) but they are all checking out the housing. Several are familiar with SREH but some keep trying and trying. I was so happy this morning to find one of the females in the gourd. The male was still struggling to get in. I keep reading that some landlords are afraid to change to SREH because they fear that they will loose their Martins. Is this a valid fear or will most martins figure out how to use them?Do SREH Discourage Martins?
Have many landlords had Martins leave because of SREH? All I have are SREH and I have definitely seen Martins struggling to get in (especially the SG's with double porches) but it seems like they all keep coming back. So far I have about 20 ASY Martins hanging around every day. None of them are nesting (except a Sparrow which I keep trying to trap but my wooden T-14 trap keeps failing ) but they are all checking out the housing. Several are familiar with SREH but some keep trying and trying. I was so happy this morning to find one of the females in the gourd. The male was still struggling to get in. I keep reading that some landlords are afraid to change to SREH because they fear that they will loose their Martins. Is this a valid fear or will most martins figure out how to use them?
) but they are all checking out the housing. Several are familiar with SREH but some keep trying and trying. I was so happy this morning to find one of the females in the gourd. The male was still struggling to get in. I keep reading that some landlords are afraid to change to SREH because they fear that they will loose their Martins. Is this a valid fear or will most martins figure out how to use them?Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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Dave S (Texas)
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:42 am
- Location: Round Rock, Tx
The birds_will_figure the SREs out...no problem. It does take a lot of patience on the part of the landlord though. Years ago when I started my colony, I took the advice of experienced landlords and started my new colony with SREs. Once the birds learn the SRE they almost fly directly through them. No PM has ever seen a round hole at my site. Keep the faith and patience will be rewarded.
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Guest
Nanette, you are looking at the answer to your question. Your description is very typical. Since there are so many martins there, and some going in already, you are probably going to do fine like it is. Most everybody agrees that SREHs are the way you want to end up. When martins are scarce around a locality, and they have never seen an SREH before, it may not be the fastest way to start a colony. Some folks are going to be waiting for a very long time, by starting with SREH. SREH are not the best way to start in all places. One needs to know a lot about the situation at each locality before saying definitively one way or the other. Either option could work best depending on the situation.
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apundt-TX
- Posts: 986
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:34 pm
- Location: Pflugerville, Texas
- Martin Colony History: :
2022-1 pair
1 pair 2021
2020- Didn't get setup fast enough in Pflugerville
2019- Apartment
2018 Divorce lost Colony in Dripping Springs
19 pair 2017
17 pair 2015
12 pair 2014
8 pair 2013
5 pair 2012
2 pair 2011
I started my colony this week on all SREH. That sparrow hanging around will keep martins away more than learning those SREHs will.
A.P.
A.P.
Hi,
Actually, it appears that the sparrow is bothering me more than the martins at this point. I tried trapping him and later found him sitting on the porch with the red "flag" behind him! Then I reset it and watched him go in and out several times!
! I bought the wood trap because it was MUCH less expensive than the metal one. Now I am going to end up buying the metal one too. I guess the wood swells and the flag doesn't move along the guides very well. Lesson learned the hard way!
About the SREH's, It does seem that the Martins hang around and keep trying because they see other Martins getting in. I started my colony with the SREH so many of the ASY are already familiar with them. It is interesting however, seeing a pair when one knows and the other one struggles. I was just wondering if Martins will actually leave before they figure it out. Fortunately it seems that at my colony the ASY's are staying. I wonder how tenacious the SY's will be.
Actually, it appears that the sparrow is bothering me more than the martins at this point. I tried trapping him and later found him sitting on the porch with the red "flag" behind him! Then I reset it and watched him go in and out several times!
! I bought the wood trap because it was MUCH less expensive than the metal one. Now I am going to end up buying the metal one too. I guess the wood swells and the flag doesn't move along the guides very well. Lesson learned the hard way!About the SREH's, It does seem that the Martins hang around and keep trying because they see other Martins getting in. I started my colony with the SREH so many of the ASY are already familiar with them. It is interesting however, seeing a pair when one knows and the other one struggles. I was just wondering if Martins will actually leave before they figure it out. Fortunately it seems that at my colony the ASY's are staying. I wonder how tenacious the SY's will be.
Fledge on!
Nanette
Nanette
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Guest
Nanette; This is the most difficult time for a landlord. Hang in there. I've used SREH's from the ob-round, crescent, excluder and all the new stuff landlords are experimenting with. I did not notice any reduction in numbers thru those years. I now use excluders on all aluminum housing and crescents on the super and Troyer Horizontals. One season I watched one ASY male struggle every time here entered and exited the crescent gourd to feed his babies. The female would return, feed, leave and return again as many as 2 or 3 times before the male could get out. I checked a spare gourd for the correct sized opening and even made one a little larger and switched gourds. This guy still had trouble. You'll have a much healthier site with the SREH's, just don't watch. 
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Sharon Wangen, MN
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2003 7:30 pm
- Location: MN/Albert Lea
Just be sure your entrances are not less than 1 and 3/16. My first year was unsuccessful because all my super gourd holes were 1 and 2/16!!
It never occurred to me that I needed to check them. I had to file them to the correct size so then the next year they had no trouble getting in.
Good luck
It never occurred to me that I needed to check them. I had to file them to the correct size so then the next year they had no trouble getting in.
Good luck