Vapodog--It looks like your method of cleaning will be flip it open--that is a hinge up front correct? That would be great for after season is over and martins have left. I like to be able to clean each compartment while the martins are here, that way I can tear out the sparrow nests as they build them. For the same reason I like to be able to raise and lower the house straight up and down. If you have to tilt it to lower that wont work as you disturb the martin nest. If you have to go get a ladder--most folks won't do it. Your openings look big in the picture. The martins are finicky about that Go to www.purplemartins.org and they give the size martins prefer. Being wood, you can reduce the size if needed with another front over the existing one. You can also make a dandy sparrow trap by making a false front you put over the existing opening with a 1 1/2" opening. A martin will not enter a hole that small. So what you do when sparrows start a nest in a compartment--tear out nest---tack the false front with smaller opening on and have a mouse trap inside. You'll catch the sparrow by the leg everytime. If you catch the female first---you'll have the male within a very few minutes. If you catch the male first you may never catch the female or it will be a fairly long time before you do. Btw I have both wooden and metal houses I have built and a couple of commercial built as well as plastic gourds. I think 76 compartments total.

The openings were from plans I found on the 'net.....per your link they are big....

I decided to hinge them for convenience and to hinge the pole to clean the houses in the fall after Martins leave.... and to use an air rifle to keep unwanted birds away!

My next one will be white and 2" holes as your link suggests....thanks for the link.

Vapodog---If the holes are too big, you probably wont get martins. I'd get some plywood and make a front to go over those large holes to get them to the right size. Also distance from step to bottom of hole is critical. All in all a very simple fix and might make a difference of getting martins which is your goal. You can do a lot of controlling with an air rifle, but supplementing that with traps too is certainly no overkill---you'll get plenty of sparrows. A double thud is most satisfying when shooting sparrows. The thud when the pellet hits and the second thud when they hit the ground.

VapoDog ; I have access too several Air Rifles .I own 3 an prefer too shoot most often in this order ;

.177 AirArms TX200 , . .177 Falcon Prairie PC , .177 RWS Diana Model 40 ,

I'm a VERY FORTUNATE individual ,as I have a very close Friend also LH collector avid air rifle shooter

whom has allowed me to use whatever Air Rifle I choose often as long as I wish .

I've had the opportunity to try no less than 27 out of his 60-90 ? Rifles ,I'm not sure he knows how many

he has either .

For what it's worth I deal with Steve at Pomona Airguns ; Extremely Knowledgeable fast stands on his word

an meets any advertised price !. In my Rifles the most accurate pellet is JSB Exact Diabolo Expresses.

Most accurate Rifle TX AirArms then Falcon and last RWS Diana . AirArms will put every pellet into a dime

at 30 Yd, if I do my part in calm conditions. It's not as powerful as the Falcon pre charged .

However it will Kill an Adult squirrel at 60 Yd and I've head shot more between 25-65 Yd over the last 5

years with that Rifle than not !. My recommendation is based on actual usage experience and preference

to accuracy AirArms and you'll never be sorry !. Resale values are EXCELLENT !.

http://www.pomona-airguns.com/

http://www.pomona-airguns.com/...20Arms%20Airguns.htm

http://www.pomona-airguns.com/Falcon%20Airguns.htm


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