House vs. Gourds

[ILPadrino]

Hi,
Looking for some opinions. First year trying to attract PM's and don't have much faith in the S K house I put up...
What is everyone opinion about putting up a house (and what specific type,brand etc) or a Gourd rack. I live in SE Pa and I was told that certain houses(T-14's) are preferred over other's and once you establish a colony then add the gourds. What do you all think?
Thanks,
Joe

[Chuck4]

He he. Believe me, Martins are not that "high classed". If a T-14 is in a good location, it will be used, as will most anything else. Martins mainly want to feel safe. My colony has only been in gourds since day 1. I use Bo-9 and Bo-11 plastic gourds with tunnels and porches and some minor personal touches. I am up to eight pairs so far, and it's my third year as a landlord. You can see my gourd rack in the link in my signature. I have seen martins nesting in cheap, plastic, poorly managed housing that was leaning severely to one side down here in N. MS. So they will nest in plastic housing. Wood does have excellent insulating properties though, and many landlords prefer to use it to make housing with.

The general advice is to offer a house plus some gourds, usually hung under the house, to give them a choice. It should be placed out away from tall trees. They are more picky it seems when first trying to attract them, and they don't like encroaching trees and stuff. Being in PA, something that is well insulated is advisable since there are some late season cold spells up there. S&K houses are very plentiful around my area and do get used. But, some houses have very small compartments (6x6"). Try to use something with larger compartments or consider modifying the smaller compartments to be larger. I have four Bo11, and all of them are being used. Space appeals to martins, especially in a way that they feel they can bee a good distance away from the entrance out of the potential reach of owls, and hawks.

[Chuck4]

[William A]

I will always have an S and K house with 6 gourds under it. My colony started off with that combination over 16 years ago and I still have the same house that started it all. I now have a super system 24, gemini 24 and trendsetter 12. The S and K with the 6 gourds underneath are always occupied first every year. I did expand the rooms in the s&k and put porch dividers on. Good Luck

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Your main concern should be the location, the amount of surrounding trees, the number of good flyways.

If you have a good location, the martins are not picky, they will use whatever you put up initially. I suggest you stick with what you have, and you can upgrade after you have martins. No point to spend extra money on housing if you cannot attract them, most likely its not the house's fault that you did not attract any.

Best of luck to you

[Ed Svetich-WI]

There are opinions for both sides. I started out with an old Trio house, added another Trio Grandpa, added four gourds, expanded the Trio cavities and eventually attracted my first pair. It was a long process.

I think variety may help initially to attract martins but I found both Super Gourds and Excluder Gourds to be easier to manage and sold the houses and converted to all gourds. Additionally, I felt that the separate cavities would prevent an assertive martin from dominating more than one cavity and prevent mites or other vermin from infesting adjacent nests as in a house.

I like the appearance of the gourds and also that it duplicates the original gourds that the native Americans used initially to provide cavities for martins. These are all my preferences and has worked well for me.

Good luck.

Ed

[Greg Borke MO]

Your main concern should be the location, the amount of surrounding trees, the number of good flyways.

If you have a good location, the martins are not picky, they will use whatever you put up initially. I suggest you stick with what you have, and you can upgrade after you have martins. No point to spend extra money on housing if you cannot attract them, most likely its not the house's fault that you did not attract any.

Best of luck to you

There you go !!!
Good luck

[rickchilli]

that's right. location is the best starting point. it's also nice if there are other martin landlords in the area to learn how to care for them. you also might be able to pick up some of their fledglings when they leave mom & dad. martins are very social birds an like to visit other martins in the area.

I started out with a trio 12 house 6x6 compartments. then added another 12 but now adays I would opt for the larger compartments or double compartments. I always figured that mom & dad had to have a place to stay when the chicks got big. also cuts down on the territorial fighting for compartments. I've always stuck with Trio houses because of the accessories such as sparrow trap doors, hole plugs for off season, porch deviders etc.

The double compartment houses allow you to use the starling resistant entry holes to eliminate the big bird problem (starlings, crows etc). you have to have the larger compartments or double compartment to use the SREH half moon entry way hole. the bigger compartments are safer for the birds.

once you know they'll come you can always expand. I had to give my smaller houses away because at my location the trees got to big. when we moved to another house i had room for martins again and purchased the trio castle 24 then gave it away for the Trio 24 castle double compartment for 12 pair of birds. two years ago started another location with another castle and just this year added some gourds.

if you are able to attract martins you will want to make sure you have a predator guard to protect the martins from snakes and coons.

good luck

[ILPadrino]

Thanks to all for the advice. Just ordered some Troyer Gourds with Conley 2 entrances. I'll get them up as soon as i get them. Next year maybe I'll purchase a T14...Do any of you know about a T10? are they available or even exist?
Thanks,
Joe

[tim414]

Thanks to all for the advice. Just ordered some Troyer Gourds with Conley 2 entrances. I'll get them up as soon as i get them. Next year maybe I'll purchase a T14...Do any of you know about a T10? are they available or even exist?
Thanks,
Joe

If you got the gourds from the name above they'll send you a catalog. I want to say no, but loaned my catalog so I can't look for ya.

If you want a smaller rack, look in the PMCA store. They have complete set-ups.

[rickchilli]

hope you enjoy your martins. be patient, because usually only 1 or 2 pairs will lay eggs to test your ability to take care of them. The colony should continue to grow each year.

I added 3 gourds this year and the martins took right off with 3 new nests and one has 4 eggs.

good luck

[Hanover Bill]

Joe;

In my opinion you can't beat the T-14 as an initial attractant house, or as a great nesting site for Purple Martins. The only problem I have with mine is that it is a magnet for HOSP which I have plenty of in my area.

On the other hand the HOSP do not seem nearly as attracted to my gourd rack. That is not to say they wouldn't be if the T-14 wasn't close by, but it may be something to consider. Most of the HOSP I am dealing with fly right by the gourd rack and zero in on the T-14.

All of that being said, as far as Purple Martin houses go the T-14 is tough to beat.

Hanover Bill.

[ILPadrino]

MY gourds arrived today! Rubbed the entrances and porches with mud added some pine straw,Put them under the house, added a decoy, raised em up.....come on PM's!!!! Am I totally nutz??

[GaryU]

Hey Joe,

I did the same thing as you about a week ago. This is my first year, had lookers on 5/28, 5/29, 5/30 then gone. Put up 8 Troyer verticals on my T-14 and have not seen a thing since 5/30. I'm still holding out hope. I do not think I have any other colonies in my area. Hope we both get lucky. Best wishes, Gary

[Matt F.]

Am I totally nutz??

Not at all!
You sound like a true Martin fan on a mission!