Tonight I am putting my PMs to bed like I normally do and I have one ASY male who despite all his efforts simply can not navigate any of my Lone Star factory crescents. I am pretty sure this is the same bird who last year as a SY male had significant difficulty entering this same cavity. But he could enter and managed to help fledge 4 young. This year I have watched him constantly struggle to enter his cavity but he would eventually get in. Tonight no dice. I guess he ate too much for dinner! His mate was in with no problem and I watched him time and time again try in vain. He tried most of the other cavities as well with the same result. Well after their normal bed time, I believe the other PMs knew he was in trouble and were offering their encouragement and cavities too. As he got more desperate he would check out a new rack with WDC Horizontal Troyers but he was too afraid to give that a serious try. (I do have at least 2 pair who love the rack). Anyway when it is almost completely dark I see him back on the Alamo perfectly still on another pairs porch. As I got right under the house looking up things did not look right. I freak with thoughts of John Miller's recent wing entrapment pic in my head. Oh no. What to do now!? Leave him there and he's dead. Lower the house at night and I risk the entire colony. I run and get a flashlight to take a better look. Sure enough it looks like he is on his side but I can't be sure. I decide to try to lower the house quietly to have a look. (I know that this house lowers extremely quietly and easily) The other PMs might not even notice. I lower it a few inches and "Thank God" he's not stuck and he flies off in the night. I hope he will be OK in the trees for the night or maybe he could find space in one of the slum lord's. Anyway, I have finally found enough reason and courage to cut into my beautiful Alamo. Tomorrow first thing I will replace the factory crescents on his cavity with a WDC plate wich I have already received from Sandy. The new WDC design will really be put to the test!
PS- Before you ask, Yes I am using non skid tape and No I have never actually measured these crescents with a film canister.
Kent
Another SREH Saga
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Kent
I didn't mean to create paranoia with that photo -- well maybe a little. One needs to look over housing daily as suggested in the PMCA article, "martin mishaps."
I am not familiar with Lonestar style of housing. Are these crescents flush to the floor? That's the toughest for martins to enter. I think something between 1/16 to 3/16 off is best. Anything beyond one-fourth probably helps starlings.
Good luck with the WDC/modified excluder plates. I would not encourage everyone to rush to add plates, but landlords need to consider what they prefer and what's best at individual sites.
John Miller
I didn't mean to create paranoia with that photo -- well maybe a little. One needs to look over housing daily as suggested in the PMCA article, "martin mishaps."
I am not familiar with Lonestar style of housing. Are these crescents flush to the floor? That's the toughest for martins to enter. I think something between 1/16 to 3/16 off is best. Anything beyond one-fourth probably helps starlings.
Good luck with the WDC/modified excluder plates. I would not encourage everyone to rush to add plates, but landlords need to consider what they prefer and what's best at individual sites.
John Miller
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roblrich
I am going back to round holes probably as soon as next season, and plan on starting a thread soon explaining why. It has nothing to do with martins inability to enter crescents, but the problem it creates with HOSP's. One might ask, what does SREH's have to do with HOSP's. Well, martins IMO do need porches to enter crescent entries, and when using gourds as I do, this makes it impossible to trap them. I would rather deal with starlings and have the ability to trap both starlings and HOSP's with supergourd insert traps.
NOW, this can work for me as I am home 24/7, and I closely monitor my colony daily. I don't take vacations, etc when I have martins.
NOW, this can work for me as I am home 24/7, and I closely monitor my colony daily. I don't take vacations, etc when I have martins.
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Guest
Ok so today I Put a WDC plate on his compartment. It was surprisingly easy. My setup is too far away from a power outlet so I just used a pair of tin snips and a file. Worked great. I used some all weather calk to adhere it. He was back checking things out within an hour. I sure hope the calk had time to set up. He didn't give it a serious try to enter just yet though as it was still the middle of the afternoon. Here's a few pictures of the setup now. Can't wait for bed time to see what happens!
Kent
Kent
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Kent,
You have a good looking House and Gourd rack ,I'm glad that you were able to make a change but i wouldn't change all of them especially if you have any scum beaks hanging around.
John,
I'm not sure about the Alamo but i have a LS Goliad w/ nest boxes and even w/ the nest boxxes in place the Cresents/SREH's on my Goliad are not flush w/ the floor.
You have a good looking House and Gourd rack ,I'm glad that you were able to make a change but i wouldn't change all of them especially if you have any scum beaks hanging around.
John,
I'm not sure about the Alamo but i have a LS Goliad w/ nest boxes and even w/ the nest boxxes in place the Cresents/SREH's on my Goliad are not flush w/ the floor.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
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Guest
The WDC plate worked. He was able to enter after about 15 mins of trying.
I thought the critical measurement was the height of the crescent above the porch not the height above the internal floor. My Alamo has crescents flush with the porch which is the newer design. I understand there was once an older model with raised crescents. Without nest trays the internal floor is at least 3/4 in below the crescent. I am using 1/2 in foam board as a nest tray so my floors are just a little lower that the crescents. Since flush is the hardest to use, I assume it is easier to get out than in.
If I had it to do over again and assuming Lone Star doesn't sell WDC doors, I would buy the round hole version and convert that to WDC. Reason being a crescent conversion leaves no support for the bottom of the WDC plate.
Kent
I thought the critical measurement was the height of the crescent above the porch not the height above the internal floor. My Alamo has crescents flush with the porch which is the newer design. I understand there was once an older model with raised crescents. Without nest trays the internal floor is at least 3/4 in below the crescent. I am using 1/2 in foam board as a nest tray so my floors are just a little lower that the crescents. Since flush is the hardest to use, I assume it is easier to get out than in.
If I had it to do over again and assuming Lone Star doesn't sell WDC doors, I would buy the round hole version and convert that to WDC. Reason being a crescent conversion leaves no support for the bottom of the WDC plate.
Kent
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Guss P O'Brien
In my yard there are approximately 38 pair who would disagree that they must have porches to enter crescents, but it is a personal preference for the owner.