I read pm's are in some parts of TX, when will they arrive in Central TX? I cleaned my pm house out and want to move it closer to my house and need to know when I should put it up. Also if I place it approx 30 ft from my house, is this too close?
thanks
pm's in central TX
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apundt-TX
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:34 pm
- Location: Pflugerville, Texas
- Martin Colony History: :
2022-1 pair
1 pair 2021
2020- Didn't get setup fast enough in Pflugerville
2019- Apartment
2018 Divorce lost Colony in Dripping Springs
19 pair 2017
17 pair 2015
12 pair 2014
8 pair 2013
5 pair 2012
2 pair 2011
Feb. 15th seems to be the average date. I did not see any in my neighborhood last year until March 1st.
The ones coming into Texas now are from huge colonies 100+ pairs that have been established for many years.
A.P.
The ones coming into Texas now are from huge colonies 100+ pairs that have been established for many years.
A.P.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Birdlady
Some folks in the deep south put their martin houses 25 feet out and still attract birds, if the space is otherwise open. It's a way to enjoy the birds more, maybe shoot out your window at sparrows, but otherwise a bad idea.
Look for the most open space you've got, yet in a site where you can still enjoy and monitor the house. Martins are beautiful swallows of the open sky. Thurman Seber here said recently they are not helicopters. The need long open flyways -- like big jet fighters.
Being close to your own house or trees also puts martins at greater risk from hawks, which use the house as well as nearby trees as a shield and at times a flight barrier at which point to ambush fleeing martins; to owls, which may sit nearby and listen for martins rustling in the house at night and then attack it, and from starlings and sparrows, which like the extra perches and cover.
John Miller
Some folks in the deep south put their martin houses 25 feet out and still attract birds, if the space is otherwise open. It's a way to enjoy the birds more, maybe shoot out your window at sparrows, but otherwise a bad idea.
Look for the most open space you've got, yet in a site where you can still enjoy and monitor the house. Martins are beautiful swallows of the open sky. Thurman Seber here said recently they are not helicopters. The need long open flyways -- like big jet fighters.
Being close to your own house or trees also puts martins at greater risk from hawks, which use the house as well as nearby trees as a shield and at times a flight barrier at which point to ambush fleeing martins; to owls, which may sit nearby and listen for martins rustling in the house at night and then attack it, and from starlings and sparrows, which like the extra perches and cover.
John Miller
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Guest
Hello,
My martin house & gourd rack are aprox. 30 feet from my back sliding glass door. I love it being that close, as I can really see them and what is going on. It does make it easy to shoot any S&S that happen by also.
John is right @ the hawks coming over the roof top of your house quickly to ambush the colony, but my house & gourd rack are up high enough, and the corner of my house is at the edge of my colony that this has never been an issue.
I would imagine that as long as you have your housing up by the end of February you will be fine. If your martins show up, and your housing isn't up, they will hang around awhile before leaving. I wouldn't worry about that.
I LOVE my housing & gourd rack so close to my house!!!!!!! I'd say "go for it"
My martin house & gourd rack are aprox. 30 feet from my back sliding glass door. I love it being that close, as I can really see them and what is going on. It does make it easy to shoot any S&S that happen by also.
John is right @ the hawks coming over the roof top of your house quickly to ambush the colony, but my house & gourd rack are up high enough, and the corner of my house is at the edge of my colony that this has never been an issue.
I would imagine that as long as you have your housing up by the end of February you will be fine. If your martins show up, and your housing isn't up, they will hang around awhile before leaving. I wouldn't worry about that.
I LOVE my housing & gourd rack so close to my house!!!!!!! I'd say "go for it"
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Guest
Like John and Angela said, putting housing close to your house should not be a problem. We live in a subdivision and have a small, but very open, front yard. Our gourd racks are maybe 12 feet from our front porch- one of them is 3 feet from our driveway.
Good luck this year- it won't be long now!
Good luck this year- it won't be long now!
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Guest
I'm in Bulverde and mine come around mid Feburary. Right now I've got two houses and four Gords and a good track record for my 5th year. Iv'e got a front porch that runs along the front of the house and the martins houses are as close as 18' to 23', no problem.
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Guest
Our space is very limited due to our location near a saltwater canal. Our housing ranges from 12-25' from our deck. We are very close to our housing and putter and boat tend in our back yard and they seem to accomodate our activity just fine. We also have a great shot at vermon birds from our second level windows. I truly believe that close quarters to human activity are simply not a problem.
The photo is one of our gourd racks about 12' from our deck.
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
The photo is one of our gourd racks about 12' from our deck.
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
- Attachments
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- Martins in Paradise.JPG (39.96 KiB) Viewed 3498 times
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John Atteberry
Hello Sue,
Great picture of your martins! Did you put those porches on? And if so, Where did you get them and how did you put them on? I have six of those Natureline Gourds too and was liking the porches! Thanks John!
Great picture of your martins! Did you put those porches on? And if so, Where did you get them and how did you put them on? I have six of those Natureline Gourds too and was liking the porches! Thanks John!
My colony is about 30 feet from the back door but I mow directly under the houses all summer long and they only fly off while I'm directly under the houses. Once I move a few feet away, even with the mower still running, they come right back. They really seem to thrive on fairly close proximity to human activity.
Patrick
Patrick
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Guest
John...The porches are found in the PMCA shop under "Gourd Accessaries". They are the porches for crescent and obround gourds. I don't believe they were intended for Natureline round entry gourds but they seem to work great. You simply place the porch between the pop-out door and the gourd on the bottom. It takes some coaxing but once in place is solid and provides both an interior and exterior porch. The porches are 8.95 for a 4-pack with PMCA member discount. 
Sue
City by the Sea, TX
Sue
City by the Sea, TX