Storms last nite may have cost me
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marilena~MD
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:07 pm
- Location: Maryland/Denton
We were also affected by that line of storms last night. The problem was that we had just gotten our first ASY martin the day before and were so thrilled to see him back. We only had one pair last year. So we decided to lower the gourd rack to keep safe from the strong winds. Well, when we tried to lower the tri-tel pole the buttons wouldn't work properly and we couldn't get it to engage on the next hole. Unfortunately, there was the male martin in one of the gourds and he came flying out. We had to completely remove top section of the pole to get the button to pull out and that took a while. By the time we got it back up again the martin had gone off and we didn't see him come back. Today I have watched for him and have not seen him either. It's so discouraging when you have waited all winter to see them again.
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Sigundo
I can't guarantee it (who can?) but if he was impressed with the house, he'll be back in a day or two. I've done similar things and they came back after my punishment phase was over. If they really like the house, it'll take more than a goof up by you to stop them.
That being said, you may want to drill some holes and put in a bolt (I prefer eye bolts cause you have a ring to work with). I put some in one of my quad-tels because I had a problem with it collapsing, the other pole has been reliable for two years, but I put eye bolts in it as well. Its a small cost (about 5 bucks, assuming you already have a drill and bits
), and about 10 minutes work, and you'll be set. Here is a picture, using 4 inch long 5/16" eye bolt:http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/download.php?id=2897 from another post of what mine looks like.
That should help prevent that problem but of course you want to do that while the martin is away or would normally be away (during the middle of the day) to reduce bothering them as much as possible.
Good luck
and keep us posted!
That being said, you may want to drill some holes and put in a bolt (I prefer eye bolts cause you have a ring to work with). I put some in one of my quad-tels because I had a problem with it collapsing, the other pole has been reliable for two years, but I put eye bolts in it as well. Its a small cost (about 5 bucks, assuming you already have a drill and bits
), and about 10 minutes work, and you'll be set. Here is a picture, using 4 inch long 5/16" eye bolt:http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/download.php?id=2897 from another post of what mine looks like.
That should help prevent that problem but of course you want to do that while the martin is away or would normally be away (during the middle of the day) to reduce bothering them as much as possible.
Good luck
and keep us posted!-
kimball911
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:33 pm
- Location: Kansas/Iola
Mine was lowered after dusk the other evening too, due to high winds. I did not see the Martins for a couple days then several showed up. My tri-tel pole came crashing down during the morning hours (no martins in it), but when I went to erect it I didn't realize the black button was sheered off and the hole house with gourds crashed into my right shoulder. It is black/blue from shoulder to elbow. I also have started using a bolt to help stablize it until S&K can get the new parts mailed. Those things are heavy when fully loaded. I go in for shoulder surgery May 25, which isn't entirely the poles fault, but it worsened an already torn rotator. Your birds should come back and get ready for another round of severe weather, as we are under the gun tomorrow night.