in the front yard, this one is in the back yard along with other gourd racks which they use. Thinking about taking it down and replace with something else. Any ideas as to what is going on????

4th Gen Martin Fan · Tue May 13, 2014 8:33 am

Ray,
Do the martins take to the gourds mounted below this T-14?
Mark.

Louise Chambers · Tue May 13, 2014 8:43 am

Did they ever nest in it at all? Odd sometimes, they'll take this but not that. I was wondering, perhaps that house was raided by snake or owl without you seeing any clues.

DornCounty · Tue May 13, 2014 9:52 am

I would take the owl guards off until I got a few residents. Doubt that's the issue but it will make the lookers have an easier time.

~Ray~Gingerich · Tue May 13, 2014 10:08 am

yes they have nested in it before, most were in the gourds below but never more than one or two nests in the wood house. Last season there was one nest in the house and 3 in the gourds, they all fledged out.

M.Stephens · Tue May 13, 2014 10:14 am

Ray,
I'm having the same luck as you with my T-14. I'll be replacing it with a Hybrid pole next year with Trio castles on it. Houses seem to be iffy with martins. I believe they actually love gourds more than houses. Houses seem to attract more trash birds than anything else.

BIOteacher012 · Tue May 13, 2014 1:35 pm

My T14 is the same way. The martins seem to take to my gourds before showing much interest in the wood house. I have them go inside my T14 every year, but they eventually end up choosing my Troyer gourds underneath as well as the gourds on my gourd rack. Will see what this year brings. The T14 definitely is a magnet for starlings and sparrows....none of which leave my yard alive. Aside from what the martins choose, I prefer the cosmetic look of the T14 over the gourds any day. To me...it's a piece of furniture that I built.

Berndog · Tue May 13, 2014 5:46 pm

Bio,
I could'nt have said it better ! I built a new t-14 this past winter(spent a small fortune,,as you know)It looks good but that's about it.I'm not about to replace it !! Time will tell ...Berndog

belpre gary · Tue May 13, 2014 6:02 pm

I built a T-10 this winter and the only thing in so far are sparrows, The martins seem to like the BO-9 and BO-11's and my old S&K house but not the T-10, As smeone said time will tell .

GARY

tonyg · Wed May 14, 2014 12:59 am

Ray I put my T-8 up again this year after having it down for two years. Put 6 Bo-9s around it also. So far only two cavities have been taken on the 8, one on each side..3 of the 6 gourds have nests...two years ago 5 of the 8 cavities had nest and the 4 gourds underneath were full..I'm hoping some SY's will fill it soon..

Martin man RI · Wed May 14, 2014 5:24 am

I can tell you from experience martins prefer gourds I have six aluminum
houses that are six by six by twelve in side. All units taken first were gourds then the aluminum houses. When they have nothing else they will use a house but if a neighbor has gourds he will get the lion share of the flock. Just placed a new six unit aluminum house its empty and the birds just going to all gourds first. Its ok I am in no rush I like houses plus country clubs like them also. They work and are fine but Martins will choose
a gourd over any house depends on location and number of units around there are some area's that have the old style houses and martins love them
cause there are no gourds in the town. Very risky for them to nest in a small cavity too.
RAY

Emil Pampell-Tx · Wed May 14, 2014 5:32 am

I had a T-14 style house before the T-14 houses were named. This house never did fill up, it never had more than 5 nests. I think part of the reason is that the sparrows and starlings were so attracted to the house, that they immediately went to it. They actually chased away any visiting martins before the martins had a chance. I shot most of the sparrows and starlings, but they kept coming, and kept trying to use that house. I ended up giving the house away, and went to 100% gourds. I spent too much time fighting S&S, and with gourds only, there was much less trouble, the trash birds would go to the traps after the house was removed. The house was too heavy which was another consideration.

Craig Haddox · Wed May 14, 2014 5:41 am

The martins in my colony prefer houses over gourds. The first martins back head for the houses first with viscous fights over them. 5 Trio houses and 9 gourds up here.

eyeamtheman · Wed May 14, 2014 5:51 am

I have 2 T14's and 1 Alamo house. Then 3 gourd racks....(and they are almost full) And the rest of my response is exactly what Craig T posted above. I take the T14's down every year tho. I guess they'll last forever. No sparrows here, but a .22 short bullet slams into about 15 starlings every spring.

Matt F. · Wed May 14, 2014 8:23 am

Martin man RI wrote:I can tell you from experience martins prefer gourds I have six aluminum
houses that are six by six by twelve in side. All units taken first were gourds then the aluminum houses. When they have nothing else they will use a house but if a neighbor has gourds he will get the lion share of the flock. Just placed a new six unit aluminum house its empty and the birds just going to all gourds first. Its ok I am in no rush I like houses plus country clubs like them also. They work and are fine but Martins will choose
a gourd over any house depends on location and number of units around there are some area's that have the old style houses and martins love them
cause there are no gourds in the town. Very risky for them to nest in a small cavity too.
RAY

I would guess in the more northern locations, the Martins would choose just about anything before an aluminum house, since the aluminum does not retain much warmth (which seems extra important during the often cold springs).
It makes sense that many of the northern landlords (Canada and U.S.) have the most success with large compartment, wooden houses, like North Star or T-14 model houses.
I'd be willing to bet (since Rhode Island is definitely a more northern location) that if large compartment, wooden housing was offered, as well as gourds, the wood housing would be their first preference.

M.Stephens · Wed May 14, 2014 7:56 pm

Berndog wrote:Bio,
I could'nt have said it better ! I built a new t-14 this past winter(spent a small fortune,,as you know)It looks good but that's about it.I'm not about to replace it !! Time will tell ...Berndog

After six years it's time for some new furniture that my martins prefer!!!! LOL