Search found 5429 matches
- Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:11 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Texas Landlords. How Many Years Did You Wait For That First Pair
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2783
Re: Texas Landlords. How Many Years Did You Wait For That First Pair
I do not intend to discourage, but its impossible (or nearly so) to attract martins to an area near large trees. However, good luck
- Thu Oct 03, 2019 7:04 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
- Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:20 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
Re: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
I thought about having a sideboard on only one side, I think that it would stop starlings, but I gave up on the idea because wing entrapment could still occur on the side where there is no sideboard. I would very much prefer sideboards on both sides to stop wing entrapment
- Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:29 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
Re: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
There are two ways to stop the starlings, using sideboards or using a thicker entrance, but its hard for me to make a thick entrance. Sideboards can be any thickness, and like you say the thicker ones are easier to attach (Sorry that I confused you) Entrance thickness is an alternate way to stop the...
- Fri Aug 09, 2019 4:53 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
Re: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
Matt F., I remember you favoring the houses, and I favor gourds. Like Lewis, if I offended you in any way then I am sorry and should not have done it. We must learn to share ideas, opinions, and beliefs. This is a great forum if we TRY to help others. I am proud of my latest findings, that sideboard...
- Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:25 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Owl Predation
- Replies: 17
- Views: 6877
Re: Owl Predation
I have had problems with the Barred Owl for many years, so here are some things that help: 1) Attach gourds so that they do not swing 2) I attach tunnels so that the martins do not see the owl. I use tunnels mounted to one side, and tunnels with a 45deg or 90deg turn. 3) If you can break the cycle o...
- Wed Aug 07, 2019 6:56 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Wing Entrapment Survey from PMCA
- Replies: 3
- Views: 15501
Re: Wing Entrapment Survey from PMCA
I never have had wing entrapment. A simple way to stop wing entrapment is to make the entrance thicker (3/4in to 1in (the wider the better). I do that by adding and using sideboards. It is my opinion that the real narrow entrances are the worst kind of entrance
- Sun Jul 21, 2019 10:40 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Gemini Gourd Rack A Roost Too?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1114
Re: Gemini Gourd Rack A Roost Too?
The owls love those roosting outside sites. I noticed that there was a whole lot of that happening here, but if I look at the racks at about 3 or 4AM, that they are empty. I know the owls visited, emptied the racks, and caught many of them. The problem is that I do not have a good solution.
- Sat Jul 20, 2019 4:51 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Ultimate Gourd Rack Bundle Thoughts
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1075
Re: Ultimate Gourd Rack Bundle Thoughts
Whatever you choose, here are some suggestions: 1)Do not put too many gourds on one pole, I would max it out at 24. They get too heavy with more, and it takes longer to check each pole, and the martins probably do not like the long delays in feeding 2)space the poles far apart. Ten feet is very clos...
- Mon Jul 15, 2019 7:39 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
Re: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
I agree with Brad that a starling can quickly learn to enter a crescent. Not all learn but some will.
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- Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:25 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
- Replies: 18
- Views: 8652
Re: what makes a SREH starling resistant/proof
Brad, my neighbor cuts his entrances directly into a natural gourd, and he makes it slightly above 1-3/16in tall. The porch that he attaches is only about 3/4in to 1in long. A martin uses this narrow porch but the starling cannot turn sideways, nor can the starling push his way into the gourd on tha...
- Fri Jun 28, 2019 6:05 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Question about different types of openings
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7840
Re: Question about different types of openings
If you do not have starlings, then I also suggest round holes.
- Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:11 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Question about different types of openings
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7840
Re: Question about different types of openings
Gauxt, I would recommend that you keep the opening no wider than 2.3 inches. If you make it wider then the starling may be able to enter sideways. The purpose of the sideboards is to make the starling go straight in. By making the entrance wider, the sideboards would not help.
- Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:39 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Question about different types of openings
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7840
Re: Question about different types of openings
Detioh11, I have had instances where the entrances were made slightly less than 1-3/16in and that does make it hard for a martin to enter. In fact, when I converted to SREH, most of the plates were too small, and it could have been a disaster, the martins left at nighttime, and came back the next da...
- Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:30 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Question about different types of openings
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7840
Re: Question about different types of openings
Gaust, the sideboards will COMPLETELY stop wing entrapment. Instead of having a thin entrance plate, you have a thick 90 degree turn at the edge, so the wings cannot get caught. A good distance is 2in apart, but it can be as large as 2.3 (tested). I center the old entrance so that each side is the s...
- Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:07 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Question about different types of openings
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7840
Re: Question about different types of openings
thumbnail.jpg Sideboards can be attached to ANY entrance. This forces them to go straight in, but the starling has a higher chest cavity, so it cannot enter. It even works on rectangular entrances. The sideboards need to be about 1in thick x 2in tall. This works real good on entrances that are in u...
- Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:32 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Recent Gourds Maintenance
- Replies: 13
- Views: 6912
Re: Recent Gourds Maintenance
Two things that always work: 1)4ft of pvc 2)electric fence charger hooked up to the poles.
As mentioned above, the predator guards are not reliable, and netting must be done correctly.
As mentioned above, the predator guards are not reliable, and netting must be done correctly.
- Fri Jun 07, 2019 6:27 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Why do I not have martins
- Replies: 55
- Views: 19057
Re: Why do I not have martins
Those 2 pips on the bottom keep the starling from entering sideways. It forces the birds to go straight in, but a starling's chest is too tall so it quickly flies away. I finally understand so much more, Brad, than I knew 20 years ago.
- Fri May 31, 2019 6:22 pm
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Why do I not have martins
- Replies: 55
- Views: 19057
Re: Why do I not have martins
To improve your chances, here are some important things: 1) the trees nearby is the most important factor. The nearer the trees, the less chance you have of attracting martins 2) the abundance of martins. If you live in the scarce area, you may need to wait longer. 3) The size of the rooms 4)if you ...
- Thu May 23, 2019 11:05 am
- Forum: Purple Martin Forum
- Topic: Starlings are discouraging us
- Replies: 12
- Views: 8381
Re: Starlings are discouraging us
If you are unable to trap or shoot and if the starling goes into a certain cavity, then a method that works for me: 1) lower the housing to a point where you can reach the entrance from a stepladder. 2) during darkness, put a stick or small board or anything into the hole blocking the entrance, be c...