New set-up ready for PM's

[David W]

Thought I would post a few pictures of my new set-up. If you had read my previous posts, I had been using a T-14 without success for 10 years. I had tried hanging natural gourds below it with no results, and last year decided to try again, and I did get 4 pair in the 4 gourds.
This year I put a new set-up and this is what I have. I had originally put 4 gourds on each pole, but on a windy day they would be banging into each other, so now there are only 3 per pole.
You can see on the one picture of the pond on the adjoining property, this is looking south.

Forgot to mention that I also put some white pine needles for nest material. I had read that they do like to see some nesting material and that this was a good choice

[4th Gen Martin Fan]

David,
Your site just keeps looking better and better. Wide open, pond for water, great potential for food source (insects), etc.
Everyone is changing from 2" to 3" square poles for further strength and resistance to wind damage. What size pole are you using? That pole looks massive. Impressive.
Is that a bluebird box on a pole in the distance?
Mark.

[Matt F.]

Great looking setup David!
Very nice fabrication work on the gourd rack!
Wonderful location as well!

[David W]

Mark and Matt, thanks. Mark the pole is what the plans called for back when I built everything. The pole is 4 pieces of 5/4" x 6" pressure treated decking boards. Good thing because the winds around here sometimes are nasty.
When I make a new one, I will look into a salvage yard 20 miles away and look for some square 3" aluminum tubing, or maybe use the pressure treated wood again. It is holding up great.

I have bluebird boxes around the whole property. The ones you see in the photo are too close, and the one to the far right, the farmer hits with his hay bailer and so it is short, but the tree swallows use it. the other last year another set of tree swallows. The one to the left in photo, you can see where I have a feeder to put meal worms in for them (on angle, wind blew it). They would wait on the PM perches and when I put the meal worms out, walking back, they would fly down and get them, and then fly to that house and feed mom or the chicks or both. I did that twice a day for them.
The blue bird box in the front of the house attracted blue birds last year and hope they will use it again and the one in the back.

[MamaBruff]

Beautiful work! Great open site too. Big Bad Wolf can huff and puff...

[chickadee]

that looks really nice. being by the water is the rack close to the house? its a great open space. I would like to see the gourds with crescents. other then that you are ready!

[David W]

The gentleman whom I got the natural gourds from years ago told me that starlings will not go in gourds. I couldn't verify this, but he did not have any starling issues in all the years he had PM's
The neighbor up the road has round holes in his gourds (20) and no starlings, but last year when visiting I saw a sparrow using a gourd. But the crescents will not keep them out.

If I do see a problem, I will buy the crescent doors. I was torn in the beginning of which one to get.

[Louise Chambers]

Starlings will nest in gourds, sorry to say, as will house sparrows. Many of us believe that HOSP go for houses first, gourds second, but they will use either type of housing, as will starlings.

[chickadee]

crescents wont keep sparrow out. you have to trap them and shoot them. but a martin can keep a sparrow out if a martin is inside. and a sparrow usually just puts a hurting on martins. starlings kill martins. and will go inside gourds. and everyone has starlings at some point. I use to think I did not have starlings also bothering my gourds. I learned the hard way. its like I don't have raccoons until one night one finds its way up the pole. you just don't know win. but it happens. better be safe then sorry.

[Ladybug]

David:
VERY nice set-up: I would think the Martins would love to nest in your Gourds. And the nice wide open area is great too.
Thanks for the nice photos.
Good Luck in 2014 for a Successful Year.

PMCA MEMBER;

[Anthony Neira]

David, Looks Fantastic! Crescent openings are great, I like obrounds, myself, both are made (with porches) for those gourds. Good luck, Anthony

[jcassiday]

David,
I have a similar situation except I am installing an Aluminun pole for my T 14. I plan on using my wood pole for gourds. My question! How did yo make your hub? And is it in two pieces if not how did you get on your pole.? Thanks for your post!

Jerry

[David W]

Jerry, it is one piece and I had to take the cap off with the perches, only screwed on and then take the bolt out for the pulley which was easy enough to do. The hub is oversized and I used Teflon (cutting board) inside that is screwed on to help it slide on the pole. Otherwise it would bind.
Here is a picture of my T-14 house with the gourds under it and some PM's

[jcassiday]

Dave,
Thanks I might try to develop a two piece ,clam shell, hub. I will post my results when finished. Good idea about the Teflon.
Regards,
Jerry

[jcassiday]

Dave,
Here is a picture of my prototype hub. I use shop scraps, 3/4 " cedar, 3" aluminum angle and 1/4" plastic. I plan to attach 1" aluminum angle for the support arms. Will use for a feeder, ouster shell, this year gourds next year if required(optimistic).

Jerry