Martins learning Crescent's Quickly in MN

Kelly Applegate~MN · Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:24 pm

Well, as of April 24th there are the first returning group of 9 ASY's back at the John Deere colony in St. Cloud, MN. I had switched from 100% round holes to 100% Crescents and the Martins are learning them quickly. I was watching a female learn the crescent and it was awesome. She was very determined and pushed through for the first time! She came back out and flitted her wings on the porch and went in again, this time with a little wiggle and little effort. This colony is very dedicated, as most martins are and I'm glad the crescents are working out. It was funny last week when the starling pair tried to get back in the wood house, they eventually gave up and havn't been seen since.

John Atteberry · Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:31 pm

That is great to hear Kelly!!! I wondered how the martins took to it! Keep us posted Kelly! John!

Emil Pampell-Tx · Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:44 am

Thanks for reporting the success of the SREH. I wish the mfg companys would quit making round holes, they no longer are needed. The martins learn to use the SREH within a day or so..

Matt F. · Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:01 am

Great update Kelly!
Just curious, what kind of wood house are you running?

Amen Emil!

Those companies are making it that much harder to get the new generations of martins imprinted on starling resistant entrances.

klcretired · Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:21 pm

Kelly,
Thats a Great update! , a few year's back i did the exact same thing after loosing my whole colony to scum beaks, i changed all of my Round hole entrances to all sreh's (Crescents) and worried if the Martins were going to come to my Housing or move on the the round hole houses somewhere else, well i am happy to report that all that worrying was for nothing, them came, they saw, they conquered...and i haven't had anymore problems since i made the change....and Like Forest Gump say's ..."That's a Good Thing".

Guest · Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:26 pm

Yep those martins can definitely maneuver the SREH entries. I have a pair of SYs that did it in a flash (round holes were an option for them) in the Coates Watersedge. I am so glad I finally have martins in that house.

Good luck everybody!

lanell

starling shooter · Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:40 pm

If you're not around to zap S&S, or can't due to location, then SREH is the way to go.

I'm a believer in them after witnessing their success and watching the starlings have to move on.