I just returned to Delaware after being in South Florida for 18 days. We were touring Fairchild Gardens, south of Miami, and I was so surprised to come across a HUGE setup of Supergourds complete with crescent shaped entrances. It looked like an idea location for martins as it was right beside an inlet area, had lots of lawns and even had a predator guard on the steel pole. It appeared though that the site was not being kept up as at least one of the gourds had no cap on the cleanout hole. I was shocked that there was not a martin in sight. I wonder if the area was just a little too wild for the martins to feel comfortable as it was well away from the buildings. Also, I think that I spotted a hawk in the area. If I lived down there I would like to try to improve the setup and maybe move it a little closer to the buildings. Does anyone know anything about this setup? Maybe you have been there too.
Carlton
Fairchild Gardens, Coconut Grove, FL
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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.