New colony in Arlington, VA

[nvbirdalliance]

Hello friends! We put up our colony last year in Feb but didn't get any takers last Spring (of any species).

Some info about our site: https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/news/asn ... r-mile-run

I am very hopeful we will get purple martins this year because last summer people saw some purple martins sitting on the structure.

If anyone else has a colony in NOVA and has some advice, lmk. I am going to go check out the Burke Lake colony next week.

Wish us luck!

[flyin-lowe]

Looks like a good location. A big issue with colonies in such locations is dealing with sparrows. Trapping or shooting is about the only way to truly deal with them. I don't know what the local martin colonies there are like but it is not uncommon to have to try for 5 years or more to get a new colony started. Some obviously establish quicker, but don't get disappointed if not. Hopefully there are some nearby colonies that fledged young last year which will be looking for a place to live this year.

[scottfreidhof]

A wonderful location for sure! I hope the birds choose the site this spring. Based upon the photos in the article, the vegetation around the base of the pole does not look maintained. I believe martins prefer a clear area around the pole. Someone might keep it mowed to a 10-foot radius to improve odds of acceptance.

[John Miller]

Good luck to you. These look to be PMCA's Excluder Gourds. As you put the gourds up last year and likely purchased before a notice was given by the excluder gourd manufactuer that some SREH entrances were too small and not to spec, I suggest you check your entrances. If the entrances are smaller than 1 3/16 high, martins cannot enter. A notice was posted by the PMCA on the Forum.

viewtopic.php?t=38767&hilit=Excluder+gourds

John Miller

To measure (difficult with a ruler), cut a wedge of white poster board, plastic or aluminum, flat on bottom and tapered at top. Mark a line at 1 3/16 (measure carefully; calipers best) and insert into the entrance. Crescents should be 1 3/16. Entrances with pips can go to 1 7/32 and still restrict starlings.

[Jones4381]

Good luck to you. These look to be PMCA's Excluder Gourds. As you put the gourds up last year and likely purchased before a notice was given by the excluder gourd manufactuer that some SREH entrances were too small and not to spec, I suggest you check your entrances. If the entrances are smaller than 1 3/16 high, martins cannot enter. A notice was posted by the PMCA on the Forum.

viewtopic.php?t=38767&hilit=Excluder+gourds

John Miller

Good point. I had one of mine with the smaller entrance. Actually trapped a female inside. I was able to get her out through the side portal (she flew out actually) and needless to say that gourd was not selected anymore that season even though I turned it from a an excluder opening to a crescent opening. It's hanging back up this year, we'll see.

[nvbirdalliance]

Thank you for the advice on clearing vegetation around the pole. We went out and did that last week. Fingers crossed!

[nvbirdalliance]

Good luck to you. These look to be PMCA's Excluder Gourds. As you put the gourds up last year and likely purchased before a notice was given by the excluder gourd manufactuer that some SREH entrances were too small and not to spec, I suggest you check your entrances. If the entrances are smaller than 1 3/16 high, martins cannot enter. A notice was posted by the PMCA on the Forum.

viewtopic.php?t=38767&hilit=Excluder+gourds

John Miller

Good point. I had one of mine with the smaller entrance. Actually trapped a female inside. I was able to get her out through the side portal (she flew out actually) and needless to say that gourd was not selected anymore that season even though I turned it from a an excluder opening to a crescent opening. It's hanging back up this year, we'll see.

Thank you for this advice! Ours are too small! Yikes! Any ideas on how to fix? I emailed to ask for replacements and we will try sanding to be a bit bigger. Oh man these gourds were a headache the whole time. Anyone have an alternative source for gourds?

[Jones4381]

I have 6. I used a carpenters knife to cut away the 2 nodes that stuck up from the bottom and shave a little from the top. Only 1 of mine was an issue...basically turned it into a crescent entrance. Plenty of choices out there on gourds, I use the Boaxis from SK as well as Troyer Gourds. I had many naturals but due to maintenance and lack of time I moed to all plastic this season. Glad you caught it and PMCA made their announcement. I had a female trapped last season and was able to save here and fix the gourd by luck.