First a quick update: At the local nature center I've put up a new T14 with 4 gourds (all Conley II entrances) in an area a bit farther from human structures than "guideline". However, the area is ideal for feeding and there are occasional walkers past the new box (in addition to my long visits). They have had an old martin house up for a few years and thought that they were seeing birds nesting. The good news is that they were correct. Martins are in the area. Unfortunately, as of today, the darn birds are choosing to nest in the old Heath PH-12 house which has round holes and small compartments. When I got to the site this morning, I immediately noticed that a martin was inside one compartment of the T14. Then I was shocked to see that the bird was struggling and apparently couldn't leave. Instead of racing to drop the box, I watched for a couple of minutes and filmed the occasional struggle to document it. After a number of attempts, the bird did get out. Surprisingly, another bird struggled out after it! They flew away and I didn't see them back. I did see one male spending a lot of time casing the joint. However, in almost 2 hrs, he only entered one cavity. I really wonder if the SREH are too much of a change for birds who might be used to round holes. There don't seem to be any starlings in this particular area, but that could easily change.
I observed a pair of birds landing on a low berm in the marsh where at least the female picked up some stuff. They were returning to the Heath box. Maybe making a mud dam?
I did lower the T-14 briefly to make an upgrade. I've installed an old cell phone with a big external battery in one compartment. I've copied the dawnsong and chatter CDs onto that device and I'm using them as the tune played for daily alarms. I've had to set the alarms to "auto-cancel" after the max of 25 min. So I set oodles of alarms throughout the early hours and the day (using dawnsong or chatter as appropriate). This cellphone is just loud enough to keep the birds looking at the box. It wouldn't pull them down from the skies I figure, but that's what the existing birds in the area are for!
Any thoughts on getting the birds to take to the new box even though it's harder to get in? I can't touch the Heath box this year. I'd be a little afraid to remove it next year. Maybe those birds would move on instead of taking to the new house? I think I need to eliminate that house because it's bound to have a lower success rate. Anyone have suggestions?
As always, your expertise and experience is appreciated.
Andy
