Question about porches on Troyer gourds
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Guest
Had good success this season with the Troyer gourds (fledged 22 baby martins from 4 of my 8 gourds). But I really hate the metal porches. All my martins have dispersed for the year, so I'm cleaning out my housing for next spring. Will the martins use the gourds if I leave the metal porches off? I used caulk to seal around the edges of the porches so the martins would not get their feet caught. But all the porches developed big gaps over the season which I think could have injured or trapped a martin. WIll anything bad happen if I just leave the porches off next year? My gourds have the SR entrances. Thanks, Peggy in KY
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Guest
I do not think that porches are absolutely required for martin occupancy. After all, in many cases in the wild, martins will nest in tree cavities.
One thing, though. If you decide to remove the porches, consider installing something along the lines of a tail brace. Reference this image for a tail brace on a Troyer Horizontal gourd. These are useful for martins, as the martin will cling to the edge of the entrance, then use its stiff tail feathers against the tail brace to help lift itself into the gourd.
One thing, though. If you decide to remove the porches, consider installing something along the lines of a tail brace. Reference this image for a tail brace on a Troyer Horizontal gourd. These are useful for martins, as the martin will cling to the edge of the entrance, then use its stiff tail feathers against the tail brace to help lift itself into the gourd.
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi Peggy.
I had 3 Troyer Horizontal Gourds up this season, too. I don't like the metal clip on porch either. I replaced them with S&K's plastic porch and we mounted them flush with the bottom of the crescent entrance hole and pop riveted them into place. Exterior only - no need for an interior porch on this gourd. This worked well for us. Did you screw the metal porches into place before caulking them? This might help prevent the gaps you mention.
I don't think the martins can enter this entrance hole without a porch or at least a cling plate. They have to have something to push against.
To see a picture of the cling plate - Go to PMCA Shop - Gourd Housing - or this link:
http://www.purplemartin.org/shop/GHouses1.html
You could modify the opening to round and offer the gourd the same way Steve Kroenke does. Doing this destroys the Starling Resistance of the entrance hole - so, you would have to make that call. I cannot leave my martin colony unprotected from Starlings while I am away at work during the day. I would have no martin colony left, if I did that.
I had 3 Troyer Horizontal Gourds up this season, too. I don't like the metal clip on porch either. I replaced them with S&K's plastic porch and we mounted them flush with the bottom of the crescent entrance hole and pop riveted them into place. Exterior only - no need for an interior porch on this gourd. This worked well for us. Did you screw the metal porches into place before caulking them? This might help prevent the gaps you mention.
I don't think the martins can enter this entrance hole without a porch or at least a cling plate. They have to have something to push against.
To see a picture of the cling plate - Go to PMCA Shop - Gourd Housing - or this link:
http://www.purplemartin.org/shop/GHouses1.html
You could modify the opening to round and offer the gourd the same way Steve Kroenke does. Doing this destroys the Starling Resistance of the entrance hole - so, you would have to make that call. I cannot leave my martin colony unprotected from Starlings while I am away at work during the day. I would have no martin colony left, if I did that.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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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
Peggy, if your gourds have round holes, you do not need porches. If the Troyer gourds have SREH, the martins can learn to get in without porches, but they have difficulty learning to get in, so many people like porches to aid the martins, makes it easier to get in. I also like porches, as I like to see the martins sit on those large porches, and with a 3in x 6in porch, often the male and the female sit on the porch, side by side. I like to watch them sitting on large porches.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps