High Wind Warnings?

Bill Pec · Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:21 pm

If you are in an area where a high wind warning has been issued, or might be issued, it is a good management practice to partially lower your PM rack. Doing so will lesson the likelihood of the pole snapping, reduce the chance of killing or injuring the martins, and potentially avoid replacement costs. As long as the compass orientation of the nest entrances are not changed the bird will not be confused. They don't seem to be bothered by the vertical height change. In high winds I have often lowered the heavy racks to about six feet above the ground. For the lighter weight racks I usually lower them about halfway down the pole. I recommend the lowering of racks be performed only during the daylight hours ---so plan ahead.

Jim 1990 · Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:30 pm

yes good idea to lower martin housing as there is lots of states with high winds. When i lower my housing it has never bothered them. .

Jones4381 · Sat Apr 01, 2023 5:15 am

great advice neighbor. Lowered mine last night and thank you for being the granddaddy landlord in these parts. I'm sure I've gotten some of your fledglings to help start and grow my colony some 15-20 miles SW of ya. I hope to have a colony like yours in the next few years and continue the sharing and helping around here. Peace!

Bill Pec · Sat Apr 01, 2023 10:21 am

A disadvantage of round PM polls is the round polls permit lowered gourd racks to spin in high winds. This will causes gourds to change location on the racks and nest entrances compass orientations to change. If this occurs during the breeding season and lasts for an extended time, when temperatures are cool, it can lead to the deaths of embryos and young chicks because the parent birds become disoriented. Consider this when deciding between purchasing a round pole or a square pole. The first pole I ever purchased was round. When lowered in high winds it spins. I have stopped the spinning of the rack, on occasion, by tying a rope to the rack and then staking it to the ground for a short period of time. I don't like doing this because the colony is then vulnerable to a snake attack. Better to purchase a square pole.