Round to Cresent Question
-
John A Green Jr
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:54 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Elizabeth City
- Martin Colony History: Currently have 4 gourd racks with 24 Bo-9/11 gourds on each. All have tunnels and porches. One Lowes martin house.
I have all S&K gourds and up to now have used the round holes and just went through the trouble of dispatching the S&S. This year I have decided to go all cresent. I have not seen a starling breach a cresent to date. I had my first 3 martins return yesterday and try to enter for hours with no success. My question is, will they adapt and if not, will they leave? I don't mind waiting them out, I just don't want them to leave over it, I would go back to shooting starlings if I had to. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
Proud Martineer
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
-
Hanover Bill
- Posts: 657
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
Hi John;
I would just wait them out. I think they will eventually enter the crescents. I started my colony using Excluder II's which is more restrictive than the crescent entrance, and my Martins adapted to them very quickly. The benefits of not having to worry about Starlings is worth the patience.
Hanover Bill.
I would just wait them out. I think they will eventually enter the crescents. I started my colony using Excluder II's which is more restrictive than the crescent entrance, and my Martins adapted to them very quickly. The benefits of not having to worry about Starlings is worth the patience.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
-
Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
I have all crescent entrances. Early every season the starlings swarm the housing and gourds. They test all the entrances. Within a few weeks they become discouraged and move on. I have witnessed only two or three starlings breach a crescent entrance over a span of ten years. In my experience it is a rarity.
Craig Dyer
-
Glynn B - LA
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
- Location: Louisiana West Monroe
Don't let anxiety fill your day. Purple martins can figure out how to enter the various SREH designs, the crescent being one of the easiest for them learn. I have all SREH at my site including the crescent. Just wait it out like Bill said.
Don't forget that sparrows can still enter the crescent while 99% of the starlings can't.
Glynn
Don't forget that sparrows can still enter the crescent while 99% of the starlings can't.
Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
-
Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
John,
I guess I didn't really address your question. When I changed from round to crescent entrances the martins had no issues navigating the new crescents. I have not had an issue with starlings since. As Glynn stated the house sparrows will still present a problem. I deal with them by shooting & trapping. They are a constant problem for me.
I guess I didn't really address your question. When I changed from round to crescent entrances the martins had no issues navigating the new crescents. I have not had an issue with starlings since. As Glynn stated the house sparrows will still present a problem. I deal with them by shooting & trapping. They are a constant problem for me.
Craig Dyer
-
John A Green Jr
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:54 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Elizabeth City
- Martin Colony History: Currently have 4 gourd racks with 24 Bo-9/11 gourds on each. All have tunnels and porches. One Lowes martin house.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. It helps a lot to know others have done the same with no real change. I will continue to wait it out and see how it goes. That doesn't mean it will be easy to watch, thanks again to all.
Proud Martineer
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
2011- 1 pair
2012- 10 pair
2013- 28 pair
2014- 33 pair
2015- 53 pair
2016- 73 pair
2017-
-
Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
Another aspect of SREH anxiety for the new landlord is martin behavior. When purple martins are investigating a site they often poke their heads into the cavity & then rapidly withdraw. They will often do this over and over again. It can appear as if they are having trouble entering. This is usually not the case. It is a behavioral issue. There have been some theories discussed here on the forum as to why they do this.
Craig Dyer
Martins adapt just fine to S&K crescents. Unfortunately they are only Starling RESISTANT because I have one female starling that has figured out how to breach the crescent openings and fill the gourd with their coarse material.
That one is also pretty sneaky and wise to me and my 20 ga shotgun.
That one is also pretty sneaky and wise to me and my 20 ga shotgun.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
-
4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
John,
I assume that you have read this topic, SREH Anxiety.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32808
The martin's behavior which others have described in your topic and commonly called "peek a boo" is what gives landlords the impression that martins may not be able to enter SREH. They can when they are ready.
Mark.
I assume that you have read this topic, SREH Anxiety.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32808
The martin's behavior which others have described in your topic and commonly called "peek a boo" is what gives landlords the impression that martins may not be able to enter SREH. They can when they are ready.
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.