Thanks for the info. I plan on maxing out at two racks with 16 gourds on each, so won't be as big of a deal for me to take them down each year. I could see how your setup would be next to impossible to take all of them down.

Took me 3 years. I remember when I was younger it took my parents 5 years. They now have a colony of about 30-40 pair every year and they don't have an ideal setup. Trees fairly close to the housing, etc.. Martins don't seem to mind now. They actually sit in the trees which most people state NEVER h...

Very nice! Curious about one thing and I suppose it depends on where you live? Does leaving the racks up during the "off season" cause in problems? Rust, etc..? I have 1 Gemini rack but purchasing a second. The last two years I have taken the whole thing down and stored in my shop. However, I live i...

Sounds nice!

Thanks! I'm not here to push housing on people, but man my Bo11+ (gourd within a gourd with vent caps) worked like gangbusters this year. Had many days with babies in 105 degree temps with heat indices over 110 and I didn't lose a single baby to heat. I was just sure I would. Can't hang as many on a...

Needed a better way to store my gourds in the off-season, so built this in my shop. Nothing fancy, but it's definitely a space saver. Room for another row below if I decide to expend by one more gourd rack.

Damn. That's rough. Glad your birds where gone, but still.

Quite Facebook years ago and never looked back.

Have a few nests that haven't fledged yet which is late for me. I'm not sure they will make it through these next few days. Should be fledge by this weekend, but temps and heat index not getting better over next few days.

If the housing was not damaged, I doubt the Martins left. Have storms almost weekly where I live, and it's never bothered them.

Congrats!!!

Sure hope I never have to deal with snakes, luckily my dogs do a pretty good job of keeping any preditors out of the back yard.

This forum should be a place people can come for information, etc.. and not have to worry about someone judging them for how they handle there colony.

<t>Interesting philosophy. After years of improvements to martin husbandry such as expanded cavities, various gourds designs and improved martin houses, predator guards, attraction techniques and devices, starling resistant entrances and many efforts to grow the martin population in areas experienc...

To each his/her own. I do nest checks once every week or so give or take when I have time and weather cooperates. If I see an insect or mite problem, I take care of it. I walk around my gourd rack every day when I get home to look for anything suspicious and I've gotten rid of 4 sparrows and 2 starl...

Definitely leave it up until season is over. Allow other young to see it

I live near Lawrence where the flooding hasn't been as big of an issue. Hope I don't have to deal with this. Eggs have just started hatching.

Don't get discouraged. It took me three years to get an established colony even though I had "visitors" each year. If this is the first year with your housing up and you had "visitors", you will likely get them next year. Especially with a large colony close by.

I LOVE the Gemini rack. That 3" square pole is the key for me living in Kansas with our wind

Appreciate it. I've had a colony since 2015 and grew up around colonies. This may not go well on this site, but I do not do nest replacements. I know a lot of people do and I know a lot of people don't. Probably a touchy subject. I love having Martin's around and I will eliminate sparrows and starli...

Did my first nest check over the weekend and good lord I'm maxed out. Have a Gemini rack with 17 Bo11+ gourds. Also have an old crappy barn on the other side of the yard that the starlings try and nest in before I take them out. All 17 gourds have a nest and there is even a nest in the barn. 71 eggs...