Has anyone had any difficulty keeping the SK fountain gourd rack oriented in the same direction on the EZ lift 2-3/8 round pole ? And, is it an issue if it swivels around on its axis? We have it ready to install, and it seems those eight "sails" up there could catch enough breeze to swivel the setup by one gourd position on any breezy day.
We have painted the inside of four of our gourds a light and irregular, mottled spray of the hunter green Krylon Fusion, and a tan Krylon Fusion on the exterior. We'll see, if anyone comes looking, which they prefer.
I am probably over anxious to do this right and worrying too much, but there is such a wealth of knowledge on this forum it seems foolish to keep worrying when I can ask.
We have new everything, including new hopeful landlord status, and are hurrying to get our setup in the air by today or tomorrow. I wish our builder was as anxious to have our own house ready at this site.
Thank you all
Sarah
Gourd Rack Orientation on round pole
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CUL Lou~Mich
Mavou. I believe when you raise the rack, the rack should line up with the pulley inside, because of the rope. I could be wrong, but that's what I'd think. CUL Lou
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Louise Chambers
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I'd like to mention that it is important to keep cavities facing the same direction - that's how the martins know which one is theirs. If a house or gourd rack is lowered and then raised again but not oriented correctly, it can cause confusion and fighting among the martins.
To make sure you have things set up right, it helps to mark cavities - you'll know that gourd 1 should be facing your house, etc - and with telescoping poles, making vertical alignment marks where pole sections overlap is another safeguard to use, along with marking compartments.
Louise
To make sure you have things set up right, it helps to mark cavities - you'll know that gourd 1 should be facing your house, etc - and with telescoping poles, making vertical alignment marks where pole sections overlap is another safeguard to use, along with marking compartments.
Louise
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John Atteberry
Hello Sarah,
My only concern is the tan color that you painted on the outside, because of the heat in Florida! You did good painting the insides of those gourds but the outside should of stayed white for cooler temperatures! The heat will bake the babies inside! That's my only concern and hopefully someone else would see this to as a concern. If this concerns you, you can repaint them white. I painted all my plastic gourds tan inside too with the exception of the access caps on the undersides I painted hunter green. But hunter green on the inside is good too because we are just trying to make it darker and look like a natural gourd! I hope I didn't make you worry too much . Thanks John!
My only concern is the tan color that you painted on the outside, because of the heat in Florida! You did good painting the insides of those gourds but the outside should of stayed white for cooler temperatures! The heat will bake the babies inside! That's my only concern and hopefully someone else would see this to as a concern. If this concerns you, you can repaint them white. I painted all my plastic gourds tan inside too with the exception of the access caps on the undersides I painted hunter green. But hunter green on the inside is good too because we are just trying to make it darker and look like a natural gourd! I hope I didn't make you worry too much . Thanks John!
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Guest
Thanks for the input. I should have trusted the SK product and instructions, which were excellent in both cases. Installed just as the rain started yesterday evening, without a hitch. Up, down, up, down, up, down and the orientation stayed the same every time. Then, as the rain was coming in we had a stiff breeze for the raising of the installed arms and gourds. No problem, the gourds remained in their orientation.
I'll post a photo tomorrow to see if it looks right for location, etc. and take any suggestions I can.
The tan gourds (half the gourds) are painted a much lighter color than the natural gourds, kind of a cream color, but holler, John, if you think too dark when the photo is up.
Thank you everyone.
I'll post a photo tomorrow to see if it looks right for location, etc. and take any suggestions I can.
The tan gourds (half the gourds) are painted a much lighter color than the natural gourds, kind of a cream color, but holler, John, if you think too dark when the photo is up.
Thank you everyone.
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CUL Lou~Mich
Mavou. In general, a person needs to keep their housing in the most open spot in their yard. Hopefully, there will be a couple of wide open flight paths from the outside, in to the housing. Living down there in Fla, you can probably get away with some trees, but still try to get the housing in as open an area as possible. CUL Lou