Every porch I see comes in a 2-part setup, one porch for the inside and one for the outside. However, is the porch going on the inside really necessary? I cannot see how it is beneficial, as it would seem like it would just be in the way of a nest. Would it be better to simply put one porch on the outside, and use the one meant for the inside on the outside of another gourd?
This are the products in question:
http://shop.purplemartin.org/SuperGourd ... tails.aspx
http://shop.purplemartin.org/PMCA_Snyde ... tails.aspx
Gourd Porches
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
You can do that - I usually put both on gourds with Excluder entrances but not both on crescent entrances. Add a good pile of pine needles or whatever your martins like.
Hi Mikey,
I personally like the idea of having the porches on both inside and out.
The porches on the inside I think help the Martins exit much easier, especially if the nesting material settles and gets compressed, making distance from the nest material, to the bottom of the entrance hole, more than a couple of inches.
I really like the looks of the new SuperGourd porches, plus they come with the mounting hardware.
I personally like the idea of having the porches on both inside and out.
The porches on the inside I think help the Martins exit much easier, especially if the nesting material settles and gets compressed, making distance from the nest material, to the bottom of the entrance hole, more than a couple of inches.
I really like the looks of the new SuperGourd porches, plus they come with the mounting hardware.
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Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
Good observation Mikey. I have used Supergourds (crescent entrances) with porches on the inside & outside, and porches on the outside only. The inside porches do get in the way, but they help the martins in exiting. Nest checks & clean-outs are easier too without the inside porch in the way. It's your preference.
Craig Dyer
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Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
Good observation Mikey. I have used Supergourds (crescent entrances) with porches on the inside & outside, and porches on the outside only. The inside porches do get in the way, but they help the martins in exiting. Nest checks & clean-outs are easier too without the inside porch in the way. It's your preference.
Craig Dyer
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
As anyone with interior porches will tell you, the nestlings often hide under the interior porch when doing nest replacements. I have inside and outside porches on all of my Super Gourds and Excluder Gourds with both Crescent and modified Excluder entrances. Even with owl guards on each gourd, I think that interior porches offer an additional barrier to owl or hawk attacks since the nestlings are out of sight and reach. Just a thought.
Ed
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Ed
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