andy@utzoo.uucp (Andy Rubaszek) (05/05/88)
I need some advice regarding the location of a martin house that has yet to
attract any tenants. It is three years now and there are martins in the area,
so there must be something wrong with either the house or the neighborhood.
Specifics: the house has 26 compartments; cavities and entrance holes are
as per specs. The neighborhood is ~50 feet from shore of lake; martins can
be seen flying over lake. The house itself sits directly on a cedar lattice
grid that shades a deck overlooking lake. Although the martin house is not
mounted on a pole, it is at least 25 feet above the ground and probably
an additional 10 above the water surface. The closest large trees are about
40 feet away. Tree swallows and house wrens love it. The only thing I can
see wrong with the steup is lack of a pole, that somehow martins may be
seeing the house as sitting directly on a ground-like surface. Anybody agree
or have other suggestions? It's probably too late for this year, but I will
give it one more chance before hauling the thing to the dump. Any and all
advice (and condolences) are welcome.
HAPPY BIRDING!!!
Andy Rubaszek @ U of Toronto Zoology
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!andy