Out with the rat birds ,in with the martins! New beginnings

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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Ok .....moving forward,made the teeter totter and the elevator car and attached it. Test fitted it and just have to balance it today. Went and reclaimed the hardware cloth and test fitted it,perfect size! Today..........possible final assembly. If not today I will go work in the carpenter shop and have it finished tomorrow for sure. Then...👹👹👹👹the killing begins!!!!!!
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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Ready for action! Finished up the deluxe repeater today . The teeter totter is set to fall with three quarters, a grown male sparrow supposedly weighs five quarters. Jilt this rig totally free from being resourceful in finding materials to re purpose. Total time in the job .......about two hours at most. FREE deluxe repeating sparrow trap !
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deancamp
Posts: 873
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:17 pm
Location: Raymore, MO

Great work David. Love your passion!
Jeff
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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Now that I did all that all I gotta do is talk those folks at the feed store into allowing me to place it there. I have zero sparrow issues at my house.
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kim w.
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:43 pm
Location: IN/Goshen

Where did you put the access hole to remove birds?
Kim W.
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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Well Kim ......good eye! I actually called myself “done” when I took those pics,then stupid me said the same thing upon final examination. I then cut an “arm size” hole in the far end put a flat small board across it and screwed it back on with two screws. Check back sometime today and I’ll post a pic of that. Didn’t have a small hinge so I just did it that way,it’ll work just fine. Had I actually bought anything it would have messed up my total free thing I had going on so I ad libbed it 😊
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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Here is the “ad libbed” access hole
Attachments
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PMDavid
Posts: 534
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 8:50 pm
Location: Boyce,Louisiana
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors
2019 6 pair -21fledged
2020 18 pair -60 fledged
2021......to be seen.
24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around
2-12 compartment trio houses
Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long!
Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.

Well it works like a charm!! Went Saturday afternoon at closing and” stealthfully” put out the trap around all the cattle panels by the Martin house . I see the rat birds landing in the panels and playing around right there. Put a nice pile of bird seed in the tray and a little on top for langinappe. Went today at 11:30 cause curiosity kills the cat ,and had 9 yes that’s right 9 rats birds inside !! Laughed my ... off and left it there . Now instead of the dozen I usually see on the Martin house there were only 3. Will go back at dark and retrieve the trap and......we’ll let’s just say they will be RELOCATED !
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