This is my 3rd season trying to attract PM, I started with a SK barn then replaced it with 4 Troyer vertical gourds with conley 2 entrances. I added a decoy and play daytime chatter when I can. My question is are 4 gourds enough to attract the birds? Site location is good but not perfect, and few close trees that aren't mine to cut. I have been told that all I need to do is put up a T14 and I will get birds to come,but it hasn't been in the budget for a while. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Padrino
Gourd rack question
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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
Padrino; Obviously the more available housing you have up the better chance to draw the attention of any passing Martins, but if the four gourds is all you can manage right now you still have a chance. Keep doing all that you can to attract the Martins, such as playing the Dawnsong and Daytime Chatter recordings. Add to your housing as you are able.
I also started with an S&K plastic house, slowly adding gourds, and finally a T-14. Be patient, it is not an easy task to attract your first nesting pair. It took me 5 years, and it has taken others much longer.
Best of Luck;
Hanover Bill.
I also started with an S&K plastic house, slowly adding gourds, and finally a T-14. Be patient, it is not an easy task to attract your first nesting pair. It took me 5 years, and it has taken others much longer.
Best of Luck;
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
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
I attracted my first colony with only three gourds. Hang in they're; they will find you!
Granted, I live in an area rich with Purple Martins and very poor in housing and people interested in putting up any.
Do you have a starling problem? If not, could you try hanging some gourds with round entries? I know this is not a popular choice in many areas, but in 14 years I've never had a starling bother my Martins. The couple that came around, before the PMs were nesting, were trapped and killed. In this area the starlings have nested before the Martins get here.
Also, it's easy to put trap doors in the round entry gourds.
I now have 16 gourds hung on a fountain rack; if I could offer 50 gourds I know they would be filled in a week.
The T-14s are beautiful, but as for me and my Martins, we personally prefer big ole gourds!
Try adding couple round entry gourds. Keep doing what you're doing. You'll get Martins if there are any in your area.
Granted, I live in an area rich with Purple Martins and very poor in housing and people interested in putting up any.
Do you have a starling problem? If not, could you try hanging some gourds with round entries? I know this is not a popular choice in many areas, but in 14 years I've never had a starling bother my Martins. The couple that came around, before the PMs were nesting, were trapped and killed. In this area the starlings have nested before the Martins get here.
Also, it's easy to put trap doors in the round entry gourds.
I now have 16 gourds hung on a fountain rack; if I could offer 50 gourds I know they would be filled in a week.
The T-14s are beautiful, but as for me and my Martins, we personally prefer big ole gourds!
Try adding couple round entry gourds. Keep doing what you're doing. You'll get Martins if there are any in your area.
~ Not all those who wander are lost.
I bought my house 20 years ago and it had a single trio on site that "attracted" martins. I now have a total of 72 gourds and a "colony"
I think attracting and forming a colony may be different things. I have a lot of hawks and I think the more birds you have the better they can defend themselves. My guess is that to get a pair or two started you might have a chance but there are other problems for maintaining a healthy colony. I used to see a couple pairs in a house down the street that was 8 feet off the ground and right above a 6 foot stockade with tress less than 20 feet away. so you have a chance! be aggressive about keeping out sparrows and starlings.
I think attracting and forming a colony may be different things. I have a lot of hawks and I think the more birds you have the better they can defend themselves. My guess is that to get a pair or two started you might have a chance but there are other problems for maintaining a healthy colony. I used to see a couple pairs in a house down the street that was 8 feet off the ground and right above a 6 foot stockade with tress less than 20 feet away. so you have a chance! be aggressive about keeping out sparrows and starlings.
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Martinfarmer
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 6:33 pm
- Location: Guthrie KY 42234
- Martin Colony History: 2015 put up a S-k house, visitors but no takers
2016 homemade Martin condo (40 nesting boxes) several visitors no takers
2017 changed crescent openings to Troyer Conley 2 openings and installed 4 super gourds with Conley2 adapters and 12 vertical Troyers.
Several nests and eggs. Hopefully will exceed one hundred eggs this year.
6-21-17 nest inspection 68 chicks and 26 eggs
6-30-17 inspection 90 chicks and a new nest with 4 eggs.
8-30-17 successfully fledged over 85 martins.
I'm a newby, I put up 16 of the vertical troyers with coloney 2 entrance. The martins love them . The most I have had spend the night is twenty. I have four pairs that have started nesting.
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MRV
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:10 pm
- Location: Illinois
- Martin Colony History: previous landlord at former location ,recently purchased new property ,housing is up !
Caroline94535-ND wrote:I attracted my first colony with only three gourds. Hang in they're; they will find you!
Granted, I live in an area rich with Purple Martins and very poor in housing and people interested in putting up any.
Do you have a starling problem? If not, could you try hanging some gourds with round entries? I know this is not a popular choice in many areas, but in 14 years I've never had a starling bother my Martins. The couple that came around, before the PMs were nesting, were trapped and killed. In this area the starlings have nested before the Martins get here.
Also, it's easy to put trap doors in the round entry gourds.
I now have 16 gourds hung on a fountain rack; if I could offer 50 gourds I know they would be filled in a week.
The T-14s are beautiful, but as for me and my Martins, we personally prefer big ole gourds!
Try adding couple round entry gourds. Keep doing what you're doing. You'll get Martins if there are any in your area.
You are very fortunate , starlings awful , there is a video of a starling killing the female martin in a gourd and building a nasty nest on top of her..please dont ask for the video...
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
If you can get it built and up this summer it won't "hurt" to put it up late season. Me personally since you already have some type of housing up, and visiting martins this fall would recognize that. The T14 is some work putting it up and down. I take mine inside and store it every winter. If that is what you are planning to do I would not take the effort to put it up this fall and then take it right back down. If you plan on leaving it out year around then put it up whenever you get finished.
T14's are a sparrow magnet. It is worth your time to buy a couple of insert traps. I used to shoot more sparrows then I trapped. Since getting a trap for my T14 I get more with it.
What type of wood do you plan using? Are you buying a pole or fabricating something yourself?
T14's are a sparrow magnet. It is worth your time to buy a couple of insert traps. I used to shoot more sparrows then I trapped. Since getting a trap for my T14 I get more with it.
What type of wood do you plan using? Are you buying a pole or fabricating something yourself?
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.