Natureline Entrances

[randy741985]

Has anyone used these entrances? I have 5 without the porches and these are the only ones I have seen. Are they for Purple Martins?

Thanks

[C.C.Martins]

off season, not many folks are on to reply; Ill give you my 2 cents. do a search in the forum for natureline; looks like they are good gourds but they require porches inside the gourd as well. I dont know about that oval entrance, can starlings get through that?

https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... =2&t=25462
https://www.purplemartin.org/forum/view ... =2&t=29142

Hope this helps!
Tom

[randy741985]

OK thanks,
I have 3 that have the 2" Round Hole, Maybe I can get them started with those and then switch to the Oval.

[C.C.Martins]

you sure could, when starting and you decide to put the round entrances maybe consider offering a mix of crescent, and round? if going with round, id orient the round entrance towards your house or more trafficked area, may help keep the starlings at bay. its tough to watch the martins that are tentatively looking over your site to balk at a crescent entrance, you "will them in" when they are doing their look and back away, very hard to watch especially after a long wait. Give them a choice; Id be willing to bet you will get birds in each type you offer.
I wish you all the best my friend,
Tom

[Anthony Neira]

Randy, Wow ! I'm going to start a post where I obtained 8, 13 year old, N.I.B (New In Box ) Natureline 1s ( without the viewing ports), never assembled, so, First of all I'm NOT going to use the hanging hole, but, I'm going to drill a hole just under the inside top of each gourd half, big enough to fit a hanging arm, I will use the the top vent with a zip tie to keep the cap from flying off, Next, I got 8 S&K tunnel adaption Plates, the Flat one with the collar, 8 Troyer Tunnels WITH THE COLLARS, UNASSEMBLED !! & 8 Viewing Ports & PVC elbows. First , sand/cut down the 2 "Bumps" on each side of the S&K Plates, Then The Biggest step is to cut out the size of the round S&K plate collar ON the Door of the Natureline, so that the plate will fit snugly in. Then tape the collar of the Troyer Tunnel to the S&K Plate & drill a 1/4" hole in each corner, but leave space from the edges for the head of a slightly cut down Nylon Push Pin. Then, center the S&K Plate in the Natureline door, install both on the Natureline gourd half ( use sealer between door & Gourd ) , & Drill a 1/4" throu the 2 inside sides of all 3 ( the plate, Nl Door, & Gourd side walls ) & install 2 Push pins. Now, ( or after every thing else is finished ) you can install with the slightly shortened push pins, the Troyer Tunnel's collar plate to the S&K plate. Last, put the gourd halves together ( try to put glue, besides the 3 screws), let set & later install the viewing ports, elbows, & Tunnels. I know this sounds like alot, but , the NLs are no longer made. I got the Idea from when I installed Troyer Tunnels to my S&K Bo 11s, the PMs really went for them & their big space ! Good Luck, Anthony

[randy741985]

Randy, Wow ! I'm going to start a post where I obtained 8, 13 year old, N.I.B (New In Box ) Natureline 1s ( without the viewing ports), never assembled, so, First of all I'm NOT going to use the hanging hole, but, I'm going to drill a hole just under the inside top of each gourd half, big enough to fit a hanging arm, I will use the the top vent with a zip tie to keep the cap from flying off, Next, I got 8 S&K tunnel adaption Plates, the Flat one with the collar, 8 Troyer Tunnels WITH THE COLLARS, UNASSEMBLED !! & 8 Viewing Ports & PVC elbows. First , sand/cut down the 2 "Bumps" on each side of the S&K Plates, Then The Biggest step is to cut out the size of the round S&K plate collar ON the Door of the Natureline, so that the plate will fit snugly in. Then tape the collar of the Troyer Tunnel to the S&K Plate & drill a 1/4" hole in each corner, but leave space from the edges for the head of a slightly cut down Nylon Push Pin. Then, center the S&K Plate in the Natureline door, install both on the Natureline gourd half ( use sealer between door & Gourd ) , & Drill a 1/4" throu the 2 inside sides of all 3 ( the plate, Nl Door, & Gourd side walls ) & install 2 Push pins. Now, ( or after every thing else is finished ) you can install with the slightly shortened push pins, the Troyer Tunnel's collar plate to the S&K plate. Last, put the gourd halves together ( try to put glue, besides the 3 screws), let set & later install the viewing ports, elbows, & Tunnels. I know this sounds like alot, but , the NLs are no longer made. I got the Idea from when I installed Troyer Tunnels to my S&K Bo 11s, the PMs really went for them & their big space ! Good Luck, Anthony

That is a lot do you have pictures?

Thanks

[Anthony Neira]

Randy, if you want to PM me an email address, I can send you Pic.s later, & if you want, you can feel free to post them here, it may take a little time, Thanks, Anthony,
P.S just place/see a Tunnel ( Troyer or S&K) in front of the Natureline, & you'll see what it will look like.

[Anthony Neira]

Randy, (and any one else who wants them ! ) I Finally have the pics I wanted ( Sorry it took so long, & there seems to be a repeat of the same angle ) Please just e- mail me at: [email protected] & I'll be able to forward them to you Wed. afternoon - on . Please feel free to post them ANYWHERE ! , I used a Black marker to show where I am going to drill the holes I have not done yet, except I forgot to do one on the Troyer collar, top right ! Thanks again, Anthony

[Rick B]

I added access collars and Troyer tunnels with collars, tight fit but got them in.

I hope the attachments work? Rick

[gussiemike]

Hi, I have had natureline gourds for several years. Mine are with the cresent entrance without any porches. My martins love them. No problem coming and going with them. My natureline gourds are some of the first to fill up with birds, and they are very productive as well. Meaning eggs are a plenty. I don't like the porches for the young falling off. Squirrels like them to. They have chewed up the entrances on several of them to the point of having to pitch them in the trash. The only feature I don't like is having to pull off the front to access the nest for checks on the ones I have. Mine must be an old model compared to yours.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Any entrance that is 1-3/16 in tall, will keep out starlings if you modify it as follows:

1)put some 3/4in thick sides on the entrance about 1-7/8 inches or 2in apart. I use Lexel to fasten the sides. I use wood sides or pvc sides. I put the sides on the outside. They are harder to attach on the inside, but either way should work.

This works for the people that have tried it. I also use rectangular entrances, 2in wide, and 3/4in thick sides (the entrance is 1-3/16in tall), and they keep out the starlings. Sure is a lot cheaper than purchasing new entrances.

[gussiemike]

Any entrance that is 1-3/16 in tall, will keep out starlings if you modify it as follows:

1)put some 3/4in thick sides on the entrance about 1-7/8 inches or 2in apart. I use Lexel to fasten the sides. I use wood sides or pvc sides. I put the sides on the outside. They are harder to attach on the inside, but either way should work.

This works for the people that have tried it. I also use rectangular entrances, 2in wide, and 3/4in thick sides (1-3/16in tall), and they keep out the starlings. Sure is a lot cheaper than purchasing new entrances.

How about sending some pictures of your modified entrances. Sounds like something I would like to try on my gourds. Thanks.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Unable to send photos with my old camera. Its so simple, place against the present entrance and glue into place.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Gussiemike, I put a picture of this (above) on this forum on Jan 5

[gussiemike]

Gussiemike, I put a picture of this (above) on this forum on Jan 5

Emil, i saw the pic of your side boards on the entrance. I will try this on my gourds. I have some Troyer Horizontal gourds with oblong entrances and have had some starlings breach them in past years. Last year did not have a problem with starlings. Which measurement do you prefer. The 1and 7/8 inch or the 2 inch?
Thanks,
gussiemike

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

That need not be an exact distance, the starlings are longer than either distance. I am happy that you could see it. Please let me know if you are successful with it and the starlings cannot enter.

[randy741985]

Hi, I have had natureline gourds for several years. Mine are with the cresent entrance without any porches. My martins love them. No problem coming and going with them. My natureline gourds are some of the first to fill up with birds, and they are very productive as well. Meaning eggs are a plenty. I don't like the porches for the young falling off. Squirrels like them to. They have chewed up the entrances on several of them to the point of having to pitch them in the trash. The only feature I don't like is having to pull off the front to access the nest for checks on the ones I have. Mine must be an old model compared to yours.

I have read these gourds sometimes are hard for the birds to get out and to use tread tape around the entrance inside the gourd.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Randy, its true that the gourd floors are slick. Martins will make such gourds their last choice. I have some side entrances, and I make sure that there is a ramp there so that they can get out at the steep sides real easily.

[randy741985]

Randy, its true that the gourd floors are slick. Martins will make such gourds their last choice. I have some side entrances, and I make sure that there is a ramp there so that they can get out at the steep sides real easily.

I will get some traction tape and install around the inside entrance before I put them up.

Thanks

[randy741985]

Randy, its true that the gourd floors are slick. Martins will make such gourds their last choice. I have some side entrances, and I make sure that there is a ramp there so that they can get out at the steep sides real easily.

I have some paint which the grit in it, going to paint inside floors up to the entrance I Will take some pics.


Thanks