Hello everyone,
I was wondering if this was asked, What gourds do your martins pick first or are more popular, The gourds on the bottom or top? And if you have more arms than the top and bottom, Which ones do they chose over the other ones? I was going to add an extra set of arms on the Deluxe Gourd Rack to hold 18 gourds altogether! Was wondering about this question! Thanks everyone for your help on this! John!
Questions To All Landlords That Have Gourd Racks!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Guest
Center, that is where the modified Troyers are located. The others are tunneled naturals. My scouts moved from the Trio Castle a couple of years ago and now take the Troyers which have The Washburn modification (cut off the orignal entrance and replace with porched entrances). I bought additional Troyers this year and plan to relocate the modified ones elsewhere on the rack. It will be interesting to see how they react.
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roblrich
My PM's like the top, but more importantly to them it seems is they select gourds facing the east, then the north.
In central Kentucky, most of our storms come from the west. The gourds facing the east have their entrance's facing away from the storms. Also, they get the morning sun, and are shaded during the hotter afternoon sun. My PM's seem to be very intelligent or instinctual about this, and select gourds accordingly, taking the gourds facing the east first, then grabbing the gourds facing the north.
Thus my gourds which are facing due west are the last ones taken.
In central Kentucky, most of our storms come from the west. The gourds facing the east have their entrance's facing away from the storms. Also, they get the morning sun, and are shaded during the hotter afternoon sun. My PM's seem to be very intelligent or instinctual about this, and select gourds accordingly, taking the gourds facing the east first, then grabbing the gourds facing the north.
Thus my gourds which are facing due west are the last ones taken.
Hi John, my martin's so far all picked the top, I have 3 gourd's hanging
from my Trio house they are always the first taken, then they move on to
my gourd rack. Last year I had a bachelor that nested in my trio house,
I have now modified the house from a 12 room to a 6 room, I hope he
like's it! I had 3 pair nest in the gourd's hanging from my trio house and
I had 2 pair nest in my gourd's on the gourd rack both on top 1 pointing
S. and the other pointing N.W. Watching And Waiting
from my Trio house they are always the first taken, then they move on to
my gourd rack. Last year I had a bachelor that nested in my trio house,
I have now modified the house from a 12 room to a 6 room, I hope he
like's it! I had 3 pair nest in the gourd's hanging from my trio house and
I had 2 pair nest in my gourd's on the gourd rack both on top 1 pointing
S. and the other pointing N.W. Watching And Waiting
April McClelland
PMCA Member
PMCA Member
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi, John.
When I had a two tier rack, the PMs chose the upper rack first. Oldest returning birds have always chosen the gourd that faces South to South East at my location. That's the direction of the prevailing wind down here - straight off the Gulf of Mexico. Most bad storms move from West to East or straight out of the north. Except, of course, a hurricane...
When I had a two tier rack, the PMs chose the upper rack first. Oldest returning birds have always chosen the gourd that faces South to South East at my location. That's the direction of the prevailing wind down here - straight off the Gulf of Mexico. Most bad storms move from West to East or straight out of the north. Except, of course, a hurricane...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
The martins at my site have almost always picked the top gourds first, except for one ASY pair that chose a gourd on the lower tier although there were available unclaimed gourds left on the top tier.
This year I added a 24 gourd rack (all troyer gourds) and they are going in and out of and sleeping in gourds at all levels. Go figure. It might all change when they start seriously choosing nest sites then we will see what the choices are.
James
This year I added a 24 gourd rack (all troyer gourds) and they are going in and out of and sleeping in gourds at all levels. Go figure. It might all change when they start seriously choosing nest sites then we will see what the choices are.
James
James Mejeur
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
John,
at my location the pm's seem to choose the top Troyer's first then the SG's. at my location i have all sreh entrances and my gourd's are half SG's & Half Troyer's.
at my location the pm's seem to choose the top Troyer's first then the SG's. at my location i have all sreh entrances and my gourd's are half SG's & Half Troyer's.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Hey John,
In my gourd racks, the martins usually select the top tiers first. There is a possible reason for this. The lower gourds would be most likely be the first predated by rat snakes/raccoons and martins may instinctively realize this. Plus higher gourds allow martins to observe the surrounding area more easily for the possible danger like approaching Accipiter hawks. A martin can dive down and accelerate more quickly from the higher gourds than the lower ones. In my PMCA Deluxe racks, the upper tiers are always selected first and the more perching space could partially explain this. The lower tiers lack a sufficient perching area in my opinion.
Steve
In my gourd racks, the martins usually select the top tiers first. There is a possible reason for this. The lower gourds would be most likely be the first predated by rat snakes/raccoons and martins may instinctively realize this. Plus higher gourds allow martins to observe the surrounding area more easily for the possible danger like approaching Accipiter hawks. A martin can dive down and accelerate more quickly from the higher gourds than the lower ones. In my PMCA Deluxe racks, the upper tiers are always selected first and the more perching space could partially explain this. The lower tiers lack a sufficient perching area in my opinion.
Steve
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John Atteberry
Hello to all,
That is really neat on martin's preference on the gourd racks! I decided to put the 6 Troyer Horizontal Gourds on top and then the rest two tiers are 10 Supergourds and 2 Naturelines Gourds! Thanks for your help! John!
That is really neat on martin's preference on the gourd racks! I decided to put the 6 Troyer Horizontal Gourds on top and then the rest two tiers are 10 Supergourds and 2 Naturelines Gourds! Thanks for your help! John!