Do martins like plastic gourds?
Do martins like plastic gourds?
Plastic “gourds” called SuperGourds make great purple martin houses. they come with rain guards and clean-out access doors. SuperGourds appeal strongly to martins and seem to result in excellent nesting success.
Do purple martins prefer gourds or houses?
Gourds have been used to make purple martin houses for centuries. Native Americans used to hang them to attract martins to their settlements to help control insects. Today, purple martins east of the Rocky Mountains depend on people to supply them with houses and gourds.
How do I keep starlings out of my purple martin house?
To help prevent the starlings from nesting at your colony site we recommend using starling-resistant entrance holes (SREH) at your colony site. These specific entrances, called: crescent, Excluder, Modified Excluder, Excluder II, and Conley 2 will help keep starlings out of the cavities.
Will purple martins eat bird seed?
Food: Purple martins eat flying insects, so no bird feeders or type of birdseed will attract them. They will also eat finely crushed eggshells as a calcium supplement during the nesting season.
Where do you hang Martin gourds?
Hang the gourds near your home or barn with sixty to eighty feet of clear open space around them. “The birds like an open area, but they don’t like to be long distances away from human housing,” Shaddix says.
How many purple martin gourd houses can you make?
The best part is, there’s no limit to the number of homemade purple martin gourd houses you can produce and hang right in your yard. We’ve heard of one purple martin enthusiast who puts up and maintains more than 600 gourd houses every year! Next, check out 6 unique birdhouses birds will actually use.
Why are gourds used to attract purple martins?
Homemade birdhouses fashioned from gourds have been used for centuries to attract purple martins. Learn how to make your own purple martin gourd house. Gourds have been used to make purple martin houses for centuries. Native Americans used to hang them to attract martins to their settlements to help control insects.
How tall does a gourd have to be for Martins?
Shaddix recommends cutting a crescent-shaped entrance that is resistant to invasive starlings, which can edge out other birds. He cuts a crescent with a jigsaw and then uses a hand file to get the precise dimension and shape of a 1 ½-inch radius arch with 1 3/16-inch height at its apex.
Where can I get a bird house gourd?
Although plastic “gourd” birdhouses are available at hardware and tractor supply stores, the homes have a special charm when they’re grown and crafted by hand. Here, Shaddix shares how to do it. If you grow gourds from seed, look for packets marked specifically for “birdhouse gourds” (botanical name Lagenaria ).