Retail Product Catalog

Bird Abodes’
Retail Product
Catalog
2016
rd
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the Supe
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www.SuperGourd.com
Made in the USA
814-323-2001 (phone)
The SuperGourd
Designed by an Ornithologist. Bird Abodes is proud to announce the next generation of Purple Martin housing. Known as the
“SuperGourd,” it’s a 10” plastic gourd, designed and developed by me,
James R. Hill, III, Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the Purple Martin
Conservation Association. It’s the very first martin housing ever to come to
market engineered by an ornithologist specializing in Purple Martins. It is
based on my 35 years of research into the breeding biology of martins. I
found that martins have the highest nesting success in gourds relative to
other kinds of housing. On average, Purple Martins fledge 1.2 nestlings
more per nesting attempt in large, white gourds than they do in commercial aluminum martin houses (see research summary in this brochure).
Accessible. The SuperGourd is a one-piece plastic gourd with a
molded-in, threaded access port, covered by a screw-on cap. The access
port is large enough to admit a human hand that is holding a nestling or
a handful of nesting material. The cap’s liner renders it and the access
port totally watertight and opaque. Landlords merely twist off the cap
for nest checks, banding, nest replacements, or end-of-season clean outs.
The access port’s high, 45-degree viewing angle allows easy viewing of
nest contents during recommended weekly nest checks.
Innovative Design. The SuperGourd also features a large,
molded-in rain canopy that doubles as a perching platform. A series of
molded-in corduroy-like ribs on top of the canopy and a textured pattern
in the plastic permit martins to perch comfortably, without slipping. The
SuperGourd weighs 31 ounces, slightly heavier than a natural gourd its
size, so it swings less in the wind. The one-piece body has no seams, so
no rain will leak in, and seven 5/16” drain holes provide a rapid exit for
any rain that may blow in through the entrance hole.
2-1/8”
Entrance Hole
SGR
The SuperGourd’s watertight, twist-off, access port
allows for easy nest checking, banding, nest changing,
parasite control, and end-of-season clean outs.
l Accessible
l Innovative Design
l Convenient
l 10” Diameter
l Durable
Martins Love SuperGourds
James R.
R. Hill,
Hill, III
III
James
l Designed by an Ornithologist
Wrens Love SuperGourds
James
R.
Hill,
III
James R.
R. Hill,
Hill, III
III
James
Continued on next page
SGB
SGC
Starling-resistant Crescent
Entrance Hole
1-1/2”
Entrance Hole
SuperGourds are available in 3 different hole sizes:
2-1/8” for Purple Martins, starling-resistant crescents
for martins, and 1-1/2” for bluebirds and swallows.
l UV Inhibitors
l Threaded, Twist-off Cap
l Low Maintenance
l Optional Insert Trap
l Entrance
holes in
3 sizes
Bluebirds Love SuperGourds
James R. Hill, III
l Molded-in Rain Canopy/Perch
Swallows Love SuperGourds
James
James R.
R. Hill,
Hill, III
III
SGR
2-1/8”
Entrance Hole
Durable. SuperGourds are blow-molded in white (sun-reflecting),
opaque, high-density polyethylene plastic. They won’t rot, peel, split, or
crack out in the elements, and won’t break if accidentally dropped like
natural gourds can. Because they are molded with ultraviolet inhibitors
added to the plastic, they have a long life expectancy with virtually no
maintenance other than giving a quick scrub at the end of the season.
Easy to Hang. SuperGourds can easily be hung underneath an existing martin house, from a gourd rack, or strung on a line between two
poles (see following pages). One set of 1/4” hanging holes (side-to-side)
are pre-drilled and will accept a hanging wire; a set of front-to-back holes
can easily be drilled by the purchaser if so desired. The hanging holes
are enlarged to 13/32” when ordered with the Deluxe Gourd Rack so the
gourds can slide directly onto the steel arms (see following pages).
Designed to Benefit Purple Martins. Landlords that use
gourds know that they are highly attractive to martins (but are the least
attractive of all martin housing to House Sparrows or starlings), reduce the
risk of owl predation, have high occupancy rates, plus reduce the incidence
of fallouts and premature fledging. Now, busy landlords can offer their
martins all the advantages of properly-prepared gourds, without investing
the time and effort required to grow natural gourds, adding access doors
and canopies, or repainting them every year or so.
Landlord Friendly. SuperGourds are ready to hang right out of
the box — there’s no assembly required. A landlord only needs hanging
wire unless using the Deluxe Gourd Rack. SuperGourds are low-to-no
maintenance martin housing; no sanding or painting, and nothing to add
except stick-on numbers. Everything a person needs to be a better landlord
is already there. Balance the cost of a SuperGourd against the years of
low-maintenance use you’ll get and all the advantages for the martins.
Then compare the occupancy rate and cost to other types of housing that
have, at best, 50% occupancy, and may require annual repainting.
Gourd Rack GR4
Gourd Rack GR4: This fantastic gourd rack
is ideal for beginners on a modest budget, or
for verteran landlords looking for a rack for
the subadults. This 4-unit rack featurs a round
pole that stands 13-feet tall. The hub glides
up and down the pole easily and silently due
to nylon glide buttons. In the up position, the
hub locks into position with a v-notch and pin.
All of the hardware is stainless steel. The gourd
rack includes the 2-piece pole, a hub, two top
perch rods, a rope, an eye-bolt with single
pulley, 4 horizontal gourd arms (for gourds
drilled front-to-back), 4 hitch pins to secure
the gourds onto the arms, a top cap, and one
rope winder. With the rope and pulley, this
rack of gourds raises and lowers effortlessly
for nest checks and end-of-season cleanout.
We offer this slick rack in 7 choices: rack
with no gourds; rack with 4 Crescent-holed
SuperGourds; rack with 4 Porched Crescentholed SuperGourds; rack with 4 Round-holed
GR4V Gourd Rack
with 4 Round-holed
SuperGourds
SuperGourds; rack with 4 Porched Round-holed
SuperGourds; rack with 4 Troyer Horizontal
gourds; and rack with 4 Troyer Vertical gourds.
GR4H Gourd Rack
with 4 Troyer Horizontals
GR4H Gourd Rack
with 4 Troyer Verticals
(available online @ supergourd.com)
(available online @ supergourd.com)
Expandable 6 Gourd Rack
DGR6H Gourd Rack
with 6 Round-holed SuperGourds
DGR6UP-H Expansion Kit
top perch rods, 6 aluminum horizontal gourd arms (for
gourds drilled front-to-back), 6 hitch pins, a rope winder,
hub with 45-feet of attached polyester rope, eyebolt, and
pullies. The gourd arms can lift up and out of the hub
brackets.
With this kit, you can expand your
DGR6H into a DGR12H
We offer this expandable rack in 7 choices: rack with
no gourds; rack with 6 Crescent-holed SuperGourds;
rack with 6 Porched Crescent-holed SuperGourds; rack
with 6 Round-holed SuperGourds; rack with 6 Porched
Expandable 6 Gourd Rack: This rack is also for the budget-
Round-holed SuperGourds; rack with 6 Troyer Horizontal
minded hobbiest. Save money now by just buying the 6-unit
gourds; and rack with 6 Troyer Vertical gourds.
rack (and gourds), then in the future, when finances allow (or
The DGR6UP Expansion Kit: comes with everything
your colony is at full occupancy), buy the 6-arm expansion
you need to convert this rack into a DGR12H rack: 6
kit plus 6 additional gourds of your liking.
aluminum gourd arms, 6 hitch pins, and a 2-piece hub
The Expandable 6 rack is on a 2-piece, 2-inch-square,
bracket that bolts together with 4 stainless steel nuts and
14-foot pole. It ships with a heavy-duty ground stake, two
bolts.
Gourd Rack GR8
Gourd Rack GR8: Finally, an entry level gourd rack with
state-of-the-art features that is made with high-quality materials, is gentle on the budget, and is easy to assemble! And
now it’s been improved! It is 14 feet tall and comes with
arm braces and gourd-mounting arms. The top perches are
48” long.
The GR8 gourd rack features a 2-inch-square, high-tensile
strength aluminum two-piece pole that is 14 feet tall above
ground when installed. The gourd hub and arms accommodate 8 gourds, and raise and lower with a 4-part rope &
pulley system. Pre-installed nylon glide buttons in the hub
assure squeak-free operation. The aluminum gourd arms
attach to the hub using stainless steel hardware.
The GR8 gourd rack comes with a heavy-duty, 48” ground
stake; a two-piece high-tensile strength square aluminum
pole; two 48” top perches; a plastic pole cap; a rope winder
with attached stainless steel hardware; polyester rope with
attached eyebolts and pulleys; a hub; gourd-hanging arms
and braces; and all the hardware necessary for installing the
rack. An optional pole guard (PGS), that fits 2” square poles,
is also available.
Continued on next page
GR8-SGCP
14 feet tall !
IMPROVED
l Comes with 8
GMAs
l High-strength
Aluminum Arms Hold 8 Gourds
l Two-part Pulley
Lanyard System
Makes Gourd
Raising Easy
l Heavy-duty Pole
l48” Top Perches
l Ground Stake
l Hub
Assembly
Slides
Smoothly
Up & Down
Pole on
Nylon Glide
Buttons
Racks come standard with 8 aluminum GMAHSs
(gourd-mounting arms, horizontal straight).
Gourd Rack GR8 (continued)
GR8-SGCP
Now Comes
Standard with 8
Aluminum Gourdhanging Arms
and Hitch Pins !
A photo of the GR8 lowered for a nest
check. This photo shows our gourd rack
system model GR8-SGCP, which comes with
8 porched crescent SuperGourds. Notice
that SuperGourds, when ordered as part of
a system, come drilled front to back.
The Gourd Rack GR8 comes standard with 8 aluminum gourd-mounting arms (GMAs) and hitch pins.
Gourd Arms
Braced for Added
Strength !
The Gourd Rack GR8 is
available in 5 configurations: as a complete gourd
rack system with eight crescent-holed SuperGourds and
porches (GR8-SGCP) as shown
in these three photos; or without the porches (GR8-SGC); as
a complete gourd rack system
with eight round-holed SuperGourds and porches (GR8SGRP); or without the porches
(GR8-SGR); with no gourds at
all (GR8). This rack will work
with any gourd, natural or plastic. All gourd racks and gourd
rack systems come with complete assembly and mounting
instructions. Additional options
available online.
Deluxe Gourd Rack 12
DGR-SGCP
Deluxe Gourd Rack
with 12 porched,
Crescent-holed
SuperGourds
14 feet tall
Shown with optional
SG-HDPORCHES
l High-strength
Aluminum Arms Hold 12 Gourds
l Four-part Pulley
Lanyard System
Makes Gourd
Raising Easy
Deluxe Gourd Rack 12: This gourd rack system is absolutely
top-of-the-line in construction, materials, and innovative design. It
features a four-part pulley system for easy raising and lowering; twelve
3/8” high-strength aluminum arms with gourd mount ends; a polyester rope; an aluminum rope cleat; and a 2-inch-square aluminum
pole assembly with a plastic pole cap. Square poles are superior in
strength to round martin poles. Gourds slip on and off the arms
quickly and easily, and anchor with stainless steel spring clips. The
gourd arms slip easily in and out of the all-aluminum, pre-assembled
hub, which has nylon glide tabs for squeak-free operation.
Height of installed system is 14 feet about the ground. Includes
two 42-inch top perches, a 48-inch ground stake, and all the hardware necessary for assembly.
The DGR is offered in 6 configurations: as a stand-alone
rack with no gourds (DGR12H or DGR12V); as a complete rack
system with twelve crescent-holed SuperGourds (DGR-SGC); as a
complete rack system with twelve crescent-holed SuperGourds AND
12 porch pairs (DGR-SGCP) as shown in the photos to the left and
below; as a complete pole system with twelve 2-1/8” round-holed
SuperGourds (DGR-SGR); and as a complete pole system with
twelve round-holed SuperGourds AND twelve porch pairs (DGRSGRP). All SuperGourds sold as part of a Gourd Rack System come
with a set of 27/64” hanging holes drilled front to back (as in these
photos). Complete assembly and mounting instructions included.
Some options only available online.
DGR-SGCP
l Heavy-duty Pole
l Top Perch
l Ground Stake
l Hub
Assembly
Slides
Smoothly
Up & Down
Pole on
Nylon Glide
Buttons
Shown with optional
SG-HDPORCHES
AAA16 Gourd Rack
AAA16 Gourd Rack: This gourd rack system is absolutely
top-of-the-line in construction, materials, and innovative design.
It features a four-part pulley system for amazingly easy raising and
lowering; an all-aluminum hub with nylon glide tabs for squeak-free
operation; eight, high-strength aluminum gourd-mount angle arms
pre-drilled with gourd-hanging holes; a polyester rope; an aluminum
rope cleat; and a two-piece, 2-inch-square, aluminum pole assembly
with a plastic pole cap. Square poles are superior in strength to
customary round martin poles. A square pole also makes it easy to
align gourds correctly when raising and lowering the system. Now
comes standard with 16 aluminum, gourd-mounting arms (GMAs)
and all the necessary stainless steel mounting hardware.
Height of installed system is 14 feet above the ground. Includes
two 48-inch aluminum top perches, a 48-inch ground stake, and
all the hardware necessary for assembly. An optional pole guard
(PGS) is available.
The AAA16 Gourd Rack is available in 6 configurations: as a complete pole system with 16 round-holed SuperGourds (AAA16-SGR); as a complete pole system with 16 porched
round-holed SuperGourds (AAA16-SGRP); as a complete pole
system with 16 crescent-holed SuperGourds (AAA16-SGC); as a
complete pole system with 16 porched crescent-holed SuperGourds
(AAA16-SGCP); or without any gourds (AAA-16H or AAA-16V). All
gourd racks and gourd rack systems come with complete assembly
instructions. Some options only available online.
AAA16 Gourd Rack
with 16 Round-holed
SuperGourds
Lowers Easily
For Nest Checks
AAA16-SGR
AAA16-16R
14 feet tall
NEW
IMPROVED
l High-strength
Aluminum Arms
Hold 16 Gourds
l Four-part Pulley
Lanyard System
Makes Gourd
Raising Easy
l Heavy-duty Pole
l Top Perch
l Ground Stake
l Hub
Assembly
Slides
Smoothly
GMA
Now Comes Standard with 16 Aluminum
Gourd-mounting Arms (GMAs)!
Up & Down
Pole on
Nylon Glide
Buttons
SuperSystem 24
SuperSystem 24: This 16-foot-tall system
holds 24 gourds and is the Cadillac of all gourd
racks. It features a heavy-duty 3-inch-square, twopart pole; a 350-pound brake winch and metal
cable system (cable, cable-pulley guide, safety
bolt, and stop pin) for easily and safely raising and
lowering the gourd arms. The rack also features
an all-aluminum hub with nylon glide tabs for
squeak-free operation; eight, 1-1/2” x 50” long
aluminum angle arms with gourd-hanging holes
16” on center, 3 sets per arm. The cross-bar design
makes nest-checking quick and easy. This system
also comes with 16 straight and 8 ninety-degreebend gourd-mounting arms (GMAs), with 24
hitch pins. (Notice in the photo at right, how the
GMAs allow the inner and outer gourds to hang
with their entrance holes pointing in 90-degree,
opposing directions, which is optimal). This
system also comes with two, 72” top perch rods;
a heavy-duty 48”-long aluminum ground stake;
and all the hardware necessary for assembly. An
optional pole guard (EZ OFF3) is available (see
below).
The SuperSystem 24 is available in 6 configurations: as a complete system with 24 roundholed SuperGourds (SS24-SGR); as a complete pole
system with 24 porched round-holed SuperGourds (SS24-SGRP);as a complete pole
system with 24 crescent-holed SuperGourds (SS24-SGC); as a complete pole
system with 24 porched crescent-holed SuperGourds (SS24-SGCP); or without gourds (SS24V
or SS24H). All gourd racks and gourd rack systems
come with instructions for assembly and installation. Some options only available online.
16 feet tall
SS24 Gourd Rack
with 24 Round-holed
SuperGourds
SS24-SGR
EZ Off3
This optional climbing-animal barrier is made specifically
for the SuperSystem 24 and
Gemini’s 3-inch-square pole.
EZ OFF pole guards are hinged
and designed with quick-release tabs to be easily removed
prior to lowering your gourd
rack for a nest check. Will prevent snakes, raccoons, cats,
squirrels, and opossums from
climbing your 3”-square pole
and predating your martins.
Will only fit SS24 and G24
poles and systems.
l Heavy-duty 3” Pole
l High-strength
Aluminum Angle Arms
Hold 24 Gourds
l72” Top Perches
l Ground Stake
l Hub Assembly
Slides Smoothly
Up & Down
3”- Square Pole
on Nylon Glide
Buttons
l Metal Cable & Brake Winch System Make Gourd Raising Easy
Gemini 24
Gemini 24: This 16-foot-tall system holds
24 gourds and features a heavy-duty 3-inchsquare, two-part pole; a 350-pound brake winch
and metal cable system (cable, cable-pulley
guide, safety bolt, and stop pin) for easily and
safely raising and lowering the gourd arms. The
rack also features an all-aluminum hub with
nylon glide tabs for squeak-free operation. The
Gemini has two, 5-foot-diameter rings. Each
ring can hold 12 gourds of any type or brand.
You can easily attach your gourds with the 24
included GMAs (gourd-mounting arms), with
24 hitch pins. This system also comes with
two, 72” top perch rods; a heavy-duty 48”-long
aluminum ground stake; and all the hardware
necessary for assembly. An optional pole guard
(EZ OFF3) is available (see previous page).
The Gemini 24 is available in 6 configurations: as a complete system with 24
round-holed SuperGourds (G24-SGR); as a complete pole system with 24 porched round-holed
SuperGourds (G24-SGRP); as a complete pole
system with 24 crescent-holed SuperGourds (G24-SGC); as a complete pole
system with 24 porched crescent-holed SuperGourds (G24-SGCP); or without gourds (G24V
or G24H). All gourd racks and gourd rack systems come with instructions for assembly and
installation. Some options only available online.
G24 Gourd Rack
with 24 Porched, Crescent-holed
SuperGourds
16 feet tall
G24 Gourd Rack
with 24 Troyer Gourds
(available from Bird Abodes’
Online Store)
l Heavy-duty 3” Pole
l Ground Stake
l72” Top Perches
l Hub Assembly
SS24-SGCP
Slides Smoothly
Up & Down
3”- Square Pole
on Nylon Glide
Buttons
l Metal Cable & Brake Winch System Make Gourd Raising Easy
Heavy-duty, Bolt-on Porches for SuperGourds
NEW
Crescent-holed SuperGourd
With Our New Heavy-duty,
Bolt-on Porches
These optional, ribbed plastic porches bolt securely on both
the inside and outside of crescent-holed SuperGourds allowing
martins easier entry through the snug, starling-resistant
entries. They also work on both round-holed and Bluebirdholled SuperGourds. These thick, but light-weight porches
have UV protectants for long life. Porches come pre-drilled,
with two stainless steel whiz-lock nuts and two 10-32 x 1”
bolts per porch pair, and include attachment instructions.
One set shown
SG-HDPORCH
Each set of porches comes with stainless steel mounting
hardware and instructions.
SG-HDPORCH
Optional porches sold
in sets of 2 (1 for the
inside half and 1 for
the outside half)
NEW
Our HD Porches Also fit on Bluebird & Round-holed SuperGourds
Crescent SuperGourds
now come with a pair of
molded-in, drill point locators
for SG-HDPORCH mounting.
The view of a Purple Martin’s 6-egg cluctch as seen through the
access port of a crescent-holed SuperGourd equipped with innerouter porches.
Bird Abodes’ New Heavy-duty
Universal Gourd Cap
NEW
SG-CAPHD
Bird Abodes’ New Heavy-duty,
Universal Gourd Cap
Bird Abodes is thrilled to announce its new,
120mm, heavy-duty, threaded, gourd access cap.
Not only does it fit all of the SuperGourds manufactured during the past 19 years, but it will also fit all
of our competitors’ gourds.
Unlike similar caps on the market, which are
translucent and let sunlight in (believed to discourage nesting Purple Martins and also cause greenhouse-like heat build-up within the gourds), Bird
Abodes’ new cap is totally opaque thanks to proper
pigmentation in the plastic formulation. Because of
the cap’s total opacity, there is no longer a need for
a cardboard cap liner, which can mold and curl over
time, nor is there a need for an optional black liner.
Bird Abodes’ new cap has no liner. It doesn’t need
one! These new caps are also so thick and rugged
that they are virtually unbreakable. No more problems with the occasional broken cap during shipping or storage.
Impregnated with an abundance of UV inhibitors,
these new caps will last just as long exposed to the
destructive rays of the sun as the gourds themselves.
In addition, they are made of #2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene), the most recyclable of all plastics.
Should these caps ever reach the end of their useful
life, just toss them in the recycling bin; no harmful trip to the landfill necessary! So, even though
these caps are colored white, they are really quite
“green,” environmentally, just like the SuperGourd.
These caps also have a clean and uncluttered appearance; other than a recycling logo on the inside,
the new Bird Abodes’ caps don’t have martin art,
phone numbers, or writing on them — a work of art
really, improving the look of any gourd they become
mated to. This new cap also has closer-spaced grip
ribs than our competitor’s cap does, perfectly matching the width of a human thumb and fingers for superior grip. On a SuperGourd, the cap’s side grip ribs
beautifully match and compliment the perch ribs on
the canopy’s top and on our new HD Porches.
So, if you’ve lost some of your old gourd caps, or
if they are broken or brittle, consider getting some of
these as replacements. They will really fit the bill.
These caps also make great martin-themed drink
coasters! If you are tired of having wet condensations rings ruining your nice tables or magazines,
then buy some extra caps and use them as drink
coasters. They’ll make great conversation pieces.
All SuperGourds now come standard with these
improved caps.
Continued on next page
Another use for Bird Abodes’
new heavy-duty, universal gourd
caps: drink coasters to prevent
condensation rings on your
tables and magazines. Using
your extra caps as drink coasters
will make great Purple-Martinthemed conversation pieces.
SG-CAPHD
All 3 hole types of SuperGourd
now come standard with
molded-in drill point dimples in
the upper neck for the
option of
front-to-back
drilling.
All SuperGourds sold come
standard with these improved caps.
Notice how the side grip ribs of the
cap beautifully match and
compliment the perch ribs on both
the SuperGourd’s canopy and on
the optional porches.
New cap shown on a crescent-holed,
starling-resistant, SuperGourd. This
is just one of the 3 hole types
available in the SuperGourd.
rd
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Crescent SuperGourd
the Supe
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G
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ABOD
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www.SuperGourd.com
Gourds or Houses?
Which are Better for Purple Martins?
James R. Hill, III
J
4.5
W
H
4
J
Natural
Gourds
W
Wooden
Houses
H
Trio
Aluminum
Houses
21-day old
22-day old
J
W
3.5
3
J
H
2.5
W
2
H
1.5
Clutch Size
Hatch Size
Fledge Size
Success of Martins in Various Housing
n = 2729
n = 1214
n = 968
n = 547
20-day old
n = outcome of 12,814 eggs
total nests
Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania
nests in natural gourds
1984-1998
nests in wooden houses
15-year Study
nests in Trio aluminum houses
Fig. 1. A graph showing the relative breeding success of
Purple Martins nesting in natural gourds, wooden houses, and
unmodified Trio/Duracraft* metal houses. This 15-year study was
conducted by the Purple Martin Conservation Association over a
3-state area and followed the outcome of 2729 martin nests.
The Test
In his zeal to promote his company’s aluminum Purple Martin
houses, J. L. Wade, owner of Nature House, Inc., of Griggsville, IL,
and manufacturer of the Trio* and DuraCraft lines of martin houses,
once sent press releases to the nation’s newspapers imploring
martin hobbyists everywhere to return to its place of purchase, any
martin housing that wasn’t manufactured by his company. He was
especially adamant in his attacks against those who professed to
care about Purple Martins, yet promoted gourds as martin housing.
He claimed that gourds, as well as most martin housing made by
other manufacturers, were so inadequate as martin domiciles that
they rarely fledged any young since most would fall out prematurely
and end up on the ground as “dog and cat food.”
Because Mr. Wade’s anti-gourd/pro-Trio martin house
claims were not backed by any research data, the Purple Martin
Conservation Association thought it would be interesting to put
his claims regarding the relative merits of various types of martin
housing to a scientific test. The PMCA took their 15-year database
of 2729 active Purple Martin nests and statistically compared the
relative reproductive success of martins nesting in wooden houses,
23-day old
24-day old
James R. Hill, III
Average # of Eggs & Young per Nesting Attempt
5
Fig. 2. A 6” x 6” square drawn to scale over the
top of five nestling Purple Martins, demonstrating
the floor size of the unmodified Trio aluminum
houses tested in this 15-year study. Imagine
a brood of six martin nestlings and their two
parents (= 8 martins) having to cram into a
compartment this size. Ideally, martin house
compartments should be at least twice this large,
especially since a full-sized nestling is 7” long.
unmodified Trio/DuraCraft aluminum houses, and natural gourds.
If, as Mr. Wade claims, any of these three housing types differed in
how good or bad they were for nesting Purple Martins, one would
expect to find measurable differences in the breeding success of
martins using them. And that’s exactly what the PMCA found.
The results of this analysis are shown in Fig. 1. Contrary to
Mr. Wade’s claims, these data showed that in every measure of
reproductive success, Purple Martins fared best when nesting in
gourds, and fared least well when nesting in Trio aluminum houses.
There were many reasons for these results (and you should read the
full report*), but basically, martins nesting is gourds have higher
nesting success because gourds are roomier, drier, less vulnerable
to predators, and have fewer nestling fallouts than Trio houses.
* The Trio/DuraCraft aluminum martin houses tested in this study
were the latest models, but unfortunately, Nature House, Inc., hasn’t
changed its basic 6” x 6” house designs since they were originally
introduced in the early 1960’s. This is like driving a car with 45-yearold technology and, not surprisingly, the martins’ breeding success in
unmodified Trio/Duracraft houses reflects this. To read the complete
research report, visit the Purple Martin Conservation Association’s web
site at <www.purplemartin.org>. Look under Update 8(4) archives.
James R. Hill, III
Gourds Can Be Hung
Under Martin Houses
Gourds Can Be Hung On Ropes Or On Gourd Racks
James R. Hill, III
James R. Hill, III
Purple Martins Love Gourds
2016 Retail Price List
Shipping to Continental USA Only
CODE
GOURD #
R,C,B-11-pack
R,C,B-22-pack
R,C,B-33-pack
R,C,B-44-pack
R,C,B-66-pack
R,C,B-88-pack
R,C,B-1212-pack
R,C-16 16 gourds
R,C-24 24 gourds
R,C-36 36 gourds
R,C-48 48 gourds
CODE
GR4H
GR4H-SGR
GR4H-SGC
GR4H-SGCP
DGR6H
DGR6H-SGR
DGR6H-SGC
DGR6H-SGCP
DGR6UP-H
GR8H
GR8-SGR
GR8-SGC
GR8-SGCP
DGR12H
DGR12V
DGR-SGR
DGR-SGC
DGR-SGCP
AAA-16H
AAA-16V
AAA16-SGR
AAA16-SGC
AAA16-SGCP
SS24H
SS24V
SS24-SGR
SS24-SGC
SS24-SGCP
G24H
G24V
G24-SGR
G24-SGC
G24-SGCP
PGR
PGS
EZ OFF2
EZ OFF3
SG-HDPorch
SG-TRAP
SG-TRAP-BB
SG-CAP
SG-CAPHD
PRICE/GOURD
$13.70
$13.50
$13.40
$13.20
$13.10
$12.80
$12.65
$12.57
$12.30
$12.10
$12.00
SHIPPING*
$15.00
$15.00
$18.00
$24.00
$31.00
$35.00
$48.00
$70.00
$90.00
$132.00
$180.00
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
PRICE PER GOURD
WITH SHIPPING
$28.70
$21.00
$19.40
$19.20
$18.27
$17.18
$16.65
$16.95
$16.05
$15.76
$15.75
TOTAL COST*
$28.70
$42.00
$58.20
$76.80
$109.60
$137.40
$199.80
$271.12
$385.20
$567.60
$756.00
PRICE INCLUDING SHIPPING*
4-unit Rack, no gourds (arms for front-to-back hanging holes)....$119.95
4-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 4 SGRs).......................................$195.95
4-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 4 SGCs).......................................$195.95
4-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 4 SGCs + 4 porch sets)..........$209.95
Expandable 6-unit Rack, no gourds (arms for front-to-back hanging).... $249.95
Expandable 6-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 6 SGRs)......................... $355.95
Expandable 6-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 6 SGCs)......................... $355.95
Expandable 6-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 6 SGCs + 6 porch sets).... $369.95
6-arm expansion kit for DGR6H, no gourds ............................... $84.95
8-unit Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for front-to-back hanging holes)....$289.95
8-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 8 SGRs)............................ $399.95
8-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 8 SGCs)............................ $399.95
8-unit Gourd Rack System (Includes 8 SGCs + 8 porch sets).... $417.95
Deluxe 12 Gourd Rack, no gourds (arms for front-to-back hanging holes)..... $309.95
Deluxe 12 Gourd Rack, no gourds (arms for side-to-side hanging holes).... $309.95
Deluxe 12 Rack System (includes 12 Drilled SGRs)................... $505.95
Deluxe 12 Rack System (includes 12 Drilled SGCs)................... $505.95
Deluxe 12 Rack System (includes 12 Drilled SGCs + 12 porch sets).. $529.95
AAA 16 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for front-to-back hanging holes)... $359.95
AAA 16 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for side-to-side hanging holes)... $359.95
AAA 16 Gourd Rack System (includes 16 SGRs)........................ $589.95
AAA 16 Gourd Rack System (includes 16 SGCs)........................ $589.95
AAA 16 Gourd Rack System (includes 16 SGCs + 16 porch sets)... $621.95
SuperSystem 24 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for front-to-back hanging holes)... $509.95
SuperSystem 24 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for side-to-side hanging holes).. $509.95
SuperSystem 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGRs).......... $859.95
SuperSystem 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGCs).......... $859.95
SuperSystem 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGCs + 24 porch sets)... $899.95
Gemini 24 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for front-to-back hanging holes)... $629.95
Gemini 24 Gourd Rack, no gourds (GMAs for side-to-side hanging holes).. $629.95
Gemini 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGRs)................... $979.95
Gemini 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGCs)................... $979.95
Gemini 24 Gourd Rack System (includes 24 SGCs + 24 porch sets)... $1019.95
Pole Guard for round poles (Fits all Trio and Heath poles)........ $45.95
Pole Guard for 2” square poles (GR8, DGR, and AAA16)........... $45.95
Hinged Pole Guard for 2” square poles (GR8, DGR, and AAA16).. $69.95
Hinged Pole Guard for 3” square poles (SS24 and G24)............ $69.95
Plastic Porches for SuperGourds (per pair; 1 pair needed/gourd)..........$3.95**
SuperGourd Insert Trap (ea.) ..................................................... $21.95
Bluebird SuperGourd Insert Trap (ea.) ....................................... $22.95
Extra SuperGourd Screw-on Caps (ea.) .........................................$1.50**
Extra HEAVY-DUTY SuperGourd Screw-on Caps (ea.) ..................$2.00**
March 2016
Product
Categories
2-1/8”
SGR
Crescent
SGC
1-1/2”
SGB
Pole
Systems
DGR-SGR
* Shipping included in total cost. Prices subject to change should FedEx raise their rates. SuperGourds have 27/64”
front-to-back hanging holes pre-drilled in their necks when ordered as part of ANY gourd rack SYSTEM in this catalog.
** See webstore for more accurate pricing of these double asterick accessories (quantity discounts apply). If caps or porches are ordered
separately from a SuperGourd or gourd rack system order, please add $12.00 per order for shipping. You may combine gourd types (e.g.,
SGR, SGC, SGB) in a single order for a combined quantity discount. For example: a SGR-4, SGC-4, and a SGB-4 would only cost the 12-pack
price. However, gourds ordered as part of a gourd rack “system” can not be counted in with the rest of a gourd order for quantity discounts.
Order Form
Ship to: Address
Payment Methods
Business Name
Postal Address
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Bird Abodes
Phone & Fax (P)(F)
John Doe
E-mail
Product Description
Quantity
Price
Shipping
Extended Price
Order Online at www.SuperGourd.com
Credit Card
Info:
TOTAL COST
Name on card
Number
Exp. Date
Sec. Code
PA SALES TAX: If order is being shipped to a Pennsylvania address, we must charge 6% sales tax on order total.
SHIPPING: We will ship your order within 48 hours of receiving it. We use ground service from FedEx. Please be sure to include
a street address for delivery. Your entire shipment must go to a single address to qualify for quantity discount pricing.
rd
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Please use black ink
Code #
We accept credit/debit
cards over the phone,
written on a faxed (or emailed) order form, or by making a payment to us via PayPal.com. For PayPal
payments, go to their web site, use a
credit/debit card or echeck, and deposit
the money into the account of <info@
supergourd.com> along with details
of your order. You may also mail us a
personal check or postal money order.
www.SuperGourd.com
Bird Abodes
506 Erie Street (Pole Barn)
PO Box 756
Edinboro, PA 16412
814-323-2001 (phone)
814-734-9078 (fax)
info@SuperGourd.com (e-mail)
Louise Chambers © 2003
Please use black ink
Name
James R. Hill, III,
ornithologist and
owner of Bird
Abodes, holding a
natural gourd that
has been equipped
with an in-cavity
surveillance camera enabling him to
watch, listen, and record a Purple Martin
pair’s entire 75-day
nesting cycle (both
night and day), from
a monitor inside his
office.
The SuperGourd was designed and developed by ornithologist, James R. Hill, III,** who is Founder and
Executive Director Emeritus of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. It is the only martin housing on the market today based on over 35 years of scientific research into the needs of Purple Martins.
** Hi. I am James R. Hill, III, owner of Bird Abodes and designer of the SuperGourd. I have been conducting research on Purple
Martins for over 35 years and have published over 150 articles on them. I am Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the Purple
Martin Conservation Association, and was editor of their quarterly membership magazine, the Purple Martin Update, for 17 years. In
1992, I was the subject of a BBC television documentary entitled: “Bird Nuts, the Magnificent Obsession,” which was about my
lifelong obsession with Purple Martins. For articles by (or about) me see: “A Passion For Purple Martins” in National Wildlife magazine
(August/September 1990, pp 20-24); “Social Cavity Nesters” in WildBird magazine (March 1994, pp 38-41); “Purple Martin’s
Majesty” in Bird Conservation magazine (Late Winter/Early Spring 1998, pp 9,14); “Martin Mania” in Birder’s World magazine
(April 1998, pp 32-36); and “Martin Management Tips” in Bird Watcher’s Digest (March/April 1999, pp 71-77). I have designed,
or helped design, many of the products in this catalog because I wanted landlords everywhere to be able to offer their martins
scientifically-proven, state-of-the-art products rather than the poorly-designed, mediocre, housing currently saturating the market.
“Your SuperGourds are truly
SUPER! I’ve had one pair of
Purple Martins each year for the
past 5 years. This year I put up
12 SuperGourds and ended up
with 10 pairs! I still have the
houses. They land on them, but
that’s all. I’ve since ordered 10
more SuperGourds.” Donald
Smith, Greenwood, IN.
SuperGourd
Testimonials
“I tried for 3 years to attract
martins to my home with no
luck. I had mostly aluminum
and wooden housing in the
air for them to inhabit. I finally gave in and ordered 16
SuperGourds. Boy did I make
the right move! They just flew
down from the sky and were
here to stay. At last count, I
had around 28 birds total.”
Allen D. Hiott, Belton, SC.
”SuperGourds are roomy, low
maintenance, hardy, easily accessible for cleaning nests out,
pretty, and my martins (and Tree
Swallows) love them! I have
15 SuperGourds.” Pamela
Kunze, Hutchinson, MN.
DGR-12R
“My colony is 37 years old and has always nested in wooden and
aluminum houses. This year I hung 8 SuperGourds beneath my
houses and I am happy to report all 8 are now occupied. I was so
pleased with the acceptance of the SuperGourds by the martins that
I hung 8 more. Eventually, I hope to convert all of my housing to
SuperGourds. They are just so much easier to maintain. SuperGourds
are an excellent product.” Bob Bozeman, Longstreet, LA.
“I have bought wooden martin houses in the past, which I found
difficult to clean. The metal houses that I bought later had
compartments that were too small and had sharp edges. More
recently, I bought another brand of plastic gourd that mounted on
a telescoping pole. The gourds were not large enough for me and
nest checks with the telescoping poles were difficult. I now have
a Deluxe Gourd Rack System with 12 SuperGourds and found the
system easy to use, do nest checks on, and clean at the end of the
season. I am completely satisfied and now feel I have no further
need to get anything else.” R. R., Salisbury, MD.
“My colony of martins loves SuperGourds. In fact, I’m slowly
replacing my modified natural gourds (access doors and rain
canopies) with SuperGourds. SuperGourds are easier for me to deal
with and they’re larger than my natural gourds.” Mary Dawson,
Whitmore Lake, MI.
“I have 3 pairs of Purple Martins nesting in SuperGourds after 5
years of being unsuccessful with other types of housing.” James
Robinette, Ypsilanti, MI.
“I put up 12 SuperGourds this year and had real good luck. I also
had a 12-room metal house. I lost a lot of babies from the house.
I don’t think I lost any from the gourds. The metal house got too
hot and the babies left the nests too early. I’m doing away with
the house next year and putting up 12 more SuperGourds.” Dick
Tres, Hopewell, VA.
“I am sold on SuperGourds.
This is my first year as a martin
landlord and my success with
them has convinced me to
stick with them. The martins
love them. The access door
and optional insert trap make
it easy to change nests and
remove trapped House Sparrows and European Starlings.
When I do nest checks, the
eggs and nestlings are at the
extreme back of the gourd, far
from the entrance and harm’s
way. I know several martin
landlords like to grow and
prepare natural gourds for
martins, however, I prefer the
ready-made, easy-to-maintain
SuperGourd.” Jim McIntosh,
Farmer’s Branch, TX.
“Our martins had a good
year. One reason was the
SuperGourds. My colony site
consists of a gourd pole with
6 SuperGourds and 6 natural
gourds, and a Trio Castle with
3 SuperGourds hung below
it. The 9 SuperGourds each
had a successful nest and the
natural gourds had 5 out of
6. Unfortunately, the castle only had 5 nests, 3 of which failed. As
a landlord, I like the SuperGourd as much as the martins because
they are so easy to maintain. I no longer need to paint and repair
natural gourds. Clean out and nest inspection could not be easier.
Next year I plan to convert my colony site to 100% SuperGourds.”
Gary Saner, Carrollton, TX.
“Just wanted to let you know that the Purple Martins are off to a good
start at our residence for 1999. We have 6 metal houses, 16 plastic
Carroll gourds, and 12 plastic SuperGourds. As of May 31, we have
151 eggs and 31 new babies. All the SuperGourds (new this year) are
full with eggs or new babies. The Carroll gourds #1 through #8 we
cannot reach to do nest checks on. We might replace them next year
with all SuperGourds.” Jay & Lana Pittenger, Sharpsburg, MD.
“I purchased 4 SuperGourds to hang beneath my Trio M12-K
aluminum martin houses. The gourds are now 100% occupied. Next
year I’m going to incorporate several more. I particularly like the
durability of the SuperGourd. Last year we had a horrific rain storm
that leveled the Trio house with gourds. The aluminum house did
not fair that well, but the SuperGourds were up and back in action
that same day. I really do support that product.” Greg T. Hall,
Princeton, TX.
“I knew the SuperGourds were going to be good, but yesterday when
I was doing a nest check I found out really how great they are. One
of the gourds was infested with nest mites, the outside of the gourd
being covered. I removed the 5 nestlings and placed them in a
bucket upon a soft towel and then just took the gourd from the rack.
I removed the old infested nest and sprayed the gourd with a water
hose rinsing it completely out. I then took a towel, dried it off, inside
and out, added fresh nesting material, then replaced the nestlings. I
did all of this in a matter of minutes. With a natural gourd I would
not have been able to get the same “cleanliness” that I did with the
SuperGourd.” Jace Stansbury, Nederland, TX.
the Supe
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www.SuperGourd.com
Flycatchers
506 Erie Street (Pole Barn)
Love SuperGourds
PO Box 756
Edinboro, PA 16412
James R. Hill, III
814-323-2001 (phone )
814-734-9078 (fax)
www.SuperGourd.com (web)
info@SuperGourd.com (e-mail)
Bluebird SuperGourd & Bluebird SuperGourd Insert Trap
SGB
Nestling Martins
SuperGourds Allow Humans
To Get Closer to Nature
James R. Hill, III
Approved by the
North American Bluebird Society
The Bluebird SuperGourd (SGB) has
all the same great features as our other
two 10” SuperGourd models, but has a
1-1/2” entrance hole, perfect for
attracting nesting bluebirds, Tree
Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, House
Wrens, titmice, and chickadees. The 1-1/2”
entrance hole will also keep European
Starlings from entering these gourds.
These gourds offer a quick and easy
way to put up housing for all sorts of
cavity-nesting species. Simply choose
a location that meets the habitat
requirements of the bird species you
want to attract, then hang the gourd
appropriately.
If you are trying to attract Purple
Martins, but are having trouble because
Tree Swallows or bluebirds are trying to
claim the martin housing first, you can
accommodate the bluebirds or swallows
by placing a gourd nearby for them
(about 40 - 60 feet away from the martin
housing), then closing all the martin
housing until the bluebirds or swallows are
settled into the new gourd. Once they begin
nest building, you can unplug your martin
housing again.
If you are having trouble with the
non-native House Sparrow taking
over your Bluebird SuperGourds, a
highly-specialized insert trap
(SG-TRAP-BB) is available.
Bluebird SuperGourd
Insert Trap
SG-TRAP-BB
Conducting a
Nest Check
James R. Hill, III
1-1/2”
Entrance Hole