We are in the process of building a house with round holes. Since we don't have martin's we are going to use round holes until attracting martin's. I am talking about next spring when I ask this next question.
If we were to attract a pair next spring and they start nesting, how do you go about converting to sreh if you cannot take the door off to make the change? I have read it is better to wait until they are committed with nest and eggs before changing. Just confused on how you would make the change.
changing round entry to sreh
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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
If you have a sabre saw or keyhole saw, maybe even something larger if available, this will be used to enlarge the round hole
- Take the SREH entry plate and mark the hole with a pencil on the old entrance, then take the saw and enlarge the round hole so that it is about 1/4 in larger than the SREH entrance hole. The enlarged old door can be done in a ragged fashion, as you will not be able to see the enlarged hole.
It may be a bit difficult to do this while the house is on the pole. You probably will disturb the nests, so maybe you should wait unless you are having starling problems, wait until the next year.
- Take the SREH entry plate and mark the hole with a pencil on the old entrance, then take the saw and enlarge the round hole so that it is about 1/4 in larger than the SREH entrance hole. The enlarged old door can be done in a ragged fashion, as you will not be able to see the enlarged hole.
It may be a bit difficult to do this while the house is on the pole. You probably will disturb the nests, so maybe you should wait unless you are having starling problems, wait until the next year.