tunnels- confusion over

[peghow]

i have several questions for the more experienced- have had martins for over 10 years and last year or year before we added tunnels to bo gourds. last year for the first time we had several wing entrapements- we apparently put tunnels on wrong and just now finding this out- when attaching tunnel to a bo gourd- it made it sound like the actual plate that attached directly first to gourd that you should remove the "hole" you would not be using? so we left the round hole open. It did not state to take a saw or whatever and remove a big circle area- which now we think we were supposed to....so the birds would all be in the tunnel waiting for food and got trapped due to the small hole being only opening into gourd. so now we have ordered all new plates and will cut out the large circle. Another question- how much sevin dust can i put below leaves in gourds? and i guess another question would be the easiest way to cut out that large hole on the plate?? thank you so much for your time and patience ..
peggy in molino fl

[litefever1]

Hi Peggy,

I recently installed tunnels on Bo9s and found a "Stanley" style knife cut out the premarked section of the gourd with ease. Suspect any craft knife would work equally well. Only thing to watch out for is the knife (or gourd) slipping and as a result the knife cutting outside the groove. Slow, careful, steady pressure is the order of the day for this job. But the way they provided the groove for it is a tremendous help. Have fun.

Grant

[Tim m.]

Dear Peggy, i have a few bo 9 gourds also cut the inner wall out with good pair of tin snipes works great. Do your tunnels have crescent i had problem with adults getting wings trapped so i cut the out fitted them with conley 2 plates.I want to advise you to get copy of Andrew M. Troyer's new book that just came out it is GREAT!!! would be a great help , personally know him. Have had colony for going on 14 years had 142 pair last season which fledged 548 . hope this helps, I like troyer gourds personally with conely2.

[Kyler]

Peggy,
One probelm with not making that hole bigger is that the martins have to bring nest material in two different entrances which could be a probelm for some martins. Also another thing is the babies in the back of the gourd which get old enough to come to the entrance to get food a couple babies could probably fit in the tunnel and block the round hole so the babies left in the back wont get fed! For cutting the holes I used a saw that is for a door latch i will post a picture later! Im switching to all Bo9's I recently had about 10 Bo9's and between 30 - 50 Bo gourds. I just like them better! Goodluck and hope you can figured somthing out.

Kyler,

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

wing entrapment is a very common problem. I think that the PMCA sells wing entrapment guards that work good. Wing entrapment is caused because the entrance plate is too thin and the wings can get stuck in the entrance. Another method that is to use is to "put sideboards that are about an inch wide on each side of the entrance", and then the wings cannot slide over the thin entrance and thus, these sideboards stop wing entrapment (a cheap way is to cut them and use lexel to fasten.). I use the sideboards and have never had wing entrapment

[Jose Rodriguez]

Sorry to hear that Peggy.

A lot of good tips on how to cut the plate out of the Bo 9 gourds. Our Martins love the Bo 9s and especially now with the tunnels. I did not have on hand a proper tool so I just improvised and made my own. This method worked for me. I used the smallest/width and finest (teeth) blade I use for my jigsaw tool. I clamped it as tight as I could on my vice grip pliers and used that. Sorry for the picture of my rusty vice grips. I started from one of the little holes on the gourd along the plate groove and sawed away slowly following the groove. Mainly a pull action. Then at an angle I sawed from the clinger door opening to the corners of the plate to finish the cuts. After the plate was removed I lightly sanded the edges of the opening for a smooth finish. I hope this explains a way to remove the plate on the BO 9s for you. Good luck this season to everyone!

[Rodger Drye]

Peggy,
I use both Bo9 and Bo11 gourds. I tend to agree with litefever1 about using the Stanley Carpet Knife with a sharp blade. I've found it to be the easiest and most effective way to cut out this hole in the ultimate tunnel. Afterwords if I do have a snag or a burr I just use my Dremel with 80 Grit sanding wheel to smooth it out and dress it up.!
On my tunnels before I install them onto the Gourd I insert the traction plates and place White Lexel glue on the bottom and clamp especially the inside bottom plate so as to keep it neatly closed. This will prevent dirt and debris from entering and keep little baby Bird's feet and legs from getting caught and or trapped.
I suppose you could use a jig saw if you were not strong enough to use the Knife.
Good Luck.!!!
Rodger

[peghow]

husband got it done with a jigsaw- so we are now just waiting on shipment of new plates to cut- wish they would sell them already with the hole in them..ugh... but to my other question- how much sevin dust in the bottom of a gourd- and is it really safe?

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Peggy,
You'll find people differ greatly over the Sevin Dust issue. My Dad had thousands of Martin's for many years and always put a level tea spoon full of sevin and about a1/4 spoonful of Sulphur in each gourd. Some folks swear by Diatomaceous Earth that acts as an abrasion.
I watch (inspect my Gourds and Birds) every nest check to see if I have Mites in any of the Gourds. If so I immediately spread Sevin Dust in that Gourd.
Some folks do not use chemicals of any kind. I will not stand by and let my Bird's get eat up by Mites without doing something. If I get an infestation I spread the Sevin Dust inside and spray Liquid Sevin all over the outside of that Gourd.
If it does not clear up I use the Diatomaceous Earth next, and then the Sulphur as a last resort.
Usually the Sevin does the job and have not found it to be harmful to the Bird's, ( adults or the babies ).
Good Luck,
Rodger