Chalet Nestbox (Gary Springer's www.realbirdhomes.com)

In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: 

Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 13:44:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Koby Prater
Subject: Gary Springer's Chalet

Hello all,
I left Gary a Message on his answering machine. What I was wanting to contact him about are the plans for the Chalet. Does anyone know where these plans are located? I was willing to pay him to get access to these plans, but I can not get a hold of him. Do any of you folks own a Chalet? It seems like a nice nestbox. If any of you have results from your Chalets, please give me these results, and if you liked this design. Thanks for any info.

Koby Prater

PS- My guess is that Gary is in the hospital.
Koby Prater
SW Missouri

Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 12:57:03 -0500
From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler"
Subject: Re: Gary Springer

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Tex.

I talked with Gary last night and he is OK just working lots of hours! His Chalet is doing OK in heat tests that I am doing with nesting House Sparrows. They have survived the 10 days of 100*F+ temperatures so far. I love his mounting method with the quick change 1" conduit pipe adapter, The side opening is OK but I did have one sparrow escape over the top of the door while opening it as there is a lot of ventilation over his sides (which is good). Other than this one thing to watch for it is a good box design and well built. Keith Kridler

Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 19:57:57 EDT
From: Sss2gemini"at"aol.com
Subject: Re: Gary Springer's Chalet

Koby,

I have one of Gary Springer's Chalet nextboxes. My bluebird pair just fledged their second clutch from the Chalet. I really like Gary's quick mount onto a pole too. My bluebirds seemed to like it really well, no problem in entering the box like I had with the first nextbox I have and that my pair raised their first clutch in. The wood is nice and thick and very rough for the birds to climb up out of. It seems like the roof shades the front, back and sides more than other nestboxes do and keeps the rain from entering also. I like the left side opening with the safety screw that I can tighten if need be. All five of this second brood sucessfully fledged from the Chalet. I plan on ordering another one from Gary this Fall to replace my #1 box which I think is made of too smooth of wood and not thick enough wood.

Sherry Hunter,
Byron Center, MI

Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2000 07:27:40 EDT
From: bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Gary Springer's Chalet

Regarding Gary Springer's Chalet nest box. I believe Gary will be releasing drawings for his nest box in the near future.

Here is what I have found about nest boxes built by those other than the nestbox designer (including my feeble attempts and those who are much more of a craftsmen than I am). The short of it is they just aren't as good.

Take for example, the Gilbertson Box. Steve Gilbertson creates what I would call a masterpiece. If you follow his directions to a 'T,' you will end up with something a little less than that. What's the difference? Steve has built thousands of them. He knows the secrets of building them, secrets that somehow just can't be put in writing. Now, I'm not suggesting don't try to duplicate the effort. All I would suggest is when you build a Gilbertson style nest box you call it that, because there will be a difference, and that difference can make the difference when the box has a different success rate than what the original has.

The same is true of a Springer Chalet. I have witnessed the quality that Gary puts into these boxes and it will be very hard to duplicate. I have discussed this very topic with Gary. I even recommended to Gary that he release his drawings for this very reason. I believe when you attempt to build a Chalet and end up results that are less than what you would get from Gary. The end result will increase his sales.

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE ...

Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 10:48:41 EDT
From: bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
Subject: Construction drawings for The Chalet

I now have construction drawings for The Chalet nestbox from  http://www.realbirdhomes.com on my web site. The direct URL for the drawings is: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/index.htmbbbox/nestbox/chalet.htm 

This nestbox is one of the most unique nestboxes inspired by the NABS nestbox style design. The box design itself has been NABS certified. I am particularly interested to see if the quickmount method employed by this nestbox will be copied over to other nestboxes.

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE ...

Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 11:30:26 -0400
From: "Gary Springer" springer"at"alltel.net
Subject: Van Ert Trap/Chalet nest box

Hi Sherry,

You wrote:

"I tried again to put the universal Van Ert trap into the box, it is very difficult to get into the chalet nestbox, but I finally got in installed."

I wish you had written to let me know you were having difficulty installing the Van Ert Universal House Sparrow Trap inside the Chalet nest box. Because the Chalet nest box is assembled using galvanized screws with top and side opening capability, other than a front opening nest box, it is far easier to install the Van Ert Universal House Sparrow Trap into a Chalet than any nest box I know of.

This is a removable trap that hangs on two screws on the inside front of the box.

To install these two screws, simply remove the roof and back from the box, then, using the template provided by Mr. Van Ert, put the 2 screws that attach the trap to the box in the necessary position and replace the back and roof.

The trap hangs on these two screws so you can use the same trap on every box you have with no additional investment.

When putting this trap into a nest box while in the field, it is easier to hang the trap onto the front of the box after putting the trap in the set position.

Gary Springer
www.realbirdhomes.com

Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 22:31:28 EDT
From: SHbirder"at"aol.com
Subject: Re: Van Ert Trap/Chalet nest box

Sherry Hunter, Byron Center, MI

Hi Gary,

In response to your post about my having difficulties installing the Van Ert trap into the Chalet nestbox; I had thought about writing you privately but decided to try and install it as best I could. And then I was going to write to you and ask you if you could design a trap that would work much easier in your Chalet box.

As you know I think your Chalet box is one of the best nestboxes around and I know that the bluebirds must also like them as they nested twice last year and once this year so far in them.

However in my experience so far when it comes to installing a HOSP trap in the Chalet it is difficult to do. I took off the roof and also the side door. I think as you say taking off the back and the roof may make it a little easier to use the small screw driver. But even then the trap cannot be put in evenly under the hole as then when the side door is opened it will run into the side of the trap. So the trap needs to be put as far over to the left side of the box under the hole which makes it off center and then when it springs shut their is a portion opening on the top of the entrance hole that is not covered by the metal trap( cannot put the trap any higher as it runs into the roof). One of the good things about your nestbox is that it has large vent areas but this is the one thing I think that also makes the door run into the trap (the hinge is lower from the top of the box). The Van Ert PVC trap fits just right inside but I had to take the wood guard off of the entrance hole and bend the clip somewhat to put that trap in. It worked great the first time I trapped a HOSP this early spring but this time the HOSP saw the clip and would not go into the box. (I have been trying to trap this HOSP for two weeks now. The two weeks of rain we have had hasn't helped either!) ...

Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 13:45:25 -0400
From: "Gary Springer" springer"at"alltel.net
Subject: Re: Van Ert Trap/Chalet nest box

Hi Sherry,

One of the reasons the Chalet is one of the easiest side opening nest boxes in which to install the Van Ert sparrow trap is that the back of the box can be removed. Once removed a full size screw driver, or, while not needed or recommended, even a power screw driver or power drill can be used to put in the screws.

As you indicated, when installing the Van Ert sparrow trap in the Chalet nest box the trap needs to be positioned away from the opening side. This will be the case with any side opening nest box.

With the Chalet nest box this is actually an advantage that makes setting the Van Ert sparrow trap easier because the screws can be positioned so that the trap needs to be flush with the side of the box. When hanging the trap on the screws, set the trap in the ready position, push the trap in the box until it is flush with the far side of the box and just above the lower screw, then let it drop until is in the hung position.

You also wrote that the entire hole can not be covered when the trap is in the triggered position because the roof of the Chalet is in the way.

A House Sparrow can not escape from the nest box if even half of the inch and a half diameter nest box entrance is blocked by the trap.

However, if you want the entire hole to be blocked after the trap is released, this can also be accomplished very easily. Simply take an ordinary pair of scissors and clip off the corner of the piece of tin on the trap that blocks the nest box hole. This will allow you to position the trap so the entire hole can be covered.

If you employ these simple tips, the Van Ert trap sparrow trap will work with the Chalet nest box easier than most any other side opening nest box.

You also have the option of using the top opening function of the Chalet nest box when using this trap. Note that the weight of the roof will prevent the house sparrow from escaping so there is no reason to attach the roof until trapping is completed.

Again, I am grateful you have brought this to my attention so others will be more well informed.

Very Sincerely,

Gary Springer

Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 10:50:52 -0400
From: "TimSeward" ajax"at"patriot.net
Subject: Chalet box, slot box, Van Ert trap

Gary, Dave, and all,

Just wanted to report that four very healthy nestlings fledged on July 3 (day 18 or 19) from Gary Springer's chalet box. Parents are feeding them high in the trees. Hoping they'll try a third nest this season, which would be the second in the chalet box if they choose it again. The box is mounted on 1/2" greased black pipe, about 5 1/2' off the ground. It is situated in an open area but enjoys the shade on each side of a tree about 15' from the box. (No low hanging branches.) I am very pleased with the design of this box. I like the double wood block at the entrance, its depth, lots of roof overhang, lots of ventilation.

I recently purchased a slot-style box from Dave Mangess, which we will mount across the street for a possible third nesting of the bluebirds over there. It is constructed of cedar, with a smooth white roof (not cedar (with lots of overhang)), which I understand may help deflect the sun's strong rays. Selected the slot design in anticipation of house sparrow problems.

And, by the way, I installed the Van Ert trap in a side opening box in which house sparrows had begun nest building. Installation incredibly easy, even for me. Within 10 minutes the trap had tripped, and both male and female were inside. The beauty of the trap is that once the two screws are installed, the trap can be removed and easily remounted when necessary, or moved from box to box. As with any trap, it should only be mounted when you have time to monitor the box closely and when you are certain house sparrows have claimed it. ...

Diane Seward
Potomac, MD (suburban Washington, DC)

From: "Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana"
yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net
Subject: Fw: Meadowood Chalet
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 08:09:58 -0500

This is John Schuster's BB box. Thought I would share it with you all.

Dottie, Hickory Hollow

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Schuster" wildwingco"at"earthlink.net
To: "Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana"
yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 12:29 PM
Subject: Meadowood Chalet

 Dear Dot,

 This is the Meadowood Chalet nest box that I highly recommend over any
 other songbird nest box that I now build. Yes, I still make NABS (sells
 for $25.00) and Peterson (sells for $30.00) nest boxes, but the
 Meadowood Chalet nest box is the real deal in my opinion. It is by far
 the best looking nest box that I have ever utilized, but there is more
 to it than looks.

 The Meadowood Chalet pictured was mounted in my sisters front yard in
 Wyckoff, New Jersey and as you can see it snowed one night when we were
 there. Note that the ridged roof keeps moisture out better than any
 nest box that I have ever built (see how dry it is inside Meadowood
 Chalet and under the roof line) and all without glue to seal the nest
 box.

 The roof on the Meadowood Chalet has more surface area for dispersing
 heat and the elongated 1/2 ventilation slits under the roof line gives
 the best ventilation of all my songbird nest boxes. One trail in St.
 Helena, California (Napa Valley), has these nest boxes as I recommended
 the Meadowood Chalet for their trail because of the heat in the Napa
 Valley. The manager there has told me that even though it might be 100
 degree outside you can really tell that the inside of the nest box in
 considerable cooler.

 The Meadowood Chalet (like all my songbird and raptor nest boxes) are
 screwed together with galvanized screws for secure tight construction,
 and easy repairs. However, you can remove 6 of the 8 screws that hold
 the roof to the Meadowood Chalet so you can easily remove the roof for
 top monitoring the nest. Great for taking pictures.

 One of the best features of the Meadowood Chalet is the quick release
 system underneath the nest box. I use a 3/4 inch EMT tightening system,
 which is bolted and glued to an EMT steel floor mounting plate. The
 plate is then screwed to the outside bottom of the floor of the nest
 box. I counter sink the bottom of the floor with a 1 1/2 inch hole so
 the protruding portions of the 3/4 inch quick release system can be
 accommodated with in the wood of the floor board without compromising
 the inside of the nest box. I will send you some detailed photo of this
 system later.

 What you end up with is a secure mounting system, and a nest box that
 can be put up in seconds with out any tools by simply placing the EMT
 quick mount system over a 3/4 inch EMT pipe twisting the quick release
 system collar with the turn of your wrist and that's it.

 Even more important, with a compass you can face the front of Meadowood
 Chalet in any 360 degree direction (preferable east) that you desire by
 twisting the nest box and tightening the EMT collar nut under the
 Meadowood Chalet. Try doing that with a U-BAR mounted NABS and you'll
 see how cool the Meadowood Chalet really is. To remove just loosen the
 collar underneath and remove the Meadowood Chalet for service or
 cleaning.

 Though this nest box can be built from a verity materials, I prefer to
 use redwood. Plywood and pine are OK, but plywood doesn't hold up.
 Pine cost just as much as redwood out here, but redwood lasts longer
 than pine. However, the best part about redwood is that the bluebirds,
 tree and violet green swallows take to these redwood nest boxes like a
 hummingbirds takes to nectar.

 However, the redwood of today is not like the redwood of yesteryear.
 Because they are not cutting down old growth trees (I like old growth
 trees so I'm OK with preserving these monarchs of the forest) for
 lumber, the redwood lumber from the younger trees tends to split
 easily. Therefore I highly recommend having the exterior of these
 redwood nest box treated with natural boiled (not raw) linseed oil.

 Natural boiled linseed oil penetrates deep into wood fibers keeping them
 pliable (prevents cracking), protects the wood from UV rays and water
 damage. Once the entire exterior (never the interior) of the nest box
 is treated they will last for years. I recommend retreating the roof
 every 2 or 3 years and the body of the nest box as needed.

 Cedar is out! I no longer use cedar and I'm completely convinced that
 cedar is not healthy for me or the birds. After a while I found out
 about the dangers of cedar (both Western and Eastern Red Cedar) and
 Plicatic acid a known poison harmful to warm blooded animals and cavity
 nesting bird in cedar built nest boxes in my opinion.

 Though no other birding organizations are in agreement with this
 position due mostly to the lack of scientific studies on the tissues of
 birds lungs that fledged from cedar nest boxes which would reveal
 whether or not the birds were weakened. Using myself as a model and
 considering the size of any bird, nest boxes fabricated from cedar have
 to be death traps for birds in my opinion.

 I've had asthma all my life, but I noticed that after working in my shop
 with cedar that when I went to bed at night, my asthma was getting
 worse. Once I had the information, I completely cleaned out my workshop
 of all traces of cedar and returned all my cedar planking to my
 supplier. That night when I went to bed, my severe asthma attacks were
 a thing of the past.

 Do a search on the internet for the word plicatic acid, cedar, or
 occupational asthma and you'll see that this wood is one of the most
 common causes of occupational asthma in humans, and, that many pet
 industries have discontinued recommending cedar shavings for bedding
 materials.
 Considering that cedar have long been the wood of choice for clothing
 chests because it poisonous properties kill and or repel insects and
 varmints. You can imagine a nest full of baby birds breathing those
 deadly fumes with every breath for the first 19 days of their lives when
 sadly there are simple and less toxic alternatives to consider.

 There is a big industry that revolves around cedar nest boxes, mostly
 because it is abundant, relatively inexpensive and easy to work with (I
 know because I use to work with it) and, those defending cedar like to
 condemn other woods as well most notably pine which has some resins that
 are dangerous too. But, the resins in pine are not nearly as dangerous,
 and once the wood cures they disappear quickly while the poisons in
 cedar remain permanently.

 Therefore, Wild Wing Company believes exposing birds to plicatic acid is
 a totally unnecessary risk that should be avoided.

 Cost for the Meadowood Chalet is only $32.00. Adding a quick mount and
 pole system so you can put the Meadowood Chalet up immediately to enjoy
 adds another $8.00 to the cost. Shipping and handling are extra. There
 is a 5% discount for customers that order 10 or more nest boxes and a
 10% discount for ordering 15 or more nest boxes. Discounts apply to
 nest boxes only.

 Next set of e-mails will have photos of Wild Wing Company barn owl
 nesting box with explanations about the product.

 Happy Bluebird Trails To You,
 John Schuster, Owner
 Wild Wing Company ...

From: "Gary Springer" springer"at"alltel.net
Subject: Mr Schuster's Chalet and Plagiarism
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2002 06:30:58 -0400

Dear Mr. Schuster,

Much of your advertisement of the "Chalet" nest box that you posted to the Bluebird-L mailing list constitutes plagiarism of the text on my web page at www.realbirdhomes.com  .

It does not concern me that you have used the "Chalet" design. I want others to use this design so the birds are helped and I therefore hope you follow the design more closely instead of cutting costs as you have done.

But, because you have obviously copied not only the nest box style, nest box name, mounting method, mounting method name, and more importantly, many dozens of words and descriptive phrases from the text of my web page, it is reasonable to assume that many people will confuse your work with mine or form a mental association when no actual association exists.

Further, because you cut corners and costs to produce your "Chalet", and because you have used my writing in your advertisement without my permission, a practice which I now ask you to stop, I would appreciate it if you included somewhere in your advertisement that you are in no way associated with Gary Springer or Real Bird Homes from which you poorly copied almost all of your work and advertisement.

Further, please be advised that the material on my web page is copyright protected.

Gary Springer

From: "Andy Coulombe" andyc"at"kennebec.com
Subject: Chalet Type Bluebird Houses
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 09:46:01 -0500

Do Bluebirds like these houses as well as the standard NABS house?

Andy Coulombe Augusta, Maine

Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 10:26:52 -0800
From: John Schuster wildwingco"at"earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Chalet Type Bluebird Houses

Dear Andy and friends,

In a word...YES! I don't have time to explain all the benefits here, but these are fantastic nest boxes with loads of great features for protecting the Bluebirds from heat and pest challenges.

On a side note; the muck on the bottom of nest boxes, was a topic that I posted on over 2 weeks ago. I concur with Linda and others that this is a challenge that generally happens during the second nesting and small sized nest boxes generally contribute to this.

That is why there is a grass roots movement with in NABS to build larger nest boxes and I'm am doing the same with my new Meadowood Bluebird Chateau (floor size: 6" x 8") which is a larger version of my Meadowood Bluebird (a Wild Wing Company knock off of the Chalet model that has a steel mounting plate underneath the nest box for a doubly strong mounting system for vineyard operations.)

I've seen the results of accidental tractor hits to these nest boxes, and after converting over the the steel plate system, the poles may bend (absorbing the shock which is OK), but the nest box stays firmly in place (which is even better.) The 2 above models are made out of beautiful long lasting con heart redwood for years of hard use.

Happy Bluebird Trails To You,
John Schuster, conservationist and owner
Wild Wing Company...

I wrongly stated that I had gotten plans for this nestbox from NABS but it was from the Bluebird Box website.Has anyone used a Chalet style box?Any thoughts on it's use?They claim it is cooler.I frame houses and it seems to make since to me as it has an attic.I put a good rub of soap on the inside roof to deter wasp.Will the soap deter the Blues?Thanks my Bluebird care mentors.
Shane Marcotte
Watson Louisiana

From: Ron Kingston [mailto:kingston"at"cstone.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2005 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: Chalet Nestbox

Shane,
If you want information on the Chalet Nestbox, check Gary Springer's Website at http://www.realbirdhomes.com/newindex.htm. He designed the Chalet

Thanks
Ron

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