The pastor of my local church asked me if I would be interested in taking care of the housing on the church property. He had heard from my 7 year old daughter during CCD class that her daddy "really knows alot about birds" There were a few pairs last year but they did not stick with that site for whatever reason. Up until last year I don't recall martins nesting in these houses. Needless to say I told him yes!
There are 3 Trio houses (looks like 2 Grandpa and a Musselman) and my best count at 10-12 pairs of martins, all engaged in nest building!
The bad news is the houses/poles are old and in need of replacement or repair. So what would the experienced landlords on this forum do next? (I'm a newbie still hoping to attract martins to my property)
I'm assuming that since there is nest building going on, the housing repairs etc. will have to wait until the end of summer.
Thanks,
John
I've been asked to care for an active colony!
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
John, taking care of martins at schools, churches, parks, etc can be a bitdifficult because public pressure will not allow you to eliminate sparrows and starlings. If you do not control them by shooting or trapping (which you may not be allowed to do) then your chances of success are very low or non-existant. Of course you sure can give it a try and maybe you can find ways to control the starlings & sparrows. It also helps to be able to raise and lower the housing, so that you can do the maintenance and possibly some trapping. If you cannot raise and lower the housing, there really is not much that you can do. If nest building is going on now, then there is not much you can do to the houses that they are using. Maybe you could work on or look at the houses that they are not using
good luck
good luck
Last edited by Emil Pampell-Tx on Mon May 22, 2006 12:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
John
This will be rewarding for you. Honestly, I've never seen a church site even though the grounds often are very open.
These old Trio products can be renovated and brought up to date over winter and then will last decades more. You may need to replace a lot of rusty hardware, the ropes and probably should modify from 6 x 6 to 6 x 12 compartments. And probably will end up costing you a modest amount, but provide invaluable reward. I've renovated a bunch of these, so if I can advise, as will others here this winter, let us know.
Martins are my church -- I stand in awe of these beautiful birds dropping down of a clear blue sky. Good luck to you,
John Miller
This will be rewarding for you. Honestly, I've never seen a church site even though the grounds often are very open.
These old Trio products can be renovated and brought up to date over winter and then will last decades more. You may need to replace a lot of rusty hardware, the ropes and probably should modify from 6 x 6 to 6 x 12 compartments. And probably will end up costing you a modest amount, but provide invaluable reward. I've renovated a bunch of these, so if I can advise, as will others here this winter, let us know.
Martins are my church -- I stand in awe of these beautiful birds dropping down of a clear blue sky. Good luck to you,
John Miller
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Dick Sherry
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:30 pm
- Location: Tulsa, OK
John, I have cared for several colonies in local parks. It can be done fairly easily and sparrows can be controlled using the Trio spare-o-door traps without drawing any attention to what you are doing. One of these colonies has been very successful, and there have been numerous opportunities to talk to folks about martins when I am there checking the house. What really amazes me is how many people walk by the martin house every day and have not noticed it or the birds.
When you have a house that can be lowered in a public place, it is a good idea to have a way to lock the release lever or winch. I have placed small padlocks on these poles, and it gives the birds more protection.
There probably isn't a lot you can do this summer, but the nice thing about Trio/Nature House products is that you can readily order spare parts from them, and get sets of directions for all their houses.
I think you will find it to be rewarding.
John Miller, I agree that watcing and caring for martins is a spiritual experience!
When you have a house that can be lowered in a public place, it is a good idea to have a way to lock the release lever or winch. I have placed small padlocks on these poles, and it gives the birds more protection.
There probably isn't a lot you can do this summer, but the nice thing about Trio/Nature House products is that you can readily order spare parts from them, and get sets of directions for all their houses.
I think you will find it to be rewarding.
John Miller, I agree that watcing and caring for martins is a spiritual experience!
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Guest
John,
Emil is correct about controlling the sparrows and starlings. I don't know if I would trap without anybody knowing what you are doing. While I don't think you need to publicize it widely, not telling anyone will lead to a mess if someone discovers you trapping later.
Since the Pastor asked you to take care of the martins I think you should explain to him the importance of controlling these non-native birds (referencing this website should help). If he or others have a problem up front, how will they react when (not if) you get found out later?
I hope that this experience works out well for you. It may be a unique opportunity to directly and positively influence the colony that may become the source of young birds at your own site later. Good luck!!!!
Jeff Nelson
Emil is correct about controlling the sparrows and starlings. I don't know if I would trap without anybody knowing what you are doing. While I don't think you need to publicize it widely, not telling anyone will lead to a mess if someone discovers you trapping later.
Since the Pastor asked you to take care of the martins I think you should explain to him the importance of controlling these non-native birds (referencing this website should help). If he or others have a problem up front, how will they react when (not if) you get found out later?
I hope that this experience works out well for you. It may be a unique opportunity to directly and positively influence the colony that may become the source of young birds at your own site later. Good luck!!!!
Jeff Nelson
John, if the housing cannot be lowered (and if the poles and fittings are rusted it might be better not to risk it) one thing I would consider is buying a couple of Natureline gourds with trap entrances. On one gourd I would shim the trap entrance down to a 1/12" hole to admit sparrows but not martins.
This gourd would be hung somewhere adjacent to the house, mounted on its own pole, and allowed to to trap sparrows all season long. The pole would not have to be telescoping so long as you could take it down when a sparrow was trapped.
The other trap gourd I would again mount on a pole, but this one placed up against an adjacent building wall and left with the 2" round hole trap entrance as-is. This one would be aimed at trapping starlings looking for a nesting cavity, martins being unlikely to enter a gourd uplaced against a wall, but starlings often preferring such sites.
I would say the first priority for next year, in addition to being able to lower the houses for nest checks, would be starling resistant entry holes. As long as the entry holes are round, any starling could come in and destroy eggs, young and adults at any time.
Mike Scully
This gourd would be hung somewhere adjacent to the house, mounted on its own pole, and allowed to to trap sparrows all season long. The pole would not have to be telescoping so long as you could take it down when a sparrow was trapped.
The other trap gourd I would again mount on a pole, but this one placed up against an adjacent building wall and left with the 2" round hole trap entrance as-is. This one would be aimed at trapping starlings looking for a nesting cavity, martins being unlikely to enter a gourd uplaced against a wall, but starlings often preferring such sites.
I would say the first priority for next year, in addition to being able to lower the houses for nest checks, would be starling resistant entry holes. As long as the entry holes are round, any starling could come in and destroy eggs, young and adults at any time.
Mike Scully
