Can everyone tell me again how high you are putting your houses?
Seems to vary around the neighborhood.
There are 3 cking out the house this am. LOVE that sound!! Too exciting.
Lisa
Pearland TX
height ? - THEY ARE BACK :)
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
It very much depends upon how many nearby trees you have. If you have an open site with no trees within about 200 ft, the 12ft high is plenty high, if you have nearby trees that are less than 50 ft, you need it as high as you can get it...I have some trees that are 100 ft away, and I have mine 16 ft hgih, but I wish I would have put them higher, now its too late to raise them higher...
the reasons for putting them higher are hawks and owls. If they attack the colony and the housing is low, they are more successful, but if the housing is high then they are less successful...its all about predators and keeping them away from the martins....the taller trees and low houses gives the hawk a chance to dive bomb the martin house.
the reasons for putting them higher are hawks and owls. If they attack the colony and the housing is low, they are more successful, but if the housing is high then they are less successful...its all about predators and keeping them away from the martins....the taller trees and low houses gives the hawk a chance to dive bomb the martin house.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Steve Kroenke
- Posts: 4342
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:49 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Logansport
Lisa,
I have my housing at various heights: from 12 to 16 feet. My site is open. My neighbor just lowered most of his housing from as much as 18 feet to around 14 feet. The higher the housing the greater the possible chances for wind problems for heavy houses or gourd racks. The key is the openness of your colony site. Martins like several open flight paths where they can fly back and forth at a near level angle. Accipiter hawks, in particular, will use trees to ambush the martins and force the martins into steep climbs or sharp banks which greatly reduces their flight speed and increases the chances of successful predation.
Steve
I have my housing at various heights: from 12 to 16 feet. My site is open. My neighbor just lowered most of his housing from as much as 18 feet to around 14 feet. The higher the housing the greater the possible chances for wind problems for heavy houses or gourd racks. The key is the openness of your colony site. Martins like several open flight paths where they can fly back and forth at a near level angle. Accipiter hawks, in particular, will use trees to ambush the martins and force the martins into steep climbs or sharp banks which greatly reduces their flight speed and increases the chances of successful predation.
Steve
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Guest
If I had it at 15' last year would it mess the returning martins up to lower it a bit?
Lisa
Lisa
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Guest
I raised all my housing due to nearby trees to between 20 and 22 feet. I can tell you this, the martins loved them that high and promptly occupied 15 cavities last year. I will present a delux gourd rack this year at 16 feet. It will be interesting to see what the occupancy will be.