North star house?

[mngramps]

Has anyone had any experience with the north star house designed by Bob Buskas in Alberta, Canada? His website is http://www.wtc.ab.ca/northernskys/ I ordered the plans but don't know if I will build it. If I do build I would put it with the Supergourds at the new site going up this spring. The pictures and description on the website looked interesting.

[Tony Lau]

I think Daryl Lindstrom has one at his house. My foam house I am building is partially based on Bob's design. (look at post named 'must finish'). I think it is a good design myself, how many levels were you going to make?

[Don]

I don't see any problems with the design and wouldn't hesitate to use it. The one suggestion I would have is "why have sloped roofs"?? It takes less material and less construction time to put a flat roof on a bird house. Esthetics be damned, the martins won't care.
His web page is a worthwhile read as well.

[mngramps]

I would do the 12 cavity version. Can this house be added on to in layers? I havent seen the plans yet but am wondering since there are 8 and 12 cavity versions if it could be expanded to 16 later.

[Tony Lau]

I think you can add as many layers as you want as long as you have the proper pole and lifting capabilities

[LarryL]

I built 2 of the North Star 12 cavity houses. They have been up for 3 or 4 years but I have not seen the exceptance they seem to get in Canada. The most I have ever had is 3 pair per house. They are half as heavy as a T-14 and I like the large rooms but my martins seem to prefer the T-14 style house.

[mngramps]

What do you think the martins like better about the T=14 (without being able to ask them)? Is there some kind of imprinting to the style of housing they are raised in? I am looking at attracting martins to a new site with a setup of supergourds. Am wondering if that is enough or do I need more variety. That is the reason I was thinking of building the northstar.

[LarryL]

I tend to believe there is a imprinting issue. I have introduced new houses to my colony and some have remained completely ignored the first year. If there is a thriving colony close-by I would try to duplicate some of what they are using. The one thing I have learned about Purple Martins is that they completely unpredictable. I wish you the very best of luck this year.

[AllenH]

For what it's worth.

Here's what actually happened to me. I have been involed with PM's since I was 12 (53 yrs ago). Always used conventional wood houses and holes (2 1/8") 6x6 until last year. I have had a few pairs regularly until 8 yrs ago. I lost whole colony after nesting was done. I had no returns for 6 yrs after that.

Last year I put up a Troyer T-14 with WDC holes. The 3/4 " wood fronts and holes were made by me, the rest was as manufactured. I had 4 Troyer Horizontal Plastic Gourds underneath with Conley II holes.

I modified the two old houses with their 2 1/8" keyhole openings to double sized Compartments. I went from a 24 hole house to 12 hole and and a 18 hole house to 14 hole. I also added 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley II holes underneath the 14 hole conventional house.

Results:
2008 2 pr PM's (1 ASY male and 3 SY birds)
2009 23 pr PM's (13 ASY and 10 SY) lost 1 pr after egglaying.
4 pr in 8 Gourds, 7 pr in T-14, 12 pr in old houses they used only the enlarged compartments.

I Fledged 91 birds last year.

Hope this is helpful to some one.

It appears they took to all housing about equally. I am quite sure no one around me uses any SREH entries or Gourds.

Al