New Largest Colony With 1,067 Pairs Identified in Alabama

[scottfreidhof]

Hey Brad - thanks for sharing that additional information. I am amazed by what is possible; potentially 2,000 nesting pairs in a square mile! I have read research about the number of insects in the air. The cubed kilometer above our individual heads sees billions of insects and spiders passing through during the course of the summer. I was looking into the setting sun just the other evening across my yard and the neighbor's field. The air space was "polluted" with back-lit insects. Makes me wonder if birds have any impact on insects. They certainly didn't control the Japanese beetles in my yard this summer!

[lynnh]

Wow, all of a sudden I feel like I only have a few pair!!

[avesrun]

Sounds excessive to me but that's because I'm a birdless wannabe

[taxidermy lady]

Yeah we can't get one pair to nest! Imagine that!

[Anthony Neira]

BRAVO ! ..Hey, in that first horizontal pic..that lower gourd to the left of the pole...is that..is that a Sparrow ?

[Evan337]

I was able to locate the colony using Google maps and it is pretty impressive. Using the street view feature you can actually see martins flying around the colony. I can't imagine the amount of time and work that goes into the maintenance of that colony.

[suem]

How are those double decker's made? What glue would hold the bottom level securely? Is it somehow bolted on?? Any suggestions?? Thanks!

[Brad-AL]

suem, the best that I can remember they used 3 or 4 pieces of aluminum flashing to put the two together. He cut tabs about 1" wide and 2" long, bent them at the correct angle and used short sheet metal screws on each end of the tab, one in each gourd, to hold them together. Then applied a large bead of ALEX plus caulk around the outside of the joint in the two gourds.

[suem]

Thank you Brad- Being crazy, I think I might try one to see how they like it. A concern would be drainage for upper level. I'll figure it out and post pics when I get it! Thanks again.

























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