Directions?

[zekeandbelle]

I've read the posts about owls and owl guards and think that is my only hope but really don't know where to even start today to build one. I'm not sure the pole will support it.. so I'm also thinking I would rather lose my colony to unknown places rather than have them be eaten. If I can't get the guard built --I am the least mechanical person in the world but I will try--are there ways to make the martins leave?

[John Miller]

Is your colony under attack? If so, and you can describe the housing type, we can help you.

But owls are everywhere and don't always bother martin housing. I would imagine a great horned owl lives in hooting distance of most martin colonies throughout their range.

John Miller

[zekeandbelle]

yes John, thanks.. found a wing under old trio house last week, thought it was raccoon, couple nights later found a decoy ripped off in the yard, it wasn't raccoon , cause I found more purple martin feathers under a tree in the yard last night just I was checking for wing entrapment at sunset, then suddenly heard the whooo whoo and it swept over the sky in front of me.... sooooooo upsetting.. and I am not a handyperson, i can barely operate a screwdriver and I'm trying so hard to make this cage and I just feel like crying!! any any help is so very much appreciated... had this small colony for over 30 years... can't lose it now!! but i so need help! there are 2 old trios a couple feet apart, one is an old wade.. then I just spent $$$ and bought a beautiful new troyer rack last month and see a bird in it today..so I've got to do 3 cages before sunset

[BillieJR]

I don't have advice cuz I've never made anything like that but I wanted to tell you to just put one foot forward and start.....keep going.....don't be frustrated. You obviously love your martins dearly and are doing whatever you can to protect and keep them. Surely someone here can walk you thru it and maybe you know of someone in your area that is a handyman that you could call upon to help? I wish I had more words of wisdom but I know you want to do this so badly so I know you can and will. Sending you prayers for help to get this job done.

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

Get some of the green fence 2"X4" and cut just a bit bigger than the face of the housing so it bows outward. Get some big binder clips. Cut the holes to 4"X4" and clip these to all 4 sides of housing. Works in a pinch. Owls do decimate Martin housing. They are more prevalent than most Martin people know as most are asleep when they attack. You have seen them. You have done crafts, so a pair of wire cutters, gloves and binder clips will get you started.

[zekeandbelle]

really need go know how faar should the fence extend past the bottom of the house...a very kind guy at h ome depot made a plan for me and i'm working on teh first one..but so not sure of what im doing...should i leaave the trio owl guard on inside the owl cage? you all dont know me...i was an academic researcher and I rarely ever cry.. I"m extremely strong minded..but i'm doing this.. can anone textme the answer to ??? i'm outside and can't get to cmoputer to ask 248 568 2888.. i have two more to make before sunset.. and nope... don't do crafts but I'm using tools today1

[BillieJR]

I was looking to see if I could find something else that might be doable for you and came across this - I have not done it but thought it might be helpful to anyone else here - I cut and pasted so this is exactly what was said: After many hears of owl attacks I absolutely fixed this problem for 3 years now very easily and inexpensively. I mounted this solar walk light on top of all my poles. Owls won't attack with this light close to the Martins and my birds don't mind them at all. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Westinghouse- ... l/21930836

However, I see this particular solar light is no longer available, at least at WalMart - but I would assume there are other similar lights available. I never have good luck with my solar lights lasting thru the entire night, tho. Maybe I just have cheap ones - you get what you pay for sometimes.

[zekeandbelle]

Thanks Billiejr ... can you tell me have you ever had an owl attack on your housing? My understanding is once the owl has gotten birds from your housing nothing will deter them… So not sure this is something I should do or not thank you

[BillieJR]

I do not know if I have or not, zekeandbelle. I do know that have had martins in the past and then, for some unknown reason, they don't return or they are just "gone". I don't know, either, if it's a good idea or not, to use the light. I just wanted to share what worked for the guy that posted that on another place on the internet. Did you get your owl guards done by lastnight? I've been hoping and praying for ya to have been able to get it done and be successful.

[Archer]

Kathy Freeze who is a frequent poster on the martin forums has a blog page you may be interested in. She has experience owl attacks and documented owl prevention cages and other strategies. http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.ca/