Lowering gourds
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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 mstan.. as you know, the best defense against high winds , is a good strong pole, cemented deep in the ground.. here in se Louisiana, we had a recent storm that contained bursts of 70 mph gusts.. for that storm , I lowered to 9 feet… all went well, I definitely had some pole swaying , but made it through just fine.. some people go down to 8 feet for heavy winds, some at 10 feet.. your martins won’t mind the lowering for storms.. good luck..
Rob
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
We're having bad storms tonight/right now - tons of wind. I lowered our racks about 3 hours ago and my birds are all in their chosen gourds. I am bad at estimating - I think they are down to about 8-10 feet. Hopefully they'll be ok.
Billie from southern Wisconsin
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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
Hey Billie.. I mark my pole before the season, with a tape measure and permanent marker.. I make marks at 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 feet… so when I lower or raise, when the rack hits the particular mark, I know exactly how high it is.. good luck with the storm! I hope all is well…
Rob
Rob
PMCA member
Laplace, La
Laplace, La
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
If you are/were able to lower it before it got dark that is what you need to do. You can lower it down around half or so and the martins won't care. What you don't want to do is lower it after dark, spook the martins into the darkness. That can cause issues.
2026 HOSP 26
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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Mstan
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2024 7:52 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2023- 2 racks. 24 gourds
2024- 2 racks.28 gourds. 100 fledged
2025- 3 racks. 24 gourds,6 chirpy nest.105 fledged.
I appreciate all your comments, I am thankful to be able to recieve good instruction from experienced Martin Landlords. Thank you and God bless you all.
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defed
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 8:50 pm
- Location: WNY
- Martin Colony History: :
2022 - 1 pair, 5E, 4H, 4F
2023 - 2 pair, 9E, 5H, 5F
2024 - 4 pair, 16E, 16H, 14F (2 more pair started nests but failed due to weather/loss of mate).
we are expecting some t-storms and high winds this evening. i'll be at work, so i lowered it early - also to give them time to adjust. i am a bit over the joint in the posts, i guess 8 to the bottom row? seems awfully low, i was debating raising it a little more, but they are sitting on them. haven't seen them go in, but i'd think it should be fine. always nerve wracking making changes when your colony is not well established!
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
I was lucky during those storms. I forgot to lower my rack a few feet, but hd no damage. We had a 90mph wind gust at the airport 5 miles away. I was lucky.Martintown33 wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 7:37 pmHi mstan.. as you know, the best defense against high winds , is a good strong pole, cemented deep in the ground.. here in se Louisiana, we had a recent storm that contained bursts of 70 mph gusts.. for that storm , I lowered to 9 feet… all went well, I definitely had some pole swaying , but made it through just fine.. some people go down to 8 feet for heavy winds, some at 10 feet.. your martins won’t mind the lowering for storms.. good luck..
Rob