I'm a novice PM landlord. We are pretty aggressive with sparrow and starling checks and we have just purchased 4 super gourds as a housing alternative to our grandfather model aluminum house.
I do have some extra questions that I would like to seek guidance on. I do admire the work that everyone does on their PM colonies and I hope that these questions don't seem extraordinarily elementary or boring.
1. We just opened our house last weekend - we live in North Texas. By Sunday, we had 3 martin couples flying above our box and checking out the pad. However, as of today, we don't see any of the martins and I noticed 2 sparrows inhabiting the box. I ripped out the nests I saw ... will this help? Is it possible that the martins we saw earlier were just passing through?
2. Last year, we were new to the PM world. We had inherited the house after we moved into the house. We had no idea of the devastation that the sparrows could cause. We were not aggressive with the nest checks and, therefore, our PM colony suffered. Could this be a reason why the PMs aren't back yet? Or, it is a matter of just waiting it out.
3. As stated before, we purchased 4 super gourds and a rack. Where should we place the gourds in relation to the house? Unfortunately, we cannot hang the gourds on the house because our house is attached to a fence and it would be difficult to access the housing. Is there a certain distance that should be between the house and gourds?
4. Finally, is there a humane way to get rid of the sparrows?
Thanks!
20 Questions
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eyeamtheman
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:21 pm
- Location: Quitman, La
- Martin Colony History: Super colony
No problem with you questions.....
Starling and sparrow control is essential for success, even though many landlords allow them to coexist. I'm convinced that both aggressive species damage a martin colony, sometimes more than less....
A colonies' success from one year to the next will definitly have an effect the following year, as nesting success insures returning birds the following year, providing they survive migration. Offering good housing, and a n ice open yard helps tremendously, and should at least attract visitors no problem.....unfortunately it's just a "wait and see " proccess....
And the gourds will be a positive attractant, and a good distance from the other pole would be about 15 feet or so, providing it's not next to trees or some other obstruction. A predator guard ESPECIALLY if you have several nesting pairs is VERY important as once a raid occurs, you could very well kiss your colony hopes goodbye.....
And destroyng sparrows has no real " pleasant " attributes, just something that needs to be done. I would say placing them in a bag, with ether, or putting them underwater is about as humane as it gets.
The nearly famous Mike Brown " fastball against a tree " method obviously works well, and is quick for sure........
Good Luck !!!!
Starling and sparrow control is essential for success, even though many landlords allow them to coexist. I'm convinced that both aggressive species damage a martin colony, sometimes more than less....
A colonies' success from one year to the next will definitly have an effect the following year, as nesting success insures returning birds the following year, providing they survive migration. Offering good housing, and a n ice open yard helps tremendously, and should at least attract visitors no problem.....unfortunately it's just a "wait and see " proccess....
And the gourds will be a positive attractant, and a good distance from the other pole would be about 15 feet or so, providing it's not next to trees or some other obstruction. A predator guard ESPECIALLY if you have several nesting pairs is VERY important as once a raid occurs, you could very well kiss your colony hopes goodbye.....
And destroyng sparrows has no real " pleasant " attributes, just something that needs to be done. I would say placing them in a bag, with ether, or putting them underwater is about as humane as it gets.
The nearly famous Mike Brown " fastball against a tree " method obviously works well, and is quick for sure........
Good Luck !!!!
Johnny
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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
Kellyann, I started many years ago and I had a constant fight with sparrows. After finding this forum, I was told that I needed to trap them, and that works. My suggestion is to trap the sparrows..The 1st trap that I purchased from PMCA was the ST1 trap. I put it on the pole, about 5 ft above the ground, and when I tore a nest out, I put the nesting material into the trap & added feathers..I really caught a lot that way. A good thing about this method is that you hardly ever catch anything else but the sparrows..This trap works when the sparrows are building nests, the rest of the year I put it in the attic.
About killing the sparrows, that is difficult to begin with, but it needs to be done..the sparrows do more harm to the American birds than any other birds, they take the nests away from the American birds, and you really are doing the right thing...The quickest way of certain death is to step on their head....everybody has their own way...
In my opinion the martins are so beautiful and so loyal, it is our responsibility as landlords to try to protect them from the sparrows or starlings, or if we don't want to kill the sparrows & starlings, then its best not to put up martin housing. I just love those beautiful martins...
About killing the sparrows, that is difficult to begin with, but it needs to be done..the sparrows do more harm to the American birds than any other birds, they take the nests away from the American birds, and you really are doing the right thing...The quickest way of certain death is to step on their head....everybody has their own way...
In my opinion the martins are so beautiful and so loyal, it is our responsibility as landlords to try to protect them from the sparrows or starlings, or if we don't want to kill the sparrows & starlings, then its best not to put up martin housing. I just love those beautiful martins...
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Kellyann, the only thing I might add is that maybe next year you could put your housing out just a little bit earlier. What is the average arrival date for your area? I usually like to have my housing up two weeks before I think I will see the first martin. Boy, was I sure glad I did this year as ours came really early. Emil gives terrific advice and I would really pay attention to anything he says. Experience, which he has, is the best teacher.