The Background: We have a modest colony based on a Trio Grandpa house (unmodified), and have recently obtained another martin house with a design similar to a Trio Mini-Castle. We also have a plethora of gourds, all modified with SREHs.
The Question: If we mount both houses and four gourds onto a MPP, would the extra housing capacity attract more martins? Or is it best to wait until one housing system is at maximum capacity before putting up more housing?
Thanks
Will more housing attract more martins?
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Adam Romain
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2004 5:40 pm
- Location: Texas, Fulshear
Hello Aggie,
Most of the information that I've read is that if you have the extra housing and can put it up, it will be the best thing for attracting more martins. Martin "houses", with some exceptions, rarely see 100% occupancy, so putting up more housing is the way to increase your colony size. The more you put up the faster your colony will grow.
Most of the information that I've read is that if you have the extra housing and can put it up, it will be the best thing for attracting more martins. Martin "houses", with some exceptions, rarely see 100% occupancy, so putting up more housing is the way to increase your colony size. The more you put up the faster your colony will grow.
Adam
Hi Aggie,
I am in my third year of "landlording". My first year I had a Trio Wade (12 compartment) and had 1 breeding pair of martins. I did however notice several bachelors visiting towards the end of the season. The next year I modified the Wade (porch dividers, sreh's, and enlarged the compartments). I also put up a Castle and did the same modifications. And as an extra measure, I played the Dawn Song tape. I ended up with 12 nesting pairs and 51 fledglings. This year I am attaching Super Gourds and putting up baffles. I will probably also play the Dawn song tape. I am pretty convinced that adding more housing brings more martins. Hopefully this year my colony will increase again. By the way, the modified Wade had 100% occupancy. Good luck!
I am in my third year of "landlording". My first year I had a Trio Wade (12 compartment) and had 1 breeding pair of martins. I did however notice several bachelors visiting towards the end of the season. The next year I modified the Wade (porch dividers, sreh's, and enlarged the compartments). I also put up a Castle and did the same modifications. And as an extra measure, I played the Dawn Song tape. I ended up with 12 nesting pairs and 51 fledglings. This year I am attaching Super Gourds and putting up baffles. I will probably also play the Dawn song tape. I am pretty convinced that adding more housing brings more martins. Hopefully this year my colony will increase again. By the way, the modified Wade had 100% occupancy. Good luck!
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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Guest
Hi there! In our case, it has proven true (thank goodness) that the more good housing you can supply, the more martins you will attract. We started out years ago with an aluminum house (horrible ole thing, but we thought we knew what we were doing) and later we added a rack with 12 gourds, we discovered that we would need more, so now we have two racks with a total of 36 gourds, and have hung two additional housing units from S&K onto one of the racks. We had all but one gourd full last year, so in our case, the more you can add, the merrier. I would have had more this year, but alas, Don said all things have to come to an end and we have all we can handle safely. All the best to you!!!
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Guest
AgieMeen,
Many male martins are very dominant while nesting and will not other males near their selected nest. Sometimes they will not let another pair nest in any nest on their porch or on their side of the house. This means it is difficult to obtain 100% occupancy....meaning some pairs that would like to nest are driven away.
This makes me believe that you are much more likely to attract more breeding pairs by adding additional housing. Also realize that if you wait till you have 100% ocupancy, you might never add housing.
Many male martins are very dominant while nesting and will not other males near their selected nest. Sometimes they will not let another pair nest in any nest on their porch or on their side of the house. This means it is difficult to obtain 100% occupancy....meaning some pairs that would like to nest are driven away.
This makes me believe that you are much more likely to attract more breeding pairs by adding additional housing. Also realize that if you wait till you have 100% ocupancy, you might never add housing.
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floridasunshinegoddess
Aggie, when I hear a colony had 100% occupancy, I always think that they could have had more (if they wanted) if they had offered more housing.
Some people want to keep their colonies down to a certain number and that's fine.... But if you want to grow one, I would say your chances are much better if you offer more cavities. I think the aerial sight of many houses and gourds is a big draw to the Martins as they look down from the sky...... and of course if they hear other Martins churping, they'd just have to drop down to take a look around!
Good luck to you this year!
Some people want to keep their colonies down to a certain number and that's fine.... But if you want to grow one, I would say your chances are much better if you offer more cavities. I think the aerial sight of many houses and gourds is a big draw to the Martins as they look down from the sky...... and of course if they hear other Martins churping, they'd just have to drop down to take a look around!
Good luck to you this year!