How many of y'all use decoys?
I have 3 houses. Do I put a decoy on all 3? Do I move them around?
Martins are visiting regularly but not sleeping in my houses.
Decoys
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KaraInTexas
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:29 am
- Location: North Texas
- Martin Colony History: 2020 - 10 nest sites.
2019 - 8 nest sites and 28 fledged.
2018 - Three mating pair. 12 babies, all fledged. Found one adult female dead in house. Cause of death - unable to ascertain. Very sad day.
2017 - First mating pair in Heath house. May 3-5: 5 eggs laid. June 1-3: all hatched. July 3: all 5 fledged.
Approximately 20 adult martins here for the fledge party.
July 1: Installed 4 gourds as well as the 3 houses. The Martins love them!
2016 - Many martins, no nests or eggs. Too many HOSP.
I have a 12 compartment Heath house I converted to a 4 compartment house to allow the Martins more room and hopefully evade owls. I have put in a second house, the S&K 12 compartment one which I converted to 6 compartments. My neighbor also has the same S&K house I converted to a 6 compartment house.
I have eight or more Martins that visit daily.
May the Martins be with you. 
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WanderingPM
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:05 pm
- Location: Virginia, Clifton
I use two on my Trendsetter 12. Others have suggested and I agree that it is a good idea to leave them up even after the colony is established. This way if a hawk should attack, the hawk will distracted by the still decoys and the PMs will make a clean get away.KaraInTexas wrote:How many of y'all use decoys?
I have 3 houses. Do I put a decoy on all 3? Do I move them around?
Martins are visiting regularly but not sleeping in my houses.
Love all things flying - except sparrows and starlings!