I was at a public meeting today, and put up a martin display, complete with a demo nest cam set up (recorded footage from last year along with a camera in a gourd wired to a TV across the room).
I can report that the nest cam concept draws a lot of attention and could be a powerful recruiting tool. A couple of comments though got my attention.
Both these people had put up gourds and anticipated martins. A couple of years passed and still no martins. Eventually they let the starlings have at it so they'd at least get SOMETHING in their housing. Neither was aware of the awfully destructive effect of starlings, nor of the existence of SREH's.
I think the SREH issue is becoming somewhat moot with the continuing spread of those entrance types (S&K especially is to be commended for this, introducing SREH's to discount retail outlets across America), but the issue of PATIENCE is going to be harder to overcome.
Bexar County where I reside is a high martin-density area, yet one gourdset I put up for a friend took four years before martins moved in. One pole of four Naturelines in a local State Natural Area has attracted a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers instead, which as it turns out they are equally happy with.
Another gourdset donated by S&K and put up at another preserve is still martin-free in its second season.
It must be recognised that we are asking a lot of folks when we ask them to put up housing and then possibly wait for years. And the importance of keeping out S&S, even in the absence of martins, must be stressed.
Mike Scully
Convincing folks to wait.
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Guest
True Mike, the wait is the hardest part for some people. I HAD to have a PM house when I was a youngster, knew nothing about them, didn't even know what they looked like. I was happy w/ HOSP.
Fastforward 25 years. I'm mowing the front yard, see a pair on a lightpole across the street. Go the next day and buy a Heath house and whamo, I finally had PMs! Then I found the forum.
I know ppl up north wait years to get them, its just hard to imagine that being from here. I think thats most ppls problem... they put up a house and don't have PMs for whatever reason. The s/s invade and there happy to have them because "somethings" in the house.
Hopefully, some of the students you have will carry on after they graduate. Thanks for what you do!!
Chuck
Fastforward 25 years. I'm mowing the front yard, see a pair on a lightpole across the street. Go the next day and buy a Heath house and whamo, I finally had PMs! Then I found the forum.
I know ppl up north wait years to get them, its just hard to imagine that being from here. I think thats most ppls problem... they put up a house and don't have PMs for whatever reason. The s/s invade and there happy to have them because "somethings" in the house.
Hopefully, some of the students you have will carry on after they graduate. Thanks for what you do!!
Chuck
Mike,
Do you think offering gourds as opposed to houses adds to the wait time? I'm offering gourds this year for the first time and they are showing relatively little interest. Could it be that we host a population of martins that are firmly imprinted on houses and the switch to gourds will be slow? I really do think gourds are superior to houses in space they offer inside as well as the critical distance space preferred by nesting pairs. Obviously site and type ofcompartment fidelity are extremely stong in martins.
Thanks,
Patrick
Do you think offering gourds as opposed to houses adds to the wait time? I'm offering gourds this year for the first time and they are showing relatively little interest. Could it be that we host a population of martins that are firmly imprinted on houses and the switch to gourds will be slow? I really do think gourds are superior to houses in space they offer inside as well as the critical distance space preferred by nesting pairs. Obviously site and type ofcompartment fidelity are extremely stong in martins.
Thanks,
Patrick
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Dave
Mike,
This is why I am offering both SREH and Round with all of our newer designs. IE: Bo Villas, Whistle Gourds, Big Bo, Bo, Bo Bungalows,and soon the two new "perfect Gourds" will have Both type of holes as well.
On all of these products the landlord can instantly change the hole for the landlords needs.
This is why I am offering both SREH and Round with all of our newer designs. IE: Bo Villas, Whistle Gourds, Big Bo, Bo, Bo Bungalows,and soon the two new "perfect Gourds" will have Both type of holes as well.
On all of these products the landlord can instantly change the hole for the landlords needs.
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Guest
Patrick,
I started out with a metal house the 1st year(1pr). The second year, I trashed it(heath) and added 4 SGs to the pole and put up a MSS8 house(5pr). Last year I left it the same and had 7pr. This year I added another 2 SGs and another MSS8. As of this mornig I had 8pr witha another going from pole to pole, a SY male and two ASY males. I won't say the gourds attract them anymore or less. Ido know that a house about 1/2 mile away didn't go up this year, so that might be where my influx is coming from.
It may have something to do with what they were fledged in or it maybe the female choice on what looks best.... I don't know!!!
I just like my Martins!!!
Chuck
I started out with a metal house the 1st year(1pr). The second year, I trashed it(heath) and added 4 SGs to the pole and put up a MSS8 house(5pr). Last year I left it the same and had 7pr. This year I added another 2 SGs and another MSS8. As of this mornig I had 8pr witha another going from pole to pole, a SY male and two ASY males. I won't say the gourds attract them anymore or less. Ido know that a house about 1/2 mile away didn't go up this year, so that might be where my influx is coming from.
It may have something to do with what they were fledged in or it maybe the female choice on what looks best.... I don't know!!!
I just like my Martins!!!
Chuck
I for one cannot tell if martins have a preference re: gourds vs. houses. Our one banding recovery was an SY female in a gourd across town, which was recovered dead inside a gourd, the owner actually suspecting a golden-fronted woodpecker was the culprit given the severity of the damage to the martin and the fact the woodpecker had been entering the gourds. This being a case of a gourd-hatched martin turning up in a gourd the following year.
Incidentally, the very gourd from which the martin hatched is pictured in that same year on the pole right next to the bulldozers on our website ( www.nisd.net/jay/martins ).
In our own case, we fortuitously began our colony the same year a dilapidated martin house adjacent to the school, and perhaps 200 yards away and in plain sight of our colony, was taken down shorty after the first pair arrived. Each evening I actually watched what I believed to be that dispossed male duel with another ASY male for possession of a single remaining old Carrol gourd in the backyard of yet another house adjacent to the school (that gourd too long since removed).
After about a week that male moved over to our eight Carrol gourd pole, if I'm remembering right, being joined by three SY pairs later that season. So THAT might be a case of a martin moving from a house to a gourd pole.
Many folks here swear by natural gourds, saying they are true martin magnets. On the other hand, we have on occasion switched out gourd types once the martins were in but not yet nesting, and in each case the martins in question appeared to unhesistatingly accept the new style of gourd (even if, as in one year, it was a switch from Naturelines to little Carrols).
So, I'm going to say I have no idea. What I DO suspect is that the best attractant to any type of housing is an advertising ASY male already in residence. Something that can be mimicked with decoys and song tapes. I'd be willing to bet that trumps even gourd vs house.
Mike Scully
Incidentally, the very gourd from which the martin hatched is pictured in that same year on the pole right next to the bulldozers on our website ( www.nisd.net/jay/martins ).
In our own case, we fortuitously began our colony the same year a dilapidated martin house adjacent to the school, and perhaps 200 yards away and in plain sight of our colony, was taken down shorty after the first pair arrived. Each evening I actually watched what I believed to be that dispossed male duel with another ASY male for possession of a single remaining old Carrol gourd in the backyard of yet another house adjacent to the school (that gourd too long since removed).
After about a week that male moved over to our eight Carrol gourd pole, if I'm remembering right, being joined by three SY pairs later that season. So THAT might be a case of a martin moving from a house to a gourd pole.
Many folks here swear by natural gourds, saying they are true martin magnets. On the other hand, we have on occasion switched out gourd types once the martins were in but not yet nesting, and in each case the martins in question appeared to unhesistatingly accept the new style of gourd (even if, as in one year, it was a switch from Naturelines to little Carrols).
So, I'm going to say I have no idea. What I DO suspect is that the best attractant to any type of housing is an advertising ASY male already in residence. Something that can be mimicked with decoys and song tapes. I'd be willing to bet that trumps even gourd vs house.
Mike Scully
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
Mike, believe it or not your postings last year about your nestcam in your classrooms were a big influence in me deciding to get a nest cam even though I dont have martins yet. (Well, S&K having a sale on them helped too!) I believe you are right in saying that nestcams are a very helpfull tool in educating the public about martins.
As you know I am a long time wannabee but am never going to give up trying and if I cant use that nestcam in a martin house this year it will be used in another bird house, maby I will get to watch bluebirds raise young there are plenty of them around the yard here.
As you know I am a long time wannabee but am never going to give up trying and if I cant use that nestcam in a martin house this year it will be used in another bird house, maby I will get to watch bluebirds raise young there are plenty of them around the yard here.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:06 am
- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Mike ,
My gourd rack always seem to fill up before my Goliad house, and you're right people need the education so this hobby can be carried on with the martins protected correctly.
My gourd rack always seem to fill up before my Goliad house, and you're right people need the education so this hobby can be carried on with the martins protected correctly.
Pictures Taken with Canon Rebel XT Digital using a Sigma 50-500 Long Lens.
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Wishing everyone a Great Martin Year
Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
dhurdtMN... glad to be of helpful influence 
Nest cam technology continues to improve by leaps and bounds, two years ago we thought we were doing great with a single black and white camera in the neck of a Natureline. Last year Dave of S&K was kind enough to donate to us the color and sound nest cam shown on our website. This year it would appear that Dave is offering an improved camera (color, sound AND infra-red for night vision) at an unbeatable price (NOT sucking up here, the S&K is the most inexpensive I've seen).
Two additions we will consider next year: a wireless transmitter as mentioned in the New York State Bluebird Society web page (~$300) and a digital memory unit w/120 gig (~$370) to record images digitally instead of VHS tapes. These available from mail order security camera outlets (I don't think I can mention commercial websites here). The first will alleviate the need for coaxial cable to the nest pole, needing only an extension cord instead. The latter will simplify recording footage, although VHS tapes are certainly not bad in this regard.
The TRULY committed can opt for their own live nest cam website via a 190 gig unit (~$1,000) that they just plug into the camera (or the wireless receiver) on the one hand and the internet on the other. This unit also digitally recording footage.
All if this technology being developed for security applications, with that last you can check on your live home security or nest cam footage anywhere you can get online.
Mike Scully
Nest cam technology continues to improve by leaps and bounds, two years ago we thought we were doing great with a single black and white camera in the neck of a Natureline. Last year Dave of S&K was kind enough to donate to us the color and sound nest cam shown on our website. This year it would appear that Dave is offering an improved camera (color, sound AND infra-red for night vision) at an unbeatable price (NOT sucking up here, the S&K is the most inexpensive I've seen).
Two additions we will consider next year: a wireless transmitter as mentioned in the New York State Bluebird Society web page (~$300) and a digital memory unit w/120 gig (~$370) to record images digitally instead of VHS tapes. These available from mail order security camera outlets (I don't think I can mention commercial websites here). The first will alleviate the need for coaxial cable to the nest pole, needing only an extension cord instead. The latter will simplify recording footage, although VHS tapes are certainly not bad in this regard.
The TRULY committed can opt for their own live nest cam website via a 190 gig unit (~$1,000) that they just plug into the camera (or the wireless receiver) on the one hand and the internet on the other. This unit also digitally recording footage.
All if this technology being developed for security applications, with that last you can check on your live home security or nest cam footage anywhere you can get online.
Mike Scully
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Guest
Patrick - I had been trying for martins for 3 years using a house. I finally decided this year to hang gourds (natural and plastic) and my houses are still up, but the martins took the gourds which makes me a 1st time landlord (well, I only 5 pairs - I'm 1/2 landlord 
). I prefer the gourds to houses, naturally.
lanell
). I prefer the gourds to houses, naturally.lanell
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Guest
I guess the martins are the one who decides what kind of housing any one of will prefer. If they go for the gourds, then I'm a gourd man, if they go for the house, then I'm a house man. What ever kind of nest brings martins to your yard, then that's it!