Starlings breaching Troyer tunnels with Conley II's

[Jones4381]

Went and lowered my 24 AAA gourd rack and had 2 starlings scrambling to get out of 2 gourds that has some tunnels w Conley II's installed on them purchased from Troyers. I've read in here that occasionally this can occur...wish I had of purchased a different SREH as I don't have much confidence in these or the Crescent openings I've seen penetrated twice too on my SK barn and SK house. How more effective are the Excluder entrances or are there better solutions out there? I'm still pretty new at this but didn't have this much problems with round holes last year

Is anyone else seeing this breaches with the Conley II"s and Crescents?

[C.C.Martins]

I have crescents, and troyer entrances, but have followed the included guidance on all my crescents and troyer entrances. Starlings come to look but no chance. Had one breech a few years ago because I screwed up the entrance.

You can find the wing entrapment protectors or WEPs on PMCA. Mr Lewis featured in the article, developed the technique and shared; 4th Gen martin fan is a big advocate. Emil has some very effective starling preventors he developed.
The WEP is very quick and easy to install. You won't have to buy a new set up.
P.S. link didn't work found some info from Mr Lewis:
Peruse this post by Lewis.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... =lewis+mod


Tom

[Jones4381]

So the ConleyII's aren't effective without the Lewis Modification? I'm telling you that a troyer porch with Conley II's and SK crescent entrance are not effective in stopping 3 starlings this spring. I've shot 2 (eliminated) but saw about 8-10 in the front yard today and as we know they are plentiful.

I'll reread your post maybe adding something additonal to the ConleyII's is needed as they do not work (on 3 birds and 3 separate occasions I can attest to). Thanks in advance as I may not be understanding your reply fully. The instructions are very basic so I'm not for sure how it could get messed up but if it can I could probably do it. I feel like I'm missing something here and am very surprised at how they breached my newly added addtions this year.
Also does anyone actually modify the SK barns with crescents? Figured there was nothing to do with those SREH's. I understand the thinking on wing entrapment but does that also aid in preventing breaches too?

Thanks in advance to any and all.

Haven't seen 1 HOSP this year is the only good thing I can say so far this year.

[C.C.Martins]

Try the link, lots of discussion in there. Or go to advanced search and type WEP.

Mine simply exceeded the 1 3/16" requirement. Slipped right in.
I do not add the raised porch to the entrances but maintain the measurements exactly.

[Jones4381]

Thanks Tom...I've read this again and now see your intent on the post...guess I'll have to purchase some lewis modifications and add to the gourd ConleyII's and the crescent barns...Dang...Thought we grew those Starlings bigger down here on the farm...LOL. Damn ratbirds drive you crazy...but thankful I haven't seen any HSOP's...at least there is an option to prevent this breach...Thanks again.

[C.C.Martins]

Very welcome, I thought they were fat down here too. Shoot, they are fat down here but....

PMCA sells the WEPs. Now that the starlings have figured them out, have to shoot them all until they arrive. Your martins will adjust to them very quickly. Can be placed while they are away, then when they return surprise! They learn to go straight in and line up with the dip in the entrance.

[Jones4381]

Very welcome, I thought they were fat down here too. Shoot, they are fat down here but....

PMCA sells the WEPs. Now that the starlings have figured them out, have to shoot them all until they arrive. Your martins will adjust to them very quickly. Can be placed while they are away, then when they return surprise! They learn to go straight in and line up with the dip in the entrance.

Perfect..thank you again...saw the WEP's on the website and looks like a relatively simple install. Damn...more money on this hobby...its about as expensive as golf and fishing and maybe more stressful

[C.C.Martins]

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Your right, true story: wife wanted to pay 300 for a new couch, I was saying there's nothing wrong with this one dear, I think we can live with this one. Yet id drop $ 555.00 on a new system in a minute.

Yes, it is stressful. But rewarding. However once you've worked through these and go with quality you can rest easy and relax. Sometimes. Until the heat, cold, mites, snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, cats, pre mature jumpers, terrorizing subbies, sparrows, (starlings you'll have taken care of), chicks that just don't make it rears its ugly head and the stress goes up.

[Thomabear]

Good stuff, Haha!
There’s an old saying: A man will spend any amount for what he needs while a woman will buy what she doesn’t need if it’s a good sale. But my wife of 38 years and I have an agreement that keeps us close and strong. She doesn’t mention my overkill on shop tools and I don’t mention the forever shrinking real estate in our closet to hold her 100 pair of shoes.

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

Thomabear,
S&K crescent entrances can be modified to Lewis Modification. I will have to find my post on that and give you the link.
C.C. Martin is correct I am completely sold on the Lewis Mod. I never even see European Starlings around the houses that I have modified.
Some naysayers are out there but none of them have problems with Starling breaches or have the option of shooting Starlings at their colonies. Not all of us have that option, but I have to agree that elimination of the Starlings that can breach is a good idea.

[Martintown33]

Where do you purchase the Lewis modification entrance.
Thanks,
Rob

[jhcox]

I have the 60 gourds with crescent entrances some are Bo 9s ,some super gourds, some troyer horizontal gourds, and 6 on an S&K barn the only time I've had a breach by starlings was a couple very tiny young birds. I haven't seen any of the fully grown adults breach the crescent entrances. Shoot those few little ones problems solved. Good luck with any modifications that you make I hope that they work for you. God bless and have a great PM season.

[John Barrow]

This off season I added WEPs (Wing Entrapment Protectors) to all of my Conley2 entrances (76) and starlings hanging around as the martins began arriving examined the gourds and lost interest in the site. I have used them as needed to repel starling breaches and as a means of repairing damage to entrances caused by starlings (they peck around the base of an entrance reducing the definition of the dip leading to the floor plate); and more often, to repair damage caused by woodpeckers--both at the base and also at the top of the entrance, typically at an outside corner--that can render the tunnel useless.

After woodpeckers damaged multiple gourds over a couple of seasons (around 2 dozen) and paying to replace the tunnels, I ordered some WEPs and discovered that they covered the damage caused to the tunnels and prevented further damage. WEPs are easy to install, even on hanging gourds. I have read of folks using gorilla glue to install them. I have used #8-32 stainless machine screws (1.25 in.) and hex nylon insert lock nuts to install the WEPs, for easy removal if a need to use the Troyer trap. I have bought bags of 100 of each for about $25 from Bolt Depot.com. I do not use nor have I needed to add the flush floor plate on the porch of the tunnel to repel starlings as called for by the Lewis modification. The WEP, itself, will reduce the width of the Conley2 entrance making it more secure, and I keep a few 1mm thick sintra plates on hand if needed. I also use one of those plates to lift the WEP a short distance during installation when drilling out mounting holes, then remove the panel while tightening the locknut.

WEPs sold by PMCA have been of two types. The earlier version was a much harder/smoother material and thinner (use 1 in screws). The newer version, available now, is thicker softer material, but equally effective to defeat wing entrapment and incidental damage and enlargement. The leading edge (to face out from the tunnel) of the new WEP is not rounded off and presents a slight risk of feather damage. It can, and should, be filed down before use to soften the sharp edge. A good hand file and about 15 seconds will do that.

[C.C.Martins]

Thanks sir, and there you have it folks.

I have the WEPs on all my crescent entrances, and crescent tunneled entrances on gourds and in the house. Have had them for years. My troyer tunnels are configured like Mr Barrows.
Martins quickly adapt to them. Starlings are not a big worry. Have gourds with the sandy bunn entrances (WDC), no need to cover those with the wing entrapment protectors.

[Martintown33]

Tom, what is a sandy bunn entrance?
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Sandy Bunn and I believe Terry Washburn developed porched tunnels with entrances, the entrance or "face" looks like the Duke Snyder entrance, has two bumps on the bottom. Mr Bunn used to sell them back before my time although I have natural gourds with them and some entrances waiting to go on gourds.
They work great, martins have no problem getting in at all.

They are tough to find now and replicating them is difficult, I read that his patent is written tight.

My go-to is the crescent entrance with wing entrapment crescent over the top of them. I really believe in them. Last year I didn't shoot a starling on purpose to see how long it would try to enter. 5 minutes maybe a bit longer it gave up. Ended up shooting it eventually to save a native bird somewhere.

[Martintown33]

Thanks Tom. I got some troyer tunnels for my troyer supergourds my friend gave me. They had the Conley ll entrances that y’all are talking about being breached. I had some extra s and k crescent entrance doors. I cut them down to an entrance plate and adhered them on the tunnel faces, over the conleys. I cut out the access Conley entrances that protruded pass the crescent corners and top. So now there’s crescent entrances on the troyer tunnels. Less than 1/8 inch above porch. Looks like they’ll work great. These troyer supergourds and tunnels are nice. Very roomy and tunnels are Well designed not to leak, when installed correctly. I’m using your sleeve modification for the rack stem holes to prevent that possible leak from occurring.
Good luck,
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Sounds solid, have you tried the gourd with your tunnels on the gourd arm for balance? Even with the sandy tunnels on a supergourd they sagged a bit, drove me nuts. The pinning of the gourd to the arm really holds them in place nicely. They move just a tad which is ok, there's no violent rocking.

[Martintown33]

Yes sir, I’m finishing it tomorrow by drilling a hole in the sleeve and pin it as you suggested. Sounds like that will work great.
Thanks Tom,
Rob

[Martintown33]

Tom, also if the sag is bad , I will heat up the rack arm with a bbq torch lighter, in a work bench vise, then slightly bend the arm up or down as needed to correct sag. Works great. You just have to number the arm and the gourd so they match up, for the following season.
Rob