My Version Of A Natureline Gourd
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Guss P O'Brien
That is interesting that you used two backs to make a custom gourd. What do you do with the fronts and doors? You can get blank doors. http://shop.purplemartin.org/shopsite/p ... blank.html
I am unclear on why to modify the Natureline so extensively. Can you go into the reasoning. It seems like a lot of work. Surely there must be a big benefit.
Here are some of my observations on the Natureline gourds. Mildew and UV degradation. Some pieces such as fronts mildew and weather faster than the backs- as quick as 2 years. I'm guessing this is due to a lower quality batch or resin or compound used to make mold the parts- maybe too little plasticizer or TiO2. Also, some of the doors do not fit snugly in some batchs I have ordered. I think I have figured out how to fix them by now- it is some left over vinyl in the slot on the front where the door latches that has to be scraped out. However, no bird has ever pulled out the loosely fitting doors. I'm experimenting with Armorall and a product called 303 Aerospace Protectant that are supposed to restore and protect vinyl UV damage. http://www.northlineexpress.com/detail~ ... P303QT.asp
To get an idea of what the mildew looks like on plastic gourds see the back cover and p. 25 of Update Spring 2005 14(2).
I am unclear on why to modify the Natureline so extensively. Can you go into the reasoning. It seems like a lot of work. Surely there must be a big benefit.
Here are some of my observations on the Natureline gourds. Mildew and UV degradation. Some pieces such as fronts mildew and weather faster than the backs- as quick as 2 years. I'm guessing this is due to a lower quality batch or resin or compound used to make mold the parts- maybe too little plasticizer or TiO2. Also, some of the doors do not fit snugly in some batchs I have ordered. I think I have figured out how to fix them by now- it is some left over vinyl in the slot on the front where the door latches that has to be scraped out. However, no bird has ever pulled out the loosely fitting doors. I'm experimenting with Armorall and a product called 303 Aerospace Protectant that are supposed to restore and protect vinyl UV damage. http://www.northlineexpress.com/detail~ ... P303QT.asp
To get an idea of what the mildew looks like on plastic gourds see the back cover and p. 25 of Update Spring 2005 14(2).
Guss:
I do not buy doors or fronts. I really believe the fronts and backs are made on the same mold. You mentioned that you can get blank doors, that may be correct, I am not sure. I do know you can get them with neither piece being cut for a door and that is what I did. They fit together this way as well as the other way.
Guss, I went to the trouble because this is the way I like them and want them. I do not like a natureline very well at all as they are normally used. I just don't care for their snap in door system.
The style you see in the picture is exactly the way I have 250 or so natural gourds done. It is not that hard and it has great advantages, in my opinion. let me give you two or three.
1. You get a dry gourd using this approach. The tunnels have a drain hole in them and a small dam in the back. Wet nests are non existent.
2. The tunnel gives some extra amount of owl protection, moving the martins further away from reaching talons.
3. It has been my observation that martins tend to choose tunneled gourds before gourds without tunnels. This conclusion came after much observation.
4. Most important of all, this is the way I want mine to look
Yes, mildew is a problem with plastic gourds, but is also a problem with natural gourds. I can spray mine down with bleach water much easier than I can repaint 250 natural gourds.
Now, hear me right, I don' think there is a better martin house to be had than a good natural gourd, properly prepared. They are my favorite.
But, I am going more and more toward plastic gourds. Why? Maintenance and upkeep is easier with the plastic gourds.
So, at the present time, I have 32 S&K gourds in use and am preparing 48 Natureline gourds just as you see in the photo. A little work, yes, but easier and quicker than doing a natural gourd the same way, and should last a lifetime.
I do not buy doors or fronts. I really believe the fronts and backs are made on the same mold. You mentioned that you can get blank doors, that may be correct, I am not sure. I do know you can get them with neither piece being cut for a door and that is what I did. They fit together this way as well as the other way.
Guss, I went to the trouble because this is the way I like them and want them. I do not like a natureline very well at all as they are normally used. I just don't care for their snap in door system.
The style you see in the picture is exactly the way I have 250 or so natural gourds done. It is not that hard and it has great advantages, in my opinion. let me give you two or three.
1. You get a dry gourd using this approach. The tunnels have a drain hole in them and a small dam in the back. Wet nests are non existent.
2. The tunnel gives some extra amount of owl protection, moving the martins further away from reaching talons.
3. It has been my observation that martins tend to choose tunneled gourds before gourds without tunnels. This conclusion came after much observation.
4. Most important of all, this is the way I want mine to look
Yes, mildew is a problem with plastic gourds, but is also a problem with natural gourds. I can spray mine down with bleach water much easier than I can repaint 250 natural gourds.
Now, hear me right, I don' think there is a better martin house to be had than a good natural gourd, properly prepared. They are my favorite.
But, I am going more and more toward plastic gourds. Why? Maintenance and upkeep is easier with the plastic gourds.
So, at the present time, I have 32 S&K gourds in use and am preparing 48 Natureline gourds just as you see in the photo. A little work, yes, but easier and quicker than doing a natural gourd the same way, and should last a lifetime.
T. Seber
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Guss P O'Brien
Thanks for the info. I like the tunnels. Do you make them or buy them? Do you use the vent that comes with or do you add a vent of your own?
I thought the vinyl gourds would last forever too, but I have been seeing rapid degradation of the plastic due to UV rays. The 3 yr old ones I have look quite older than the pvc pipe I brace them up with. The surface roughens and there is discoloration. They don't hold up very well to the sun so I'm trying armorall and other vinyl protectants to try to make them last longer. I don't want to have to paint them or replace them.
They are surely fine-looking gourds the way you have modified them.
I thought the vinyl gourds would last forever too, but I have been seeing rapid degradation of the plastic due to UV rays. The 3 yr old ones I have look quite older than the pvc pipe I brace them up with. The surface roughens and there is discoloration. They don't hold up very well to the sun so I'm trying armorall and other vinyl protectants to try to make them last longer. I don't want to have to paint them or replace them.
They are surely fine-looking gourds the way you have modified them.
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Guest
Is that a crescent entrance you fashioned? How far into the gourd does the tunnel extend?
I am not a big fan of those gourds. It was my experience that the vents at the top attracted wasps to build inside inside the gourd. I never was very successful in getting good solid PM residency in the Naturelines, and gave all of mine away.
I am not a big fan of those gourds. It was my experience that the vents at the top attracted wasps to build inside inside the gourd. I never was very successful in getting good solid PM residency in the Naturelines, and gave all of mine away.
Guss:
I make my own but Sandy Bunn makes, and sells, tunnels very much like them
I have one old Natureline, altered somewhat like this one, but not exactly. It is five or six years old and still looks pretty good, although I did wash it down in bleach water this year.
Yes, I use the vent caps. Those are strong points with Natureline, I think. As you can see, I rotated the gourd 1/4 turn to locate the entrance tunnel. When this is done, an extra hole is drilled inside the vent cap for hanging. As you would know, they have two sets so they can be hung from front to back or side to side. One additional set will need to be drilled, but that is a thirty second job
Dave:
No, I didn't fashion the sreh. It is an Excluder II as per Duke Snyder. Sandy Bunn sent me a handful for testing purposes in my colony. I personally prefer the WDC or the plain crescent, but happened to do this one that way. Most of mine will not have this type sreh.
Wasps can be a problem in any type housing. I hope they are not even worse with these.
The depth of the tunnel inside the gourd is not critical. I usually stick them in there 1/2 inch or so.
I make my own but Sandy Bunn makes, and sells, tunnels very much like them
I have one old Natureline, altered somewhat like this one, but not exactly. It is five or six years old and still looks pretty good, although I did wash it down in bleach water this year.
Yes, I use the vent caps. Those are strong points with Natureline, I think. As you can see, I rotated the gourd 1/4 turn to locate the entrance tunnel. When this is done, an extra hole is drilled inside the vent cap for hanging. As you would know, they have two sets so they can be hung from front to back or side to side. One additional set will need to be drilled, but that is a thirty second job
Dave:
No, I didn't fashion the sreh. It is an Excluder II as per Duke Snyder. Sandy Bunn sent me a handful for testing purposes in my colony. I personally prefer the WDC or the plain crescent, but happened to do this one that way. Most of mine will not have this type sreh.
Wasps can be a problem in any type housing. I hope they are not even worse with these.
The depth of the tunnel inside the gourd is not critical. I usually stick them in there 1/2 inch or so.
T. Seber
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Guest
T. Saber,
Very nice workmanship. I like your modified gourd very much. It is functional and has good eye appeal. Agreement with the natural gourds and their appeal, to man an beast, as well.
Very nice workmanship. I like your modified gourd very much. It is functional and has good eye appeal. Agreement with the natural gourds and their appeal, to man an beast, as well.