Perfect location in Louisiana and you waited 6 years for the first pair. That gives me hope because I'm on year 4 in Texas. I've never seen a hanging S&K barn like that. Interesting. Good luck.

I have both. I've noticed the Daytime Chatter C.D. isn't as loud as the Dawn Song C.D. Anyone else notice this? Is that Daytime Chatter C.D. loud enough? I have it under the pole pointing straight up. Dawn Song instructions say to play from 4 AM to 6AM for best results. It's still dark here at those...

I have a 24 DGR. When I added the winch upgrade, mine got stuck up there on a bolt that protruded too far out and wouldn't lower down. I had to use a mini hack saw and trim that bolt so it wouldn't catch on my bracket.

Mosquitos hover at an altitude of 5 or 6 feet, the same altitude as their victims. Martins feed an altitude of around 200 feet. Mosquitos also stay close to shrubs, bushes, trees and structures where martins can’t go. There is no nutritional value to a mosquito. 1 calorie or less is my guess. By the...

$750 initial investment, kill nest box competitors, wait 3 to 5 years on average for your first pair, all the knowledge and research required. It really takes a special person to do this hobby. Like finding a needle in a haystack.

I no longer encourage the hobby. As soon as they discover the house sparrow eradication, they lose interest. It’s really a tough sell and hard obstacle for folks to accept. The “nest removal” strategy might sell better, but it doesn’t really work and doesn’t protect the martins as well. Might as wel...

Not sure about the feathers as bait. Here is a Houes Sparrow advisory you can print out and hand to your uneducated neighbors. http://www.sialis.org/neglect.htm My neighbors feed them also. It’s impossible to convince HOSP to reject their feeders and visit my repeating bait trap instead. I’ve no opt...

Yes. If you've been taking care of your house sparrows, your bluebird population can recover very quickly. If pine needles are scarce in your area, that's even more incentive to steal your martins pine needles before they arrive. I think you're a prime candidate for a bluebird house. My guess is the...

I'm guessing bluebirds stole your pine needles. They like them also.

Where would I buy mirrors that small and how would I attach them to inside the gourd?

Here's Harrison Ford getting on his carbon spewing private jet. https://static.becomegorgeous.com/img/arts/2014/10/celebrities-who-have-their-own-private-jet/embedded_Harrison_Ford_private_jet.jpg Here's Harrison Ford in his carbon spewing private helicopter. https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/...

I was originally shocked at how many on this thread were able to buck conventional wisdom and start their colony with an ASY. I now realize there may be a logical explanation. The average site on this forum is far superior to their neighbors sites. I drove around yesterday and looked at some sites n...

"Climate change?" "Old, white, southern, men?" Sound familiar? "Climate change affects bug populations, the martin food source?" " When the old, southern, white man dies, the martins might die too?" "The old, southern, white, man might not be able to pass along his martin hobby to future generations...

I've been reading for years to do this and just never got around to trying it. I couldn't help but laugh while doing this. I felt like a 2 year old playing with mud and smearing it all over my expensive martin set up. I must admit though. It does give the appearance of being previously used. After I...

I've seen many legitimate complaints on this site about Barred owls and Great Horned owls raiding sights. I don't recall any similar complaints about screech owls or barn owls.

I agree that attracting ASY should be as much of a goal as attracting SY. There is also another advantage. Leaving your housing open early for ASY also gives you more HOSP shooting and trapping opportunities. I just don't see a compelling argument for plugging entrances unless you don't want to elim...

I saw the "SY or ASY founder" survey and I was surprised by the results so far. I would like to know how many pair did landlords get their first year of successful nesters.

You should count your lucky stars. Barn owls are a blessing and don't bother martins that I'm aware of. I read they can eat around 2000 rats per year. I would add another house just for it and make it higher obviously. Eliminate your rat poison and let it do its thing. Here's a good one. http://cove...

I personally dislike all bird seed . Half of it gets spilled on the ground and then becomes rat feed. Shine a flashlight out there after dark and you’ll see. Once the rats discover the endless amount of spilled seed, they will return every night to consume it and use that energy to reproduce more ra...

If any of your neighbors have bird feeders, they prefer that over squirming into your death trap. If your trap is the only food around, then you might have success. Gourd traps and pellet gun only thing that works for me.