Martins not using new batman doors

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:02 am

First time user so asking patience. Serious concern. Batman doors on old house and new house not being accepted by adults in last few days. They are trying but look to big to enter. Thinking about either modifying new doors bigger or going back to bigger round doors. Any help appreciated.

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:49 am

I have modified excluders on PM houses. Mine are also looking in, but act like they can not enter. How far off the porch should the excluder plates be? I put mine less than half an inch, is this too close? Thanks, Tina.

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:50 am

I have modified excluders on PM houses. Mine are also looking in, but act like they can not enter. How far off the porch should the excluder plates be? I put mine less than half an inch, is this too close? Thanks, Tina.

apundt-TX · Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:24 am

I trimmed the top pips to about half last year also because of the same problems.

~Patrick~ · Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:51 am

I have exclusively used "batman" type excluders for my 5th year at this site. Trust me, they will learn how to use them. I'm having the same anxiety attacks watching mine try to learn crescent gourds. They'll learn, just give them time. If yours is a brand new colony or you're trying to attract martins, you could try round holes just to get them hooked and then switch back. But if you don't use something, sooner or later, more likely sooner, you'll have to deal with starlings and losses.

Best of luck and ask all the questions you need. That's what this forum is for.

Patrick

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:14 am

Thanks for the help....Yes, this is my first year to have PM hang around. Call me crazy, you would not be the first...I moved my aluminum house three times to get PM to even look at it & my wooden house twice. And I'm talking about this year. Needless to say, I looked outside 10 minutes ago & it looked like a Martin fest.....Hope they stay. I did leave 2 round holes & they seem to be fighting over those compartments. The S & S days are numbered if they keep on hanging around here. Hey apundt in Dripping Springs, I have a place in Burnet Ranch on the Blanco in Wimberley. You live in paradise, do you realize that? Thanks for the help, Tina C.

apundt-TX · Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:46 am

Ohh how I wish I lived on the blanco river there.
Too much limestone and not enogh soil where I am at right now.
I am looking for some land and might have to go out in that direction next.

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:58 pm

Thanks for the ideas on the Batman doors. I will keep watching and if needed trim or open one or two compartments only as a last resort.

In reading about the doors I also learned PM prefer 6x6x10 compartments.

I would like advice if I should take out the partitions to allow the larger compartments.

And if I do that, should I then close (tape over) one of the openings so they only have one to enter and exit.

Any advice on that would help too.

Thanks for the forum replies already. It's great to know you all are out there to help save the PM's.

NewtonJim

klcretired · Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:01 pm

NewtonJim,
This is a topic that is much talked about , i know you are eager to have your martins stay and go in & out of your housing easily but protection is of the upmost intention for the martins and the entrances being a little tight takes time for the bird's to learn to negotiate , remember after all it's bird's that were talkin' bout here , they have to learn the new system and that takes time ,They will get in and they can get in but it's own their own terms when they feel comfortable about it so it's up to us to be patient. Just hang in there and don't give up and your martins will thank you for the added protection when they start having their Young.

~Patrick~ · Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:12 pm

NewtonJim,

There are directions for modifying houses in the PMCA archives. Yes, you do have to close off the other opening so there is only one opening to each compartment. It's best not to use tape to close it off as the martins might get the sticky tape residue on them. There are several things you can do, depending on the type of house you have. It's a process. Just do what you can, little by little, and you'll get there. Keep us posted on how you're doing and don't be shy about asking questions.

Patrick

Guest · Sun Apr 02, 2006 6:42 pm

Thanks for all the helpful information and confidence to hang in there and help the PM's. NewtonJim