Progressing Nicely

[John Pearson]

The year seems to be progressing nicely at my colony. I did not get as many pairs as last year and I have all adults. I had one SY male make a pass through a couple of weeks back but he didn't stick around. All my eggs have hatched this year except one where they had 7 eggs. I'm also happy that the birds are running about 2 weeks ahead of last year so hopefully (fingers crossed) they will avoid the triple digit temps from previous years.

I tried a couple of Super Gourds with Conley II tunnel entrances but I had no takers. A few times the birds would bend down and peer in but I never got one to venture inside. I'm thinking about expanding the hole a little in the middle to make it more accessable. If anyone has experience with ConleyII entrances I'd love to hear from you. I also had a 'wild' idea to try insulating a gourd which I think I'm going to tinker with in the off season.

I had my usual bout with sparrows and starlings this year but strangely a pair of sparrows came back last week to try and occupy an open compartment. They usually give up and I don't see them the rest of the season. It was like these two buggers took some time off and decided to come back out of the blue. Since my Purple Martins were well on their way with eggs and nestlings, I was naturally worried that the sparrows were up to no good. I caught the female fairly quickly with a trap in the Waters Edge compartment they selected but the male gave me a run for my money. I would walk out in my back yard and that male's incessant chirping for a mate would go right through me and I would have to act. It's kind of funny because to the untrained ears of my family- the sun is out, the birds are chirping, what is driving Dad nuts??-haha.

No sign of any mites yet but I know that it is just a matter of time. I hope all is well with the rest of you.
John

[Robert Mohler]

John,

Did you get a chance to tinker with the gourd? You mentioned insulating it. Interesting to know how that came out. Thanks

[John Pearson]

i thought I'd have a lot more time in my off season to tinker with it but the birds are already here in Texas. I made a chicken wire covering of a super gourd. Then I sprayed that insulating foam on the wire outside. That's where I am with it. I need to sand and paint it. You need a tunnel entrance and the access hole cap needs to be reconfigured. It's a little more bulky but doesn't look half bad.

I have a laser temperature gauge and thought I would put it up and monitor the temperature inside the insulated gourd versus the regular gourds. I'm not sure I will be ready for the arrival of my birds so i won't know if they will even occupy it. My colony always has vacancies every year so no one will be homeless- ha! We'll see if there is any appreciable difference in temperature between gourds. I have an idea for my houses too. Between work and everything going on, I can't seem to devote a lot of time to it.

Thanks for asking. We had a 'show and tell' at one of our club meetings last year. Maybe I'll be ready to show you there if we do it again.

BTW,I heard you are running for Club office- you've got my vote Mr. Vice President...
John

[Robert Mohler]

Looking forward to seeing your design. VP well I certainly appreciate the confidence vote. I'll do what I can to help out same as the others. We had enough pine needles to complete pre-nesting 18 cavities and four gourds. Still have another six to go on one of the other houses. Hope I can get a few of the pine needles if he has enough to go around.

[John Pearson]

yes we will see what it looks like. My daughter graduated college in December and brought back all her belongings which now occupy my garage which also doubles for my work bench where I tinker. Ha! I wouldn't want it any other way.

I have 24 compartments but only get 10 or 11 pairs each year so I shouldn't need many needles. I 'inherited' another house thats tucked up under a grown tree so I'm hoping to move it to a more suitable location before they get here but they seem to be traveling even faster this year than last.

See ya
John