This morning I was shocked/delighted/WOW!! to see a pair of martins (male & female) checking out my house. It's a Nature House Martin Safety System, 8-compartment I put it up in late-February (Southeast LA) in hopes of attracting martins this year, but I was beginning to think that nobody would come.
For the last 2 summers I've seen martins in this area, but I don't know where they live.
I watched them check out each of the entrances together. The pair were still there when I left for work, sitting on the powerline near the house and preening. So ... what's the chance they'll stay? What next?
This is one of the houses with the lanyard for easy up/down, but when I installed it, I think I pulled it up too high - it won't come down again. I've been hoping to get some help to take it down and fix the lanyard (I will have to take the whole pole down, can't do that by myself) - should I forget about it now that the birds are taking interest?
Leslie
My first Martins!
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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
Congratulations on your martins!
I regularly raise and lower my gourds...It will not affect a thing, but its best to wait until they are not on the house or in the house...Also, do not lower the house late in the afternoon near dark, or do NOT ever lower the house at night..
When you get some help, go ahead and fix it..
I regularly raise and lower my gourds...It will not affect a thing, but its best to wait until they are not on the house or in the house...Also, do not lower the house late in the afternoon near dark, or do NOT ever lower the house at night..
When you get some help, go ahead and fix it..
Last edited by Emil Pampell-Tx on Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
Congratulations, Leslie, on attracting your first pair! 
I'm happy for every martin that finds a home, especially this year after those displaced from Katrina's destruction.
May they all find refuge this year.
I'm happy for every martin that finds a home, especially this year after those displaced from Katrina's destruction.May they all find refuge this year.
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Guest
Leslie,
You probably already know but I thought I'd mention this to you anyway. The house probably has a safety brake on it so if the rope breaks or gets away from you it stops on the pole. Have you tried pulling the rope out away from the house as you lower it? Mine can be a little tricky because you are pulling the rope away from the pole at the same time you are letting slack out of the rope.
Just thought I'd mention it.
Good luck.
You probably already know but I thought I'd mention this to you anyway. The house probably has a safety brake on it so if the rope breaks or gets away from you it stops on the pole. Have you tried pulling the rope out away from the house as you lower it? Mine can be a little tricky because you are pulling the rope away from the pole at the same time you are letting slack out of the rope.
Just thought I'd mention it.
Good luck.
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CraigMo.
- Posts: 1480
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:30 pm
- Location: Missouri/Lone Jack
- Martin Colony History: Active since 2003
Leslie , I think Nesto is right. I would walk as far away as you can with the rope and then just give it a medium pull and it should release. Then you will get the hang of it and just have to step back a couple of steps.
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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
Leslie, where you able to fix it?
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps