Round or Crescent Entrances for New Housing
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Guest
I'm a soon-to-be new landlord and just bought two Bo Gourds and a Big Bo Gourd from S&K Mfg. The instructions say to use the round holes until I get some PMs to move into the gourds, and then switch to crescent to keep out the starlings. Should I follow this advice or just start with the crescent holes? We live in a fairly rural area with lots of Starlings, but few house sparrows. I haven't put the gourds up yet, but will be in a week or so.
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Guest
jtowne,
Where there are starlings, there is TROUBLE. I started mine last year with all crescents. I know I have a lot of starlings around and didn't want to chance it. Starlings came and went last year with out a single loss to one of those trash beak's. Once the martins got use to the entrance's, they were zipping in and out. Even though last year was my first to actually getting them to stay and nest. I had 7 pair,(4) that were asy males. They fledged 28 and 1 nest that had 4 eggs that was abandoned. I think the mother was a victim of prey while she was a way feeding? Also several others that didn't nest. Cresents didn't seem to be a problem. I have never tried the other entrance's. I am sure they are good too!
Good luck!
Craig
Where there are starlings, there is TROUBLE. I started mine last year with all crescents. I know I have a lot of starlings around and didn't want to chance it. Starlings came and went last year with out a single loss to one of those trash beak's. Once the martins got use to the entrance's, they were zipping in and out. Even though last year was my first to actually getting them to stay and nest. I had 7 pair,(4) that were asy males. They fledged 28 and 1 nest that had 4 eggs that was abandoned. I think the mother was a victim of prey while she was a way feeding? Also several others that didn't nest. Cresents didn't seem to be a problem. I have never tried the other entrance's. I am sure they are good too!
Good luck!
Craig
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roblrich
If you are aware of any other martin landlords in your area using the crescents SREH's, I would definately go with them from the start. Actually, I would go with them from the start anyway, especially if there are a lot of starlings in your area. That would be one less thing you wouldn't have to worry about.
BUT, do what you are comfortable with. But if the martins like your place, they will use the SREH.
BUT, do what you are comfortable with. But if the martins like your place, they will use the SREH.
Down here in San Antonio you could probably but up a cardboard box and get martins, way up there in beautiful Vermont martin populations are a lot more sparse on the ground.
No doubt about it that, all things being equal, round holes are easier for new martins to negotiate. This might be important in a place like Vermont where visits from interested martins might be few and far between.
First off, how actively can you shoot or trap your starlings? Unfortunately S&K does not make an entrance trap, but a number of starling traps are available. What we do is switch out a Natureline gourd with a trap entrance when S&S show interest in a particular gourd. Even if the original gourd is of a different type the S&S readily enter the trap Natureline hung in the same location.
Secondly, could you offer any more housing? Prospecting starlings will actively chase off and discourage prospecting martins but, assuming you are actively controlling them the few starlings not trapped yet will be less likely to dominate the whole gourd set if you have a larger number of gourds.
Just my $0.02.
Mike Scully
No doubt about it that, all things being equal, round holes are easier for new martins to negotiate. This might be important in a place like Vermont where visits from interested martins might be few and far between.
First off, how actively can you shoot or trap your starlings? Unfortunately S&K does not make an entrance trap, but a number of starling traps are available. What we do is switch out a Natureline gourd with a trap entrance when S&S show interest in a particular gourd. Even if the original gourd is of a different type the S&S readily enter the trap Natureline hung in the same location.
Secondly, could you offer any more housing? Prospecting starlings will actively chase off and discourage prospecting martins but, assuming you are actively controlling them the few starlings not trapped yet will be less likely to dominate the whole gourd set if you have a larger number of gourds.
Just my $0.02.
Mike Scully
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Bob Buskas
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
- Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada
Go with Crescents all the way! No Starlings No problem. 
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
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Bob Buskas
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:08 pm
- Location: Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada
Go with Crescents all the way! No Starlings No problem.
Bob Buskas, Alberta, Canada (The Northern Sky's Colony) Supplimental feeding is the key during bad weather, but you must train them to feed ahead of time.
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Guest
Love your positive thinking - hope it pays off.I'm a soon-to-be new landlord and just bought two Bo Gourds and a Big Bo Gourd from S&K Mfg.
Go with the crescents - that's how I started my colony - if you have not experienced sreh anxiety you haven't lived.
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