Replacing old martin house

[Guest]

Well not only have I managed to convince my neighbour not to take down her old martin house but she has agreed to replace it with a new one.

The house in question is 20+ years old, has 12 6x6 compartments with round enterance holes. In the last 2 years (since I started eliminating S&S)it has had 100% occupancy.

I am wondering if I should replace it with something that will resemble the old house - will it make a difference? I have a t14 ready and would like to use it. In whatever type of house I decide on I intend to use WDC entrances.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

At an old established colony, it doesn't matter what you hang there, the martins will probably use it. They may look confused with a new house and SREH, but they certainly will use it in my opinion. They are so loyal to a site that they will try their best to use what is there.

I think they would appreciate a T-14 very much. The 6x6 is so small, the birds are so crowded, the owls can reach in, etc.

Please put the pole for the T-14 in the exact same place. Or do not move it more than 3 or 4 ft from the original location.

[Laverne]

Hello Stan.

That is a beautiful old martin house - isn't it? Always sad to see them go - but, there are so many options that would be much better for the martins.

I believe, replacing that old house with a T-14 would be readily accepted by the Purple Martins. I have changed from round to SREH, changed housing styles and then switched to gourds and the Purple Martins have accepted every change.

The Purple Martins in your area may balk at SREH'd entrances at the beginning of the season. You might consider offering the new house with temporary round holes and then switch to WDCs after eggs have been laid or even after young have hatched. This slower transition could save you a lot of stress next season.

Best wishes to you for many successful seasons in the future.

[John Miller]

Stan

That's a beautiful -- aesthetically -- old house, but probably time for its retirement to one can be raised and lowered and deeper compartments.

If you've got a T-14 ready, and I assume wooden, I'd use it. Replacing a wooden house with another wooden one -- even a different shape -- is not a drastic change.
A more dramatic switch, such as replacing a house with a gourd rack, could risk abandonment.

As you may know, there's a Canadian landlord, Bob Buskas, who sells some houses -- with newer standards -- that are closer in style to this one. But as you have a good house ready to go, I'd be inclined to use it.

John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo

[Al Denton]

Nice old house. I like the idea of a replica of the old one but better. One that could be raised and lowered by a cable. Maybe a lighter version with bigger compartments with the WDC's. A good woodworker could fix you right up, and it'd be worth the money. I hate to see the older styles dissapear. That's just me. Al

[John & Linda - KY]

The ideal way to replace this house, if your neighbor would go along with it, would be to add a second pole with the new house right next to the existing one. Leave them both for one season, then remove the original one. -- John

[Bernie Nikolai]

Stan, I did a very similar thing this year at one of my colonies. Specifically I replaced a Trio Mini Castle with double sized compartments and round entrances, with one of my experimental styrofoam houses and some insulated plastic gourds, all "cold turkey" with SREH/porches. This one pole went from one pair in the expanded Trio last year with round entrances to six pairs in the new housing with SREH/porches.

You also might consider adding the new T14 to the site within a few feet of the old house, and modifying the old house to 6x12 compartments and adding SREH. I know you won't be able to do nest checks on the old house without a tall ladder, but probably nest checks aren't being done now, and for a year or two of experimentation, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Guest]

Thanks to all for the great advice. Unfortunately I don't have too much time to spent on this house(I am hoping to put up 10 new houses by next spring). The t14 will be going up on the same post (after I reset it in cement) .
I am not overly worried about the SREH entrances - there are 2 colonies within 200 yards that employ crescent/wdc. I hope to get the 're-discovered' landlords active in maintaining their colony.

Al , I love old houses myself . Did you see the plans (not a replica but the real thing)for the Traverner house that John Balaga has made available ? It is beautiful - building one it is on my long range list of things to-do.

[Al Denton]

Stan, Yes, I have seen John Balaga's house and it's a darn nice looking house. I have all intentions of building something like that for the front yard if I can somehow find the time. Al