Which is best?

[birdy girl]

Since I am still trying to get a colony started, I was just wondering which would be the best way to go next spring? all gourds, gourds and t-14
I am going to take down my heath (octagon) aluminum houses. I don't really know, but from what I have been reading they are absolutely no competition for the t-14 house or the gourds.

Do those of you that have the t-14 house get much response from martins?

[Dale Hrncirik]

terri99,

I think it is good to give the martins a choice of gourds and conventional housing when starting out but I believe it is much easier in the south starting out with all gourds...than it would be in the north. I started my colony in Allen Tx last year with gourds. I had an S&K up but it got overlooked by the 5 SY pairs in residence. This year I have 14 pairs in gourds/bovillas out of 16 gourds/bovillas and 0 in the 6 S&K rooms but there does appear to be nests in a few of them. I will put the Bo-Villas on the same level as gourds when hung similarly. I really believe that martins are drawn more to single unit cavities like gourds when given an option.

I've done a wood house similar to the T-14. be sure to use SREs on it or the starlings will take over. I still had much better martin response in the gourds than the wood house that was similar to the T-14. I'm pretty much all gourds now and will most likely stay that way after(in the past) using a Trio Grandpa-12, a homemade wooden 12 room similar to the T-14, and plastic and natural gourds.


Dale

[Bob Rogers]

terri99,
I suggest you observe successful colony housing near you and duplicate that type. You will most likely be getting offspring (SY) from one near by colony to start your colony. I have listened to the "veterans" speak at Martinfest and that is what they suggested. Once the colony is started, you can persuade the PM's to convert to better housing and/or housing of your choice. When in Rome ---

[flyin-lowe]

I hung four Big Bo gourds under my house and had Martins within 2 days. My house had been up for about 4 weeks. It could be timing or it could be the gourds one will never know for sure.

[starling shooter]

Gourds have higher occupancy rates and some studies have shown fledge more young. Mites can't travel as well from compartment to compartment. Gourd racks regularly get 100% occupancy. Starlings and Sparrows also do not bother gourds as much. T14s are starling magnets and SREH is almost a must unless you can quard it constantly with a pellet gun.

[birdy girl]

Thanks for all the information. As for a I can tell, the neighboring colonies have heath octagon aluminum housing, which is what I have up. I did add 4 supergourds to a perch I had recently added under one of my houses. I may forget the t-14 and just go with all gourds. I have ordered 12 natural gourds and a gourd pole and rack and should be receiving them this next week.

Should I go ahead and put them up now or wait until next year? It may be to late to attract martins now here in North Mississippi, but I thought maybe I should go ahead a put it up If any martins had bad luck at another nesting site, they just might find my gourds and decide to try again. What do you all think?

I did alter one of my heath houses and convert them to 6x6x12 cavities and only a few days later I noticed a starling trying to build in it. I just closed that house up and the starling hasn't been going there anymore. I did leave the other house (with the supergourds under it) open, but the cavities have not been enlarged. They are still 6x6x6. I have never seen any starling at my heath houses until I enlarged the cavities. I do not have the SHRE openings.

[John & Linda - KY]

terri -- If you can/will control S&S and prevent them from taking the housing over, put it up this year so the martins can see it and especially so the fledglings can look it over. You might even be surprised and get a pair or two this year. But if you're not willing/able to control the S&S, wait until next year. -- John