John, I've got 4 gourds on their way. I don't want to do anything wrong so I have to ask. You said paint and immediately hang two while modifying the other two. If I don't have birds yet, do I just swap the gourds out after modication is complete on two. If I leave two unmodified, I won't be able to do nest checks.
Nanette, I've looked and can't find where you are talking about reinforcing the gourd floor. Do you mean with the Thompson's water sealer or something else? Will you give me a link?
Also, someone else just posted about a PVC addition recommended by PMCA. I missed that also. I've been trying to read everything I can find on gourds.
Thanks so very much.
CW
I think I bought the wrong house
Hi CW,
I was talking about modifying the house floor to accommodate gourds. The archive name is: Reinforcing the TG-12 "Trio Grandpa" Martin House and the web page is:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... page31.htm
In my opinion, this is an important modification to make. Good Luck!
I was talking about modifying the house floor to accommodate gourds. The archive name is: Reinforcing the TG-12 "Trio Grandpa" Martin House and the web page is:
http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... page31.htm
In my opinion, this is an important modification to make. Good Luck!
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
CW
Okay -- we're all gonna mentor you through this. Ha.
Re: four gourds from PMCA. I would suggest only hanging two from the house because of weight. Natural gourds are fairly light -- about one pound -- but every bit of weight on a light-weight pole adds risk of it coming down. As Nanette said, it also helps to reiforce the floors, but you may be able to get by without this, just adding two gourds. Drill holes in the porch edges and hang with no. 10 plastic coated, solid strand copper wire. This wire often is only available at smaller hardware stores.
If you modify a couple of gourds with access ports, and maybe add factory SREH entrances, I would not swap these out after birds have begun nesting. You could do it before, as timing allows. Gourds vary in size and shape and the birds would be reluctant to use. Some folks do swap out plastic gourds for various reasons, such as when one is infested with mites. Plastic gourds of the same brand are all identical.
If you want to prepare access ports and entrances before hanging, it's really not that tough because gourds are forgiving. Last year at a park site I manage I was short on time and I took two of the PMCA gourds, which come with round entry holes, plugged those by gluing on a piece of aluminum over the hole, and cut a crescent SREH on the opposite side. I really didn't know if I'd get birds - I did. So this year I've put access ports where the plugged hole was. Just think it out and know it's okay to give yourself some options to get started.
John Miller
Okay -- we're all gonna mentor you through this. Ha.
Re: four gourds from PMCA. I would suggest only hanging two from the house because of weight. Natural gourds are fairly light -- about one pound -- but every bit of weight on a light-weight pole adds risk of it coming down. As Nanette said, it also helps to reiforce the floors, but you may be able to get by without this, just adding two gourds. Drill holes in the porch edges and hang with no. 10 plastic coated, solid strand copper wire. This wire often is only available at smaller hardware stores.
If you modify a couple of gourds with access ports, and maybe add factory SREH entrances, I would not swap these out after birds have begun nesting. You could do it before, as timing allows. Gourds vary in size and shape and the birds would be reluctant to use. Some folks do swap out plastic gourds for various reasons, such as when one is infested with mites. Plastic gourds of the same brand are all identical.
If you want to prepare access ports and entrances before hanging, it's really not that tough because gourds are forgiving. Last year at a park site I manage I was short on time and I took two of the PMCA gourds, which come with round entry holes, plugged those by gluing on a piece of aluminum over the hole, and cut a crescent SREH on the opposite side. I really didn't know if I'd get birds - I did. So this year I've put access ports where the plugged hole was. Just think it out and know it's okay to give yourself some options to get started.
John Miller
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Guest
Thank you mentors for your advice and your patience. When I go back and reread the posts, it seems clear now but not then. Keep setting me straight - one day I'll be giving some other rookie suggestions. Thanks again.
CW
CW