question on supergourds

Welcome to the internet's gathering place for Purple Martin enthusiasts
Post Reply
orbit1
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.

I have four super gourds with round holes. I have a pair of Martins that are nesting is the gourd. Here are my questions:

1. should the holes be converted while the new pair is nesting, or do I wait until next season to do it?

2, If I need to convert these, is there an adapter that I can use for the current round hole gourds or do I need to get new crescent gourds?

Thanks in advance. This is my first pair of nesting martins, so I am very nervous about this.

Thanks.
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Top
M.Stephens
Posts: 1130
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Texas/Texarkana

Do you have a sparrow or starling problem? I wouldn't bother them if they are nesting. I would wait till next year to modify the supergourds if you even need to .
Malcolm
2015 (110 nesting pair)
2014 (92 nesting pair)
2013 (75 nesting pair)
2012 (35 nesting pair)
2011 (20 pair)
____________
PMCA Member
Top
orbit1
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.

Yes we do have sparrows in and out of my T-14 house that's 20 feet away, and we do have starlings in the area. I have only really seen starlings try to get in the T-14 (which have the starling prevention holes), but I never see them try to go into the gourds.
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Top
jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

i agree with the above answer;; good luck with your first pair;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
Top
orbit1
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Ohio/Columbia Station
Martin Colony History: I have had housing up at my residence since 2000. I added some additional housing and gourds in 2007, and I have been getting purple Martins in my houses and gourds ever since that time.

Thank you, it's only taken me 11 years to get a pair to nest. Here's hoping everything goes well:)
Dave Kunath
Columbia Station, Ohio
Top
~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

I have supergourds with the round hole and no porches.The starlings have never messed with them.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
Top
tonyg
Posts: 1520
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Olpe, KS
Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..

Bottom line Dave, keep the S&S away from your nesting pair any way you can. Change over nest season.
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Purple Martin Forum”