After season care
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cnevett27
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:40 am
- Location: Washington, MO
- Martin Colony History: Hosting martins for about 5-6 years, keeping records back to 2014. Using all gourds-horizonal Troyers and Excluders
2018 33 pair, 140 fledged
2017-25 pair, 106 fledged
2016 25 pair, 87 fledged
2015 24 pair, 70 fledged
2014 21 pair, 43 fledged
I have been looking to expand my housing and happened to read that you should take down the poles and arms each fall for storage. I always did the gourds, but didn't know about this...also waxing the pole and oiling the pully. So my question is, do all you landlords take down your poles? That would mean taking off the wenches. I had a friend help me put the whole thing up. This is definitely not my forte. I've left them up like this for probably 5 years. I would spray WD 40 on them in the spring. What can go wrong? Also, how long should you leave up the gourds after your flock has departed? I heard that migrating birds may spot them...for next year? or for sleepover? I have 24 gourds now, only 4 were unoccupied this season.Had 107 babies fledge. I was thinking of expanding to a 12 gourd rack with possibility to add on later. What are your opinions? Thanks for your experience. This is a wonderful forum.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I personally take down my gourds and T14 and leave the poles, winches, etc. I know some that take poles down but I never have. I put my T14 up for the first year in 2005 and it still works and looks fine. My gourd rack was put up a year or two later, it looks fine as well. I do check my cables/rope and oil things each spring.
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
I think this would determine what the individual is able to do! I have 2 strong men help me and I remove it all but the ground sleeve. I have a square pic. of rubber I place over the sleeve and strap it on.They have concrete in them but always cover it so moisture doesn't get down into the sleeve! All my poles are 2" square with 6 gourds on 2 poles and I have the 2 MPP pole with 2 aluminum houses on them each. We lower the houses, put a c clamp at the top of the sliding sleeve, protect the aluminum pole with a rag under the c clamp so it doesn't bur it! Lift it off the sleeves and lower it slowly so you don't damage the perches. I wax and oil all moving parts. Just what I do. I'm in my 50's and would like the setup to last me a long time.
It's easy with help. If you have 3" poles with more weight that could be difficult! Good luck!
It's easy with help. If you have 3" poles with more weight that could be difficult! Good luck!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
I have 2 T-10 houses on 3 inch square poles with winches. We let them up into mid October in case any need to stop over during migration.
We clean the houses & trays, let them dry good & then lower them all the way down. Winches are oiled & then we put the covers on the houses. The covers are long enough to cover the winches too. They sit in the down position all winter. We usually uncover the houses early to mid March, oil & wax, pre-nest all trays & raise the houses. When the scout report shows Martins arriving in my state we open 4 rooms & wait. As more arrive I open more rooms, leaving 2 closed for SY's.
As far as adding housing....I chose to downsize. I had 3 S&K barns/tri-tel poles. They were too hard to deal with, so I replaced them with the 2 T-10 houses/poles/winches. I decided 20 pair would be my limit, as far as what I can properly care for. When deciding to expand consider how will you be able to properly care for more martins in the future.
Toy in PA
We clean the houses & trays, let them dry good & then lower them all the way down. Winches are oiled & then we put the covers on the houses. The covers are long enough to cover the winches too. They sit in the down position all winter. We usually uncover the houses early to mid March, oil & wax, pre-nest all trays & raise the houses. When the scout report shows Martins arriving in my state we open 4 rooms & wait. As more arrive I open more rooms, leaving 2 closed for SY's.
As far as adding housing....I chose to downsize. I had 3 S&K barns/tri-tel poles. They were too hard to deal with, so I replaced them with the 2 T-10 houses/poles/winches. I decided 20 pair would be my limit, as far as what I can properly care for. When deciding to expand consider how will you be able to properly care for more martins in the future.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member