Trio Grandma Wins over Gourds
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
I have three pairs of ASY martins staying around, sleeping in and sitting on my modified Trio Grandma house. I am shocked that they have chosen that, mounted at 12 feet, over my two racks of Supergourds and Troyer Hortizontals, mounted at 14 feet, just a few feet away. If anything the gourds are more out in the open. I have never had nesting pairs before but it APPEARS that this may be my year. Keeping my fingers crossed as they show no sign of going anywhere.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Hi Carlton,
Congratulations on your new colony!
What you have experienced is common and it's why we strongly recommend that landlord hopefuls offer both the familiar aluminum martin house plus gourds.
You just never know what individual birds are going to be attracted to, so give them a choice!
Martins are very adaptable in regards to their housing, but they often are attracted to what's most familiar to them.
However, over time they learn to use better-quality housing.
In a couple of years, you will very likely find that the birds in your colony are choosing the gourds over the house.
That's what happened in my colony and I phased out the house after a couple of years.
Have a great season,
Mary
Congratulations on your new colony!
What you have experienced is common and it's why we strongly recommend that landlord hopefuls offer both the familiar aluminum martin house plus gourds.
You just never know what individual birds are going to be attracted to, so give them a choice!
Martins are very adaptable in regards to their housing, but they often are attracted to what's most familiar to them.
However, over time they learn to use better-quality housing.
In a couple of years, you will very likely find that the birds in your colony are choosing the gourds over the house.
That's what happened in my colony and I phased out the house after a couple of years.
Have a great season,
Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
Carlton:
Thanks for that piece of information. I have been using gourds since 2004 and while I had some luck my first year, I am not having any luck now. I have purchased a Trio Grandma and am in the process of setting the pole and building the house. With the cold wet weather in Ohio, I haven't been in a big hurry, but your post gives me hope.
You didn't specify: When you modified your house (to 6"x12" rooms, I assume) did you stay with round holes, or did you opt for SREH's?
Best of luck in starting a colony!
Thanks for that piece of information. I have been using gourds since 2004 and while I had some luck my first year, I am not having any luck now. I have purchased a Trio Grandma and am in the process of setting the pole and building the house. With the cold wet weather in Ohio, I haven't been in a big hurry, but your post gives me hope.
You didn't specify: When you modified your house (to 6"x12" rooms, I assume) did you stay with round holes, or did you opt for SREH's?
Best of luck in starting a colony!
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Guest
Hi Carlton,
I was wondering what happened at your place. I am so glad to hear you have some ASY's! That's wonderful.
Mary is right. The same thing happened at my place that you are describing. I had been offering gourds with mostly SREH openings. When I put up the modified Trio (wtih SREH) they were drawn to that like a magnet but would not go into the SREH. I finally decided to put the round holes back on and I got two pairs to stay last year. I changed those holes back to SREH once the eggs appeared. Those two ASY martins returned and are still using that house.
However, all the new birds are using the gourds and the Lone Star - all with SREH and have NO problems what so ever entering the SREH! Even the sub adults are using the SREH. It is so different with ASY birds than sub adults. Much easier in my opinion.
Dr. Kathi - Based on my experience I would suggest trying the round holes first but have the SREH doors ready to install as soon as you see eggs. The martins will quickly learn to adapt to the new openings. I also included a Spar-O-Door on one compartment in the Trio. Like Mary, someday I intend to phase that Triio house out and use it only as a dedicated sparrow trap. The sparrows love it!
Good luck to all,
Joyce
I was wondering what happened at your place. I am so glad to hear you have some ASY's! That's wonderful.
Mary is right. The same thing happened at my place that you are describing. I had been offering gourds with mostly SREH openings. When I put up the modified Trio (wtih SREH) they were drawn to that like a magnet but would not go into the SREH. I finally decided to put the round holes back on and I got two pairs to stay last year. I changed those holes back to SREH once the eggs appeared. Those two ASY martins returned and are still using that house.
However, all the new birds are using the gourds and the Lone Star - all with SREH and have NO problems what so ever entering the SREH! Even the sub adults are using the SREH. It is so different with ASY birds than sub adults. Much easier in my opinion.
Dr. Kathi - Based on my experience I would suggest trying the round holes first but have the SREH doors ready to install as soon as you see eggs. The martins will quickly learn to adapt to the new openings. I also included a Spar-O-Door on one compartment in the Trio. Like Mary, someday I intend to phase that Triio house out and use it only as a dedicated sparrow trap. The sparrows love it!
Good luck to all,
Joyce
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Guest
In my area gourds are rarerly used. I offered 4 naturals last year and 2 were eventually occupied by SYs. This year I am offering 10 naturals with WDC and Excluder entrances -they are completely ignored (ASY birds only) - I don't think the entrance type has anything to do with it - they simply don't like change.
I wonder how SYs' will react to them this year.
I wonder how SYs' will react to them this year.
All my martins continue to choose 6x6 Trio compartments over the roomy supergourds. I hung 4 new gourds for the first time this year and only one was finally chosen by an ASY male and his SY mate. The other 3 hung empty while all the new arrivals fought over the cramped compartments. I'm going to modify for next year and I hope that the changeover to gourds will continue. I really wanted to go to all gourds but I can see the change will have to be more gradual than I originally thought. Mine are obviously imprinted strongly on houses.
Patrick
Patrick
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Guest
Here also,
I have 2 trio-pioneers and a trio-castle. All are converted to bigger compartments. I have two super gourds with porches inside and out hanging under each pioneer. I have two natural gourds hanging under the castle. I have three pair (asy) that all chose the pioneers. Last year I had nest in two of the super gourds. Numbers are down this year, went from 7 pair and another 6 or so unmated martins living here full time last year. This year so far just the three asy pair. I'm hoping some subbies show up soon.
Take care!
Craig
I have 2 trio-pioneers and a trio-castle. All are converted to bigger compartments. I have two super gourds with porches inside and out hanging under each pioneer. I have two natural gourds hanging under the castle. I have three pair (asy) that all chose the pioneers. Last year I had nest in two of the super gourds. Numbers are down this year, went from 7 pair and another 6 or so unmated martins living here full time last year. This year so far just the three asy pair. I'm hoping some subbies show up soon.
Take care!
Craig
Hi,
My martins also prefer Trio housing to gourds. I also have a T-14 that the martins love. I have 48 cavities including 16 SG's. The houses are between 90 to 100% occupied. My gourds...zip. Today I put up a Trio Grandma to use as a sparrow trap house and the martins were in a FRENZY over it. I had at least 30 martins flying around or on the house for 20 minutes. Talk about house recognition!
My martins also prefer Trio housing to gourds. I also have a T-14 that the martins love. I have 48 cavities including 16 SG's. The houses are between 90 to 100% occupied. My gourds...zip. Today I put up a Trio Grandma to use as a sparrow trap house and the martins were in a FRENZY over it. I had at least 30 martins flying around or on the house for 20 minutes. Talk about house recognition!
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette