My colony got wiped out by raccoons last summer. This year I have only had overnight scouts. All the neighbors have their houses filling with martins. They seem to be getting established but I have no permanent activity.
I have installed the pole guards you sell on all my poles. They are loose and swing in the wind and make contact with the pole and cause a ping noise. Is this noise going to be distracting to the martins?
I want to build my colony back but I am concerned about the slow start. I live in the very southeast corner of Arkansas. The first scouts arrived about February 18.
Please advise about the guards making noise when coming in contact with the pole.
Raccoon guards
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paule
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:06 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Martin Colony History: 5 Modified Trios 10 Gourds and 1 B&B
2025 33 Pair 83 Fledged
2024 39 Pair 75 Fledged
2023 33 Pair 114 Fledged
2022 27 Pair 113 Fledged
2021 31 Pair 115 Fledged
2020 29 Pair 109 Fledged
2019 24 Pair 83 Fledged
2018 23 Pair 92 Fledged
2017 26 Pair 105 Fledged
2016 21 Pair 99 Fledged
2015 15 Pair 59 Fledged
2014 18 Pair 40 Fledged
2013 16 Pair 30 Fledged
2012 10 Pair 30 Fledged
Started in late 1980's
I have several of the very same houses with probably the same guards on them. The noise does not bother our martins at all. I have seen a few houses like ours "totally" destroyed by raccoons.
You will be alright.
Paul
You will be alright.
Paul
Project MartinWatch participants and supplemental feeding is provided. I also add heat to housing when needed.
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sugarcreek
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
- Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
- Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.
Might take you a couple years to reestablish a colony....Martin's seem to remember coon attacks
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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Martintown33
- Posts: 1366
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2021 6:21 pm
- Location: Laplace,La
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 1998. 2 s&k modified houses and gourd rack
Hi barclay… to stop the pinging noise, get some peel and stick, foam or rubber weather stripping, sold at any hardware or Home Depot. Remove the backing , and place the sticky side of the weather stripping to the bottom of the inside of the metal guard, with the the foam or rubber side facing the pole.. ( do some testing first.. make the guard swing and see where the metal is hitting the pole.. it’s usually at the bottom) … press the weather stripping so it’s on secure to the inside of the guard. Now when the guard swings in the wind, the rubber or foam stripping will buffer the metal, not allowing it to make contact with the pole, and make the ping noise. I’ve done this for years on all my guards and it works great to keep them from pinging. With that said, I don’t think they mind the pinging sound all that much, but I figured it’s better not to have the noise..
Good luck,
Rob
Good luck,
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
I had the best luck with Have a Heart traps and just took the raccoons to a nearby river and released them.
I used a slice of bread for bait
Had one raccoon kill 13 Martins in two nights.
I used a slice of bread for bait
Had one raccoon kill 13 Martins in two nights.
Colony started in 2002
Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS
*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS
*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.