SOOO Torn

[Seller]

I know this subject has been beaten to death by many and probably an old subject to a lot of you but I'm really torn on my housing. I've learned that what I've got is pretty much a "starter kit" which is to say I have an S&K house, something called a Heavenly something. It's like a box. I've got one of the telescoping triangle style poles which I actually kind of like, it's very easy to get up and down. I've also got four BO 9's with tunnels. This will be my third season trying with this set up

Most of the houses locally that I've seen that have established PM's are either the Trio or Heath style houses or octagons. I've seen very few gourds around here.

I've had a lot of visits from PM's from a nearby colony which naturally is Trio and Heath housing but they'll hang out for a while than leave. They've even been in and out of my housing but never stayed.

I cant find a Heath or Trio locally but there's a place a few miles away that stocks the S&K products. I've got a brand new S&K barn sitting in the other room in the box. But I'm considering ordering one of the new Heath octagons with SREH entrances and expandable cavities. At least then my housing will resemble what has been successful in the area.

We don't seem to have too much of a starling problem but sparrows are plentiful.

Again, I apologize for beating the horse...Thanks

Any and all opinions are greatly appriciated. Advice is even better

[Don Strickland]

I'm far from being anything near an expert. But "in my humble opinion", If the Martins like your location, They will build. I would double check, to see what could be turning them away, (Tall trees, No flyway, etc.) Since you already have the barn, I would put it up. Sounds like you already have decent housing, so I think there must be another reason why they haven't stayed at your place. Good luck....

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I agree, you must have too many trees near your housing, that is often the main reason for martins not staying at your place.

[Tony]

I stuck with my S&K and finally got martins the third year when I opened up the round holes. They visited the cressent holes and went in but never stayed. I do have a lot of trees but they still moved in once I opened the round holes. Most S&K houses have round holes molded into the door that you can cut out, then cover the others with S&K plugs or masking tape. If your Heavenly Haven doesn't have the round holes molded on the doors call S&K to see if they have other doors available to fit that house with round cut outs. Otherwise check your Barn house to see if you can open round holes on it. As you said you don't have a starling problem. I did not have starling problems either when I opened the round holes. and martins will take an easy to enter hole more quickly. If you open round holes and get some to stay, you can start changing some of them back each year to SREH if starlings become a problem. If you can get round holes on the gourds for a year or two that will probably get those used, as my BigBo and Bo11 gourds filled up the first year with round holes and tunnels.

[John Miller]

As said, evaluate your site for open, especially open flyways. But that said, martin populations may be declining in many parts of Florida...based on the U.S. Breeding Bird Surveys. So the martins present may stick to existing sites.

The question to me then is why are they declining? Probably not clear, but we know that some housing is more productive at fledging young. I'm glad the Heath Octagon house now has an option for deep compartments, which should fledge more young, but I suspect the house is not as sturdy and durable as I'd like. I recommend after evaluating your site, consider a small gourd rack and 6 to 8 quality gourds with SREH. Add a good pole guard as snakes are a big problem in Florida, and many locations. I really doubt there's much benefit to attracting martins to your site specifically by having the aluminum housing; there are robust martin colonies housed in quality gourds at many sites in Florida. You also could go with one of the high end Trendsetters or Lone Star Aluminum houses, but if a "box" on a pole has not yet got them to stay, maybe a rack of gourds will. I know there is a rationale that one should offer the same type of housing as is offered in an area, but I repeatedly hear stories of thriving colonies in gourd racks in Fla and other states where the landlord says all the others around are the traditional Trios.

John M

[Seller]

First, thank you all for the replies.

Trees: I do have a large oak that's about 75-90 ft from the PM house but all other directions are open for at least 400+ ft. The colony that's just a few blocks away has several large trees within no more than 40-50 ft of the houses. It just defies what I thought I knew.

Tony I think I may try to round hole thing and yes the barn has them in the doors. I figured the house type may not matter much if the nesting cavaties are attractive enough so I turned a 12 cavaty home into a 6. I figure it'll increase my odds if anything.

I do have a gourd rack with 4 gourds which I added tunnels to about a week ago, I'll open the circles on those too.

Thanks again all, much appriciated

[flyin-lowe]

There are hundreds if not more landlord raising martins in S&K housing. I think they get a bad image because many people who know nothing about martins buy them and put them next to a tree and let them get run down. People who are successfully or who are really interested in learning about PM's and becoming a landlord will try other housing options. Most people don't buy a $400.00 T14 and put it up in a bad location and let it get run down. It seems if I see a run down house in a bad location it is a S&K or Heath house just because of the price. It doesn't mean that in the right location they won't work.
I know some people in the south can have faster results but depending on where you are at it is not uncommon even at an "ideal" sight to take several years to get a colony started. I have a very open site, colonies close by, and a 1000 acre 200 yards from my housing and it took 5 years of visitors before my first nesting pair stayed.

[Tony]

Seller, I have an ash and an oak tree within 20 feet of my S&K with a wide open flyway to to east. Round holes did it for me. If starlings become a problem switch back to SREH gradually after you get some nesters. This year I added S&K tunnels to the sides and two on the doors of my S&K house. If you want some pictures I can open a photo site.

[Tom Christian]

I have three S-K's, four BO-11s, and one T-14. All have crescents with PMCA wing entrapment guards. All The S-Ks are converted to six two room apartments. I believe this is the one best thing you can do to these houses.

This is my fourth season. With 34 pair this year I feel quite fortuneit. If I had not found the S-K barn It would not of happened.Last year was the first year with the bo-11s and the T-14.

Just to let you know, The S-Ks filled up first, then bo-11s and then the T14.

Yes, you will read horror stories about these, but they have worked well for me. I keep my houses at about nine feet up here in Northwest AR. due to the severe storms.

Tom

ps

On the first barn I cut out a round hole into the attic and had a starling enter the first day

[Bulldog1]

There is a couple of S&K's that I pass in a very rural area on my way to work. Both have poles bent over from the wind so bad I don't see how the birds can stay in the compartments. They are full every spring.

Both are in a very good locations. One on top of a very steep hill with few trees and the other on the dam of a one acre lake with no trees.

[Virgil McCoy]

You have "great equipment" as far as your housing so don't change it. As Emil stated you may be too close to trees. Don't let the sparrows gain a foot-hold building nests. Check your housing daily and rip out nests they build discarding the material away from the housing or they will pick it right back up. Personally, I quickly burn the nest material on the ground. It doesn't take but a few sparrows to discourage a potential Martin pair. Only leave a few entrance holes open until you get established. Plug the rest to prevent sparrow infestation. I use swimming pool noodles cut three to four inches long. The dawn song works well with decoys and be liberal with the music, lol ! Remember, it takes diligent work to get Martins established but once you do ..........................................

[Dave Duit]

I still have S&K metal houses. They have been drastically modified so the depth is 12 inches. Nothing wrong with an S&K as long as the compartment size is increased. Good luck.

[Seller]

I knew I could count on ya'll. I've fabricated the house to accommodate half the pairs it was designed so the nesting cavities are much larger, twice the normal size.

Im relocating my pole tomorrow just as an additional step, as far as I can put it on my property away from the trees. I'll cut out the circles tomorrow and plug the holes until time to open them...

Appreciate the advice and looking forward to the season starting and FINALLY being successful. Time will tell.

Thanks again, I truly Appreciate the help.

[Chriscreole]

I started with the S&K setup and did very well my first year, its all about location. I went to a super system 24 gourd rack this year in hopes of doubling my colony size since i was at full occupancy lsat year. I still going to use the S&K just move it over some.