Hi Steve; There is a lot to learn from one Photo.
1. The aluminum porches i have attached to the entrance holes are NOT needed.
2. I need to add more Perching rods. It only makes sense.
I presently have one T-14 (Built myself) which i modified and attached 8 Super Gourds. My neighbor calls it Skylab.
I used 3/8 solid aluminum rods i bought at home depot to attach the Super Gourds.
I used 1/2 inch hollow aluminum rods for perches.
You can buy them in 3 and 6 foot lengths.
I live on a salt water Lagoon so i felt it would be prudent to over build.
The PMs have no problem holding on to either of the metal rods. I have never observed one fall off. HeHe.
Have a Great Day- Jim
Photo Of Modified PMCA Deluxe Gourd Rack
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John Atteberry
Hello Steve,
Hey, I got to tell you something that got me excited today! I went to Home Depot and bought some wood dowels and some 0-ring clamps, and I went to the garden section to find the plastic garden stakes to mix and match the perches on the deluxe gourd rack, Then I found 6 in a pack of 60 inches long and about the size of the perches on the rack, Guess what it was? Bamboo poles!!!!!!! That is what I'm putting on all the perches and you can't beat the price- $1.69 a pack!!!!!! YaHoo! HA! HA! I can't believe these martins have got me this crazy! Anyway I also painted the gourds that tan color inside but I painted the access caps inside of them a hunter green color to make them darker because the light seems to come more thru there! Tomorrow I will finish painting all gourds the tan color and all access caps hunter green! I will be putting the poles together and up, but all holes closed till they come home! Do you think this is too early? Oh well, better safe than sorry! Thanks John! P.S. Those bamboo poles are explained wrong, They are solid inside like sticks or the wood dowels. They say these bamboo stakes are very strong and durable! We will see!
Hey, I got to tell you something that got me excited today! I went to Home Depot and bought some wood dowels and some 0-ring clamps, and I went to the garden section to find the plastic garden stakes to mix and match the perches on the deluxe gourd rack, Then I found 6 in a pack of 60 inches long and about the size of the perches on the rack, Guess what it was? Bamboo poles!!!!!!! That is what I'm putting on all the perches and you can't beat the price- $1.69 a pack!!!!!! YaHoo! HA! HA! I can't believe these martins have got me this crazy! Anyway I also painted the gourds that tan color inside but I painted the access caps inside of them a hunter green color to make them darker because the light seems to come more thru there! Tomorrow I will finish painting all gourds the tan color and all access caps hunter green! I will be putting the poles together and up, but all holes closed till they come home! Do you think this is too early? Oh well, better safe than sorry! Thanks John! P.S. Those bamboo poles are explained wrong, They are solid inside like sticks or the wood dowels. They say these bamboo stakes are very strong and durable! We will see!
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Hey Jim,
The solid and hollow aluminum rods work very well as perching rods. I have used them on both gourd racks and for houses. My neighbor?s T-14s have the plastic garden stakes attached and the martins love them. The perching rods are still a valuable asset to any gourd rack or house. Sounds like you have a good location for martins.
Steve
Hey John,
Thanks for the tip about the bamboo poles! I will be checking them out. In your area of north Florida, probably the earliest ASY martins arrive around mid to late January and these are usually from old colonies. I believe I read about an early record of martin arriving in the Panama City area around January 3 or 4 one year. It wouldn?t hurt to open up some of your housing around mid-January just in case one of your martins decide to come home early. When I lived in north Florida, I just couldn?t stand it and had to open up my housing around the first of January. The earliest martin I had was on January 5 in 1973. I have painted the undersides of all my access caps to ensure light intrusion is greatly minimized. Thanks again about the tip for the bamboo poles.
Steve
The solid and hollow aluminum rods work very well as perching rods. I have used them on both gourd racks and for houses. My neighbor?s T-14s have the plastic garden stakes attached and the martins love them. The perching rods are still a valuable asset to any gourd rack or house. Sounds like you have a good location for martins.
Steve
Hey John,
Thanks for the tip about the bamboo poles! I will be checking them out. In your area of north Florida, probably the earliest ASY martins arrive around mid to late January and these are usually from old colonies. I believe I read about an early record of martin arriving in the Panama City area around January 3 or 4 one year. It wouldn?t hurt to open up some of your housing around mid-January just in case one of your martins decide to come home early. When I lived in north Florida, I just couldn?t stand it and had to open up my housing around the first of January. The earliest martin I had was on January 5 in 1973. I have painted the undersides of all my access caps to ensure light intrusion is greatly minimized. Thanks again about the tip for the bamboo poles.
Steve
I have had Dowels break, Probably was too long. I also tried metal rods with Rubber Vacuum hose over it. PM's seamed to like cleaning their beaks on it. I got some Cane out back along the fence line, think I'll try that this year. Steve, I'm going to try one of them gourd rakes one of these days.