How close can you place a gourd rack to a building?

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randy741985
Posts: 176
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:08 pm
Location: NE Alabama
Martin Colony History: 2018-First Year 0 Martins
2019- Lots Lookers
2020- TBD
2021 - some visitor’s
2022-first pair fledged 5

How close can you place a gourd rack to a building?

Thanks in advance.
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
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jhcox
Posts: 804
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

I have one as close as 20 to 25 feet from my house and it fine they have no problem leaving or entering the gourds. And the birds love to be close to humans anyway. Good luck this season.

JHCox
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C.C.Martins
Posts: 3368
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member

Randy, suppose you have little choice otherwise? is space too tight? Guess it depends on the height of the building vs your rack; you had some martin visitors last year, but they didn't stay...not a bad sign actually...do you believe it was the position/trees? ours are close to the house (15 feet) but are well over the roof. Look at it from an arial perspective.
Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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randy741985
Posts: 176
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:08 pm
Location: NE Alabama
Martin Colony History: 2018-First Year 0 Martins
2019- Lots Lookers
2020- TBD
2021 - some visitor’s
2022-first pair fledged 5

I put up a small rack 15 feet from my building with four natural gourds, the gourds are lower than the roof, I may need to move it further away. I did it for a alternative to my other rack because I had to close it due to tree swallows, I’m waiting for them to nest in my gourd on a shepherd hook.

I may wait a few weeks and see what happens.

Thanks
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
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deancamp
Posts: 873
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:17 pm
Location: Raymore, MO

Randy, I have no experience with having my housing close to my house but the pmca recommends 30'- 120'. I'm sure your roof height in comparison to the rack height plays into the equation. Open flyways and the ability for them to watch for predators approaching is critical.
Jeff
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randy741985
Posts: 176
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:08 pm
Location: NE Alabama
Martin Colony History: 2018-First Year 0 Martins
2019- Lots Lookers
2020- TBD
2021 - some visitor’s
2022-first pair fledged 5

I got room to Move it, I just put it up in Hurry, Hopefully I can reopen my Original in few Days. I guess this could be a Experiment. If no Action in week or so I may move it another 15 Ft out.
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
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Duke
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:43 am
Location: Corpus Christi

randy my set up is about 8’ from the side of my house. 20 room condo with 12 gourds hanging under. It sits on a 20’ pole and the peak of my house is about 17’. I’m in a tight neighborhood but glad to report I’m full to capacity with Martins !
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randy741985
Posts: 176
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:08 pm
Location: NE Alabama
Martin Colony History: 2018-First Year 0 Martins
2019- Lots Lookers
2020- TBD
2021 - some visitor’s
2022-first pair fledged 5

Duke wrote: ↑
Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:00 pm
 randy my set up is about 8’ from the side of my house. 20 room condo with 12 gourds hanging under. It sits on a 20’ pole and the peak of my house is about 17’. I’m in a tight neighborhood but glad to report I’m full to capacity with Martins !
That's cool would like to see a picture of that.
2018-14 Gourds First Year 0 Martins
2019- 14 Gourds Lots Lookers
2020- 6 Gourds had one male stay 3 weeks.
2021- TBD
2022 First Pair 5 Fledged
Top
Unk Bond

jhcox wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:10 pm
 I have one as close as 20 to 25 feet from my house and it fine they have no problem leaving or entering the gourds. And the birds love to be close to humans anyway. Good luck this season.

JHCox
================================

Hello
Your distance is what I have and my 2 Amish friends.
What I find intereing. There T 14 houses are lower than mine [ Later
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