Would have gotten both the racks installed but the idiot that built them (me) made a mistake on the first one and it’s going to have to be modified to work. I’ll get that done next week.
I modified the ground stakes that I built and that made installation a breeze. I’ll post a photo of that too.
This rack is 5’ 9” in diameter. It easily held 30 Troyer Vertical gourds. It looks so compact next to one of my 24 gourd “crossarm” racks that only holds 24 gourds. I chickened our and cut my 24’ pole down to 22’ 6” As rigid as the 4” square aluminum tubing is, I think 24 would have been fine but they are what they are.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
I made one half of the ground sleeve 5” longer than the other. I enlisted 2 guys to help stand the pole up, or actually to wrestle it into the hole while I stood it up with the tractor, but with that “backboard” on the ground sleeve it was so very easy to stand it up.
Edit: I put the wrong photo in.
Last edited by Brad Biddle on Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Lewis, I think they'll love it, although they don't like it right now. It changed their flight path between the 2, 24 gourd racks in my backyard.
Thanks Lowe!
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Martin Colony History: 2014 no birds 12 rm trio house 2015 1 ASY pair fledged 5 modified trio to large rooms with 4 TVG under 2016 added second gourd rack with 2 THGs and added third floor to trio 2 ASY pair fledged 10. 2017 added 2 Bo 11 gourds, 6 pair 26 eggs 23 fledged. 2018 adding 2 more THGs and a 4th floor to the trio, hopefully something for everyone. All SRE, cant shoot in town, can't wait for April. 2018 16 pair fledged 65, great summer. Just finished building a T14 and will be hanging 4 troyer gourds under it so we will see if my returning birds approve of the improvements for 2019.
bobeteb, yessir that's what they are. I used the Lewis modification on every cavity I offer. I still have lots of homemade WDC/ Modified Excluders and put them on those too.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Martin Colony History: 2014 no birds 12 rm trio house 2015 1 ASY pair fledged 5 modified trio to large rooms with 4 TVG under 2016 added second gourd rack with 2 THGs and added third floor to trio 2 ASY pair fledged 10. 2017 added 2 Bo 11 gourds, 6 pair 26 eggs 23 fledged. 2018 adding 2 more THGs and a 4th floor to the trio, hopefully something for everyone. All SRE, cant shoot in town, can't wait for April. 2018 16 pair fledged 65, great summer. Just finished building a T14 and will be hanging 4 troyer gourds under it so we will see if my returning birds approve of the improvements for 2019.
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors 2019 6 pair -21fledged 2020 18 pair -60 fledged 2021......to be seen. 24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around 2-12 compartment trio houses Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long! Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.
Thanks l am considering adding those as I have had a couple starlings breach this year. Obviously they are working for you.
They saved my colony.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Whoa hold on a sec. I think I’m missing out on something. Just exactly what is the Lewis Modification.??
Rodger
You put a Wing Entrapment Guard over the front (outside) of a SREH entrance. It makes them much more Starling resistant. I became aware of the Lewis (member name on here) modification last year after I had close to 20 Starling nests in my Conley II entrances. I don't know how to find the original post from Lewis. Maybe he'll see this and chime in. I'll take a close up pic of one tomorrow and post it for you on this thread.
Last edited by Brad Biddle on Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Brad, your rack. Looks outstanding. And I like the fact it can hold so many gourds.Good Job!
Thanks David. My wife thinks she's got your gourd seed envelope. I'll let you know for sure tomorrow.
Martin landlord since 2003. Currently offering 162 plastic gourds with tunnels, all with Conley II entrances with the Lewis modification. I have 24 Supergourds and the rest are Troyer Horizontals.
Martin Colony History: 2018 1 lone nut and lots of visitors 2019 6 pair -21fledged 2020 18 pair -60 fledged 2021......to be seen. 24 natural gourds on a satellite rack,9 other gourds scattered around 2-12 compartment trio houses Rarely see a sparrow or starling,but when I do they don’t last long! Will have a second satellite rack for the 2022 season and phase out the houses,the martins here strongly prefer natural gourds.
Yea man please do . I’d like to see a close up of what you have. I have a lot of Conley II entrances and I don’t think I’ve ever had a Starling breach through them.
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
