Question Re Canopies on Natural Gourds...

[Lislou]

Hello everyone -- neophyte here, hoping to become a first-time landlord this spring.

I have an S&K barn-style house that I will be adding four 12" natural gourds to underneath in hopes of increasing my chances of attracting martins. I'll be working on transforming my gourds this weekend, hopefully.

Chuck's Purple Martin Page, http://home.earthlink.net/~chuckabare/index00.htm, has been a wonderful resource for me but now I'm confused when it comes to adding rain canopies to my gourds. This is Chuck's take on the subject:

As you'll no doubt notice, I didn't add any form of canopy. Not needed! My reasons...



...the entrance is already set back into the gourd...

...the entrance edge is stuck out from the gourd by about 1/4" - 3/8" so any dripping dew or light rain will bypass the entrance.

...the martins can now come out of their gourds and look skyward for any impending danger without being hindered by a canopy. I feel that martins need to look up to spot any impending danger such as hawks and I feel canopies hinder this and in fact, I've removed them from any gourds that I add these entrances to just for that reason alone.

What do some of you experienced landlords think of this? We do have numerous owls and hawks in the area and I certainly understand his reasoning......then again, we also can have torrential spring downpours in and I wouldn't want my gourd martins to get soaked.....

THose of you with natural gourds without canopies -- how badly will the gourds get water-logged during a storm? Do canopies really help to keep the martins dry?

All feedback is appreciated!

[John Miller]

Hello

I've been getting into gourds last few years. Chuck is talking about no need for a canopy because he has inserted one of the plastic gourd entrances, and indeed it's inset. Some folks also use tunnels, as you may know.

If you just cut a round or crescent hole in the gourd, a canopy will help keep out the rain and make the gourd last longer. With drain holes any rain probably would drain through, but foster rot. The martins are not that far-sighted and won't care.

Some folks think that a fairly large canopy over a hole may help deter owls. This does block the view of the sky (hawks). Others think the best way to deter owls is a tunnel entrance and it provides martins with a porch to sit on, as well as an open view of the sky. I plan to
offer a small number of both gourds with tunnels and some with canopies over crescents cut directly in the gourds, this season.

John M.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I always used 1-1/2in canopies, and I placed them 1-1/2inches above the round hole, and the gourds stayed dry....occasionally they may get a few drops, but the nests never got wet.

Recently, I went to SREH entrances + tunnels, and that really keeps all the water out of the gourds.

If you are interested in keeping the nests dry, most water gets into gourds thru the hanging holes...If you put a small diameter pipe at the hanging place, and run the wire thru it, that step will greatly reduce the amount of water that enters a gourd..Caulk or adhesive at the gourd will prevent water from entering around the pipe.

People have used pvc pipe, small diameter copper pipe, or plastic tubing, all work good to keep the gourd dry at the hanging area. If you use the pipe, no water at all will get in there.

[Guest]

Lislou - I have prepared 4 natural gourds for this season and I am putting rain canopies about 1-1/2 inches above the round entrance. I want to do this to help prevent any rain from coming in. The holes at the top for hanging my gourds are very, very small. I guess rain could get in those, but doesn't really look like. Guess I will find out.



Lanell

Good luck this season!!!!

[Guest]

I agree that if you do not use one of Sandy's entrances..... use a canopy. I find it makes a big difference here in Texas in the amount of rain that enters the gourd.