Still Trying To Attract PM's With Quad Pod
I posted a few days ago wondering what kind of experience others had had with the Quad Pod. I got some great info and want to thank those folks that responded. I had the crescent openings and wasn't aware that people had observed PM's having problems entering the crescent opening on the Quad Pod. Well, about two hours ago I had a PM visit and literally try almost every unit (I have 8 pod units on the pole). He would stick his head in the entrance and appear to try to get in (I also have the baffles in), then would back out. I have four gourds on a different pole about 40 feet away that sits about 6 feet from our pond (that we built last year because we had read PM's like to be near water, and also because we thought it would be something we could enjoy, and we do). The PM that visited today didn't check out the gourds at all, just the Quad Pod. The last visitors (we had a pair visit about two weeks ago) only checked out the gourds. Anyway, back to the Quad Pod. My visitor from today, left, so I immediately went out and changed three of the openings on the Pods to the round opening to see if that might help entice the next visitor to stay. Also, someone mentioned taking out the baffle and I also did that with two of the ones I changed to a round opening. I have had the dawnsong playing since early morning. I definitely think playing the dawnsong helps to at least get PM's to check out our sight. I even collected some pine straw and put that in each of the Pods that I changed out to the round holes. I will keep you posted. Also, I am curious to know if there is anyone living relatively close to where we live (Salem, VA, near Dixie Caverns) that has a Martin colony. If you are out there, I would love to know how far we are from you. I believe SusanH had suggested we post a picture of our sight, and my husband, Bill, did that yesterday, so if anyone has any suggestions for improving, we are eager to hear them.
cb
I had trouble getting the Martins to accept the QP as well when I had the SREHs in. When I changed to the round holes, they began to build in there, but so did the Starlings 
I went back to the SREH which eliminated the Starlings but the one pair of young Martins hung in there, and their 4 eggs just hatched. I think some HOSPs are starting to build in another QP bay now 
Meanwhile, twenty feet away is a cheap house with round holes. Two nests with eggs (probably babies now) and no Starlings or HOSPs.
It's a few feet higher, that is the only reason I can see that the trash birds prefer the QP so much. Or perhaps it's some mysterious bird reason.
I went back to the SREH which eliminated the Starlings but the one pair of young Martins hung in there, and their 4 eggs just hatched. I think some HOSPs are starting to build in another QP bay now Meanwhile, twenty feet away is a cheap house with round holes. Two nests with eggs (probably babies now) and no Starlings or HOSPs.
It's a few feet higher, that is the only reason I can see that the trash birds prefer the QP so much. Or perhaps it's some mysterious bird reason.
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Mary Dawnsong
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:17 pm
- Location: Michigan, Livingston County
Yes, one very nice thing about the Quad Pod is that you can easily change entries and add/remove the baffle. After a martin is committed, just switch back to the crescent for starling protection and add the baffle for owl protection.
The Quad Pod also has a blank entry that can be cut to some other type of SREH, like the WDC (also called Connelly) entry. I use both crescent and WDC and believe the WDC to be easier for martins to learn to enter.
The forum is usually pretty slow on holiday weekends. You might try checking the Scout Report for landlords in your area. Just click on Virginia on the map:
http://purplemartin.org/scoutreport/
My best, Mary
The Quad Pod also has a blank entry that can be cut to some other type of SREH, like the WDC (also called Connelly) entry. I use both crescent and WDC and believe the WDC to be easier for martins to learn to enter.
The forum is usually pretty slow on holiday weekends. You might try checking the Scout Report for landlords in your area. Just click on Virginia on the map:
http://purplemartin.org/scoutreport/
My best, Mary
Click here to see my colony
"In Michigan every martin matters"
"In Michigan every martin matters"
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Guest
CB
I know nothing about QP, but I would go ahead and put pine straw or whatever in the crescent openings also. After they've been in one and liked it, they might try harder to get through a crescent - only to find there isn't a beautiful nest waiting.
Sometomes I do overdo it. Anybody want a beaded nest?
I know nothing about QP, but I would go ahead and put pine straw or whatever in the crescent openings also. After they've been in one and liked it, they might try harder to get through a crescent - only to find there isn't a beautiful nest waiting.
Sometomes I do overdo it. Anybody want a beaded nest?