Winch
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Mark Scott
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:21 pm
- Location: Central Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2018 - Had 44 pairs and put out 100+ babies. 3-Super System 24’s. 2019 - Had 48 pairs
Landlords with predator guards, do you mount your winch below the guard (1 foot off the ground) or above the guard? Pros and cons either way? I have been taking the guard off everytime I lower the rack with the winch below the guard but affraid if above the guard I wont be able to lower the rack lower enough (Super System 24) Im playing with the idea of using electric fence on pole and doing away with the predator guard and just use bird netting with the electric fence wire. Whats your thinking.
2018 - 44 pairs, produced 100+ babies. Using 3 Super System 24’s.
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
We use removable guards mounted above winches. We added electric guards and like them a lot, but still have the nets and cylindrical baffles on too - have not caught snakes in net since we added electric.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
The electric is the way to go in my opinion. If you go electric, the electric only needs to be 2 ft high. Then there is no problem in removing the snake guard. As Louise said, you probably do not need anything above it.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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dhjohnson
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: North Carolina/Clayton
- Martin Colony History: 5th year hostess. Currently 58 confirmed breeding pair. 218 Fledged, 35 older nestlings, 2 new nests with 8 nestlings. 100% occupancy
Hi Mark,
We love our electrified predator goard. No issues in the 3 years we have used one. Have never seen a snake try and challenge it but have seen a few 4 & 5 footers leaving the area. Let me know if you would like more detail.
Good luck this year and hope your colony expands nicely.
We love our electrified predator goard. No issues in the 3 years we have used one. Have never seen a snake try and challenge it but have seen a few 4 & 5 footers leaving the area. Let me know if you would like more detail.
Good luck this year and hope your colony expands nicely.
Debbie Johnson
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
Clayton/NC (Archer Lodge)
2012 New Site 6 pair, 21 Fledged
2013 24 pair, 102 eggs, 94 hatched, 89 Fledged. What a great year!
2014 37 pair, 211 eggs, 193 Hatched, 178 Fledged, 1 nest of 5 young left! Late start but picked up speed quickly!
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
Electric is the way to go, just make sure there will be contact with both the hot wire and a ground source. I don't use mesh above my guards since I don't want a predator that can jump get a foot hold above the electric. On my 3" aluminum poles I use electrified stove pipe guards above my winches
~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
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
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Bill Pec
- Posts: 545
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:21 am
- Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Virginia
- Martin Colony History: 2010- 2 pr. Fledged 6
2011- 20 pr. Fledged 75
2012- 35 pr. Fledged 143
2013- 37 pr. Fledged 153
2014- 40 pr. Fledged 198
2015- 40 pr. Fledged 183
2016- 42 pr. Fledged 189
2017- 42 pr. Fledged 168
2018- 43 pr. Fledged 172
2019- 43 pr. Fledged 193
2020 -44 pr. Fledged 181
2021 -43 pr. Fledged 184
2022 - 40 pr. Fledged 160
2023 - 39 pr. Fledged 151
2024 - 40 pr. Fledged 154
Mark,
As a deterrent I have found the commercial metal predator guards are almost worthless against snake attacks. I have seen numerous snakes get past them and get caught in the net snake trap placed above the metal predator guard. In my opinion placing the guard below the winch would make it even easier for predators to reach the martins. I agree with the others. Electrocution is the best deterrent!! Even with the use of an electric predator guard I still like to have a snake trap and predator guard on each martin pole as a backup in case the electricity goes out.
Bill
As a deterrent I have found the commercial metal predator guards are almost worthless against snake attacks. I have seen numerous snakes get past them and get caught in the net snake trap placed above the metal predator guard. In my opinion placing the guard below the winch would make it even easier for predators to reach the martins. I agree with the others. Electrocution is the best deterrent!! Even with the use of an electric predator guard I still like to have a snake trap and predator guard on each martin pole as a backup in case the electricity goes out.
Bill
THE MORE ONE LEARNS THE MORE ONE SEES! While the ignorant person sees only a blackbird the enlightened person sees a Purple Martin.
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
2010- 2 pr. 6 fledged, + many visitors
2011- 20 pr. 75 fledged,
2012- 35 pr. 143 fledged
2013- 37 pr. 153 fledged
2014- 40 pr. 198 fledged
2015- 40 pr. 183 fledged
2016- 42 pr. 189 Fledged
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Ron Kingston
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:13 pm
- Location: Central Virginia
Electrified stovepipe guard is reasonable
~ Ron Kingston in Virginia
~ Ron Kingston in Virginia