Bean Bag Plug and String for Nest Checks w/pictures

[Jacquie100]

Hi,

Thanks to Louise and John describing their pole process for plugging gourds, we put our thinking caps on about how to handle nest checks for our "any day now" nests mixed with pinkies. As we thought about it we noticed that the older hatchlings would always move to the back of the gourds as we approached the racks. Especially those sticking their heads out. It dawned on us that it isn't so much about "plugging" the entrances as it is about blocking the entrance with something that would deter them from moving toward the entrance.

I had some corn hole bean bags around (small 4 inch bean bags) and tied some 10 foot long strings to them. We used a 16 foot extension swimming pool pole ($25 at Home Depot) and my husband used a key ring to act as the guide for the strings on the bean bags to be able to lower the bean bags onto the porches in front of the entrances while the racks were still up. It didn't seem to matter that the bag completely covered the entrance but we were able to land them near enough to "block" anyone thinking of fleeing. It has been a huge help and easy for even one person to handle. The weight of the small bean bags keeps them in place when bringing the racks down and moving them back up, but they are light enough that just a quick tug after raising the racks brings them right down without much disturbance to the gourd.

We've been using/testing for several weeks now and haven't had any mishaps. I even went out to amazon and got 24 purple 4 inch bean bags so we could put our corn hole bags back with the game. Sure wish the bean bags had the PMCA logo on them... maybe a new item for 2018 (smile)!

Anyway a few pictures to show you what we came up with. Hoping this will be helpful to some...

[C.C.Martins]

That is brilliant. so they try to escape to the back and you gently place the beanbag in the hole opening. done, just pull it off. I was always reluctant to try the string/plug trick, but this would work just about anywhere in any type of hole. I was afraid of jumpers, no more! you are going to get lots of responses, many thanks!
Oh, great view!!!

[Jacquie100]

So happy this is helpful for you Tom! Sure made a difference for us!

[Louise Chambers]

Very smart idea! Thanks for sharing :-) This can help a lot of landlords - it's good to continue nest checks on younger birds as older birds are reaching fledge age, and a plug or bean bag to block entrances makes it so much easier and safer. Any nest with young martins 22 days or older can use a plug/bean bag. Absolutely needed on young 24-28 days. The nice thing about your bean bag method is that you block the nests before you lower the system.

[marcus]

Great idea for anyone having nestlings jump before the house is lowered!

[taxidermy lady]

Thanks for this thread! I have babies 21 days old tomorrow! Also a young sy pair that's been here for 9 nights now! I checked last Friday and no eggs yet! Now I'm to scared to lower it but I have decided to wait for the babies to fledge!
This is a great idea for someone just starting out and scared to do it the plug way! Good luck

[Bcorbs1217]

This is super! It might also be a way to block HOSP in a nest after dark. I tried the pool noodle idea (Chuck Abare) but the gourds swung too much when I tried to block the entrance. Thankfully, I don't need the idea for that use but piling a few at the front is worth a try if the trap doesn't work. Haha, maybe you could present your idea on Shark Tank and get financial backing for production.

[taxidermy lady]

This is super! It might also be a way to block HOSP in a nest after dark. I tried the pool noodle idea (Chuck Abare) but the gourds swung too much when I tried to block the entrance. Thankfully, I don't need the idea for that use but piling a few at the front is worth a try if the trap doesn't work. Haha, maybe you could present your idea on Shark Tank and get financial backing for production.

I'm thinking if you buy a bag of beans and make a larger bean bag to completely block the entrance it may work for your sparrows! If a sparrow sees a crack it will escape slick as XXXX!

[Bcorbs1217]

Maybe I just need a whole bag of beans up there Sharon. They can eat while they wait for their unfortunate fate.

[taxidermy lady]

That's a good one!