Nestboxes (Misc) (Part 1)
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:
Subj: RE:new nest timing/too late for boxes
Date: 5/31/99 9:14:09 AM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant Texas
Last EA bluebirds normally fledge in mid August in Northeast Texas. Latest I
have had them fledge was Sept 9 others have had them still by the 16th Sept. in
their boxes. new nest timing:Good question & answers everyone. Merlin, If there
is another empty box near the seemly abandoned nest or bluebirds are still seen
near the box I would wait three weeks. Like Merlin I do feel that a nest tells
other bluebirds the area is taken and this is why I think leaving old nests
actually slows down a new pair from moving into a box with an old nest. Hatch
G.'s research should shed more information in a year or two. Ken Smith, Yes I do
think another pair will sometimes come in and use an abandoned nest simply
because sometimes the bluebirds are using different "favorite" hunting perches
and are more or less aggressive when I attempt to check the box. Carolyn, A cold
snap will stop bluebirds from completing clutches or abandon eggs simply like
she said for lack of food. IF the weather quickly warms up and IF you have only
one or two young in several boxes and IF I felt there were plenty of insects I
have combined different nests of young the SAME age (by looks) into one nest so
the others can renest and possibly raise a larger clutch before the summer is
gone. This only saves a couple weeks for them.
too late for boxes/SW Ontario: Joe Hurst has maintained a bluebird trail on
the north shore of Lake Erie around Port Stanley, Ontario for years. His
bluebirds normally nest into late July or even August. I always get asked the
question, Is it too late for boxes? The answer is NEVER too late. For the
benefit of all the new members if everyone would put the approximate date of
their latest nestings in their signature line it would show thatthere is still
LOTS of time for bluebirds all over the country to nest so don't give up! KK
Subj: Re:female bluebird fighting reflection
Date: 6/17/99 10:56:27 PM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
The female is protecting her territory by fighting her reflection in the
window. you will need to cover the window with cloth or simply use a section
of the "bird netting" used for protecting fruit trees and hang it from the eaves
of the house and prevent her from getting close to the windows. some people use
owl or hawk decoys, rubber snakes sometimes work for a day or so. It sounds like
she has dumped her eggs that she should have laid in a nest and has become
obsessed with guarding the territory. After hiding these two favorite windows
don't be surprised if she seeks out car mirrors or other windows of the house.
Normally only the males persist in this! I wish you would keep the list up to
date about this since this is fairly rare for the female to do this in my area.
KK
Subj: Rene
birdhouse
Date: 8/6/99 8:21:03 AM Central Daylight Time
From: hawk182"at"webtv.net
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: hawk182"at"webtv.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Has any one tried the Rene`s balancing door bird house-I hear that it will keep
hosp out but let bb in ok.
Dick--central n.y.--
Subj: AH the better box!
Date: 9/10/99 7:36:51 AM Central Daylight Time
From: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: kridler"at"1Starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas cool and 65* F
The "better box" will exist in each of our minds differently, since we will all
have different expectations of how a box needs to work with our predators,
weather, mounting system and on and on.... I am a builder, both commercial and
residential and have literally built everything from wood outhouses to geodesic
domes to precast concrete buildings to steel buildings to freezers, there is a
world of materials and insulative materials to work with. (Many of these will be
controversial to this list :-)
But lets keep it simple because anyone can build a simple box but many don't
have the tools and saws, todays builders use.... Roof what is it supposed to do?
Provide shade and a dry nest and help hold the box together. Do you have a
gutter over your door if the roof angle dumps water at your door step? Why do we
slope nestbox roofs so that everytime it rains the birds have to fly through the
drips??? Some of my Canadian friends build all of their boxes with lots of
overhang and a roof that slopes to the BACK of the box away from the entrance
hole. Hmmm... For ease of building I build a flat roof with lots of overhang and
let the box tilt slightly to the side or let the wind blow water off which ever
side it wants to. For the south the roof should be minimum 8"x8" and 9"x12" is
better. If a double roof is used it should be 26" above the first since a 3/4"
air space between roofs will only reduce temperatures 1*F in calm winds. (every
degree of drop does help!) These larger roofs should be of 3/4" exterior plywood
to reduce warping and splitting. Box size should be 16 square inch to 30 square
inch of floor area to permit the bluebirds to easily clean droppings from a
normal size brood of bluebirds.
I have to go to work but this should get the building discussion off to a
vigorous start and I will finish tonight.... KK
Subj: Nestboxes
Date: 9/21/99 4:34:40 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Sialiaman"at"aol.com
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: Sialiaman"at"aol.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Dick Purvis, Anaheim CA
Now that the nesting season is over, it is a good time to build or repair nestboxes.
I have one location where woodpeckers are a big problem so I take the boxes
down for the winter. I have been repairing those boxes and a number of others
which I had replaced because they were very old and beat up. I find that it
takes me three times as long to refurbish an old box as it does to build a new
one but I can't stop! I can't throw anything away. That attitude comes from my
depression era mentality. Some things to consider when building nestboxes:
1. Use galvanized or plated screws if possible. At least use galvanized nails
and plenty of them.
2. NABS recommends at least 5x5 size for western and mountain bluebird boxes.
Linda Violetts results seem to indicate that an even larger box is superior.
3. I advise using hanging boxes. There are a number of advantages and they are
so convenient to use.
4. Consider measures for controlling heat in the design and materials you
choose.
5. PVC fencing for nestboxes seem to have some powerful advantages.
6. Any type of wood works very well. Thicker wood has better heat insulating
characteristics. I have made some boxes out of 2x8 material. It works
beautifully and lasts forever.
7. You may paint or not as you prefer. A heavy coat of oil based paint gives
added weatherproof qualities.
8. Try some new design. It's fun and we may learn something new!
Subj: box entry
counter
Date: 10/25/99 6:38:18 PM Central Daylight Time
From: springer"at"alltel.net (Gary Springer)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: springer"at"alltel.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
CC: springer"at"alltel.net (Gary Springer)
Dear fellow Bluebirders,
I live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Georgia, only
about 48 miles south of Tennessee. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and spent
two winters in North Dakota so I know what cold is. I'm telling you this because
many people get the idea that all of Georgia is way down south where it doesn't
get cold. While we don't have the extended bitter cold winters here, at times
there are very few if any insects available to be consumed by bluebirds and we
get temperatures in the teens or single digits every year.
Anyway, I have been putting straw, twigs, and other stick like objects in the
nest box entrance holes so I can tell when a bird enters the hole. The nest
boxes are mounted so that I will know if anything other than a flying creature
enters the box, and as of this writing nothing has entered any of them other
than by flying.
Most of the boxes are being visited weekly, the frequency I have been able to
monitor them.
If that many birds are entering my nest boxes in Georgia, it seems like a good
idea to leave nest boxes in place during the winter months in parts of the
country north of here. While there may be some inspection for future nest sites
going on, it seems that the primary activity around these nest boxes at this
time of year would be roosting.
More and more people are informing us of wintering Bluebirds in northern states
like Ohio, Michigan, etc.. Joe Huber has photographed 7 Bluebirds in a box
during a cold winter night in Ohio. It seems wintering that far north would have
to be relatively common for there to be a gathering of seven Bluebirds in a
single box. It therefore seems that the lives of some Bluebirds wintering this
far or even further north could be saved in extremely cold weather if nest boxes
were left in place with ventilation sealed off and perhaps some fresh nesting
material to insulate the bottom. Of course, I would not recommend this practice
for nest boxes mounted on trees or wooden fence posts in many regions because
the roosting birds could become raccoon food.
I would like to use a more sophisticated system than putting sticks in the nest
box entrance holes to monitor winter activity.
Does anyone know of a counter that has been or could be used to count how many
times birds are entering nest boxes?
I would appreciate your help in finding such a device.
Thank you,
Gary Springer
Subj: Re: box entry counter
Date: 10/25/99 8:07:16 PM Central Daylight Time
From: efkent"at"fuse.net (Eugene F. Kent)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: efkent"at"fuse.net
To: springer"at"alltel.net, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
CC: springer"at"alltel.net (Gary Springer)
Hi , Eugene Kent. Bethel Ohio, 40 miles east of Cincinnati. Gary you could use a
infra-red type device. Probably the cheapest way to do this is go to Radio Shack
and talk to one of their salespersons. Usually they are helpful. Radio Shack
does supply amateurs in the electronic field.
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Springer
To: BLUEBIRD-L
Cc: Gary Springer
Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 7:45 PM
Subject: box entry counter
Dear fellow Bluebirders,
I live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Georgia,
only about 48 miles south of Tennessee. I'm originally from Pennsylvania
and spent two winters in North Dakota so I know what cold is. I'm telling
you this because many people get the idea that all of Georgia is way down
south where it doesn't get cold. While we don't have the extended bitter
cold winters here, at times there are very few if any insects available to
be consumed by bluebirds and we get temperatures in the teens or single
digits every year.
Anyway, I have been putting straw, twigs, and other stick like objects in
the nest box entrance holes so I can tell when a bird enters the hole. The
nest boxes are mounted so that I will know if anything other than a flying
creature enters the box, and as of this writing nothing has entered any of
them other than by flying.
Most of the boxes are being visited weekly, the frequency I have been able
to monitor them.
If that many birds are entering my nest boxes in Georgia, it seems like a
good idea to leave nest boxes in place during the winter months in parts of
the country north of here. While there may be some inspection for future
nest sites going on, it seems that the primary activity around these nest
boxes at this time of year would be roosting.
More and more people are informing us of wintering Bluebirds in northern
states like Ohio, Michigan, etc.. Joe Huber has photographed 7 Bluebirds in
a box during a cold winter night in Ohio. It seems wintering that far north
would have to be relatively common for there to be a gathering of seven
Bluebirds in a single box. It therefore seems that the lives of some
Bluebirds wintering this far or even further north could be saved in
extremely cold weather if nest boxes were left in place with ventilation
sealed off and perhaps some fresh nesting material to insulate the bottom.
Of course, I would not recommend this practice for nest boxes mounted on
trees or wooden fence posts in many regions because the roosting birds
could become raccoon food.
I would like to use a more sophisticated system than putting sticks in the
nest box entrance holes to monitor winter activity.
Does anyone know of a counter that has been or could be used to count how
many times birds are entering nest boxes?
I would appreciate your help in finding such a device.
Thank you,
Gary Springer
Subj: Re: box entry counter
Date: 10/25/99 9:36:22 PM Central Daylight Time
From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: hubertrap"at"webtv.net
To: springer"at"alltel.net, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
In response to Gary Springers mention of my photo of 7 Eastern Bluebirds in a
roost box located in Ohio I can add more. This photo was taken at 3:15 AM at 0*
in January. The box was changed during the day to a brand new one deep enough so
my camera would focus. The roost box was located right outside our home about 30
feet away. Several years I observed the birds going in and then out in the
mornings. One time there were 20 counted coming out in the morning. This was a
different year. It was common to see a dozen or more staying.
Joe Huber Venice Fl
Subj: Re: [Re: box entry counter]
Date: 10/26/99 10:08:34 AM Central Daylight Time
From: stillwaterbirder"at"netscape.net (stuart roth)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: stillwaterbirder"at"netscape.net
To: hubertrap"at"webtv.net, springer"at"alltel.net, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber) wrote:
In response to Gary Springers mention of my photo of 7 Eastern Bluebirds in a
roost box located in Ohio I can add more. This photo was taken at 3:15 AM at 0*
in January. The box was changed during the day to a brand new one deep enough so
my camera would focus. The roost box was located right outside our home about 30
feet away. Several years I observed the birds going in and then out in the
mornings. One time there were 20 counted coming out in the morning. This was a
different year. It was common to see a dozen or more staying.
Joe Huber Venice Fl
Hi Joe; I'm Still learning, What is the difference between a roost box and a
nest box? Thank you and Happy birding, Stu
************************************************
Stu Roth
Stillwater Birder Co.
Clear View Bird House - A view inside nature
888-668-2627
http://www.stillwaterbirder.com
mailto:stu"at"stillwaterbirder.com
************************************************
Subj: Questions
Date: 11/8/99 7:19:38 AM Central Standard Time
From: hpandtl"at"crocker.com (Haleya Priest/Thom Levy)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: hpandtl"at"crocker.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD)
Haleya Priest Amherst MA
Kudos to Gary for his courageous willingness to nearly freeze to death in order
to discover what's happening above us! If we don't hear from you in a couple
days we better send out search parties!
2 questions:
1) Now that I am making boxes, I realize that my backyard boxes are not NABS
approved boxes! ( how embarrassing) No cross ventilation near the top of the
boxes - just one ventilation slot at top of door, and no overhanging roof.
Otherwise dimensions are sufficient. Should I remove these boxes and replace
them with NABS approved boxes? I have no qualms about one of the boxes - TRES
use it, but I have a pair of EABL that have nested in this other box for two
seasons. If I replace their box, will they accept a new one? Or should I just
leave it since I've had successful nestings all along. Or maybe just drill holes
for cross ventilation.
2) Unless my 8+ EABL migrate real soon, I think they are here to stay for the
winter and will be here daily looking for mealies and Bluebird Banquet. Well, I
was hoping no other critters would discover the "golden arches" (as Dean would
say) in my backyard, but, well, need I say more. Little by little a squirrel,
etc is showing up. So must make EABL feeders with holes. I designed one that
seems good, but trying to figure out what kind of wood to use, since the food
will be sitting directly on it. Can I use cedar???? I don't want to finish pine
since the mealies and mix will be sitting directly on it. Any thoughts? Maybe
pine unfinished?
As always, thanks in advance. Oh, please email me directly since I am on digest
format and won't get today's posts until tomorrow morning - and wanting to get
that saw a rolling asap. hpandtl"at"crocker.com
Subj: Re "Half"-Plexiglas roof
Date: 11/23/99 6:56:57 PM Central Standard Time
From: vivianmp"at"eznet.net (Vivian M. Pitzrick)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: vivianmp"at"eznet.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Vivian Pitzrick, Amity L.,Belmont, N.Y. Allegany co., about 90 miles SE of
Buffalo. Summery sunny day -- up to 63 dg here.
Linda, you mention a half plexiglass roof How did you make it "half"?
I have one box out with a full plexiglas roof and nothing uses it. It is there
as an experiment near buildings where there are House Sparrows.
Thanks.
Vivian
At 06:46 PM 11/22/99 -0800, you wrote:
Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.
snip
This year I offered them a box with a 1/2 plexiglas roof and the box
already has several claim straws in it.
Linda
Subj: Re: [Re Half-Plexiglas roof]
Date: 11/23/99 8:17:11 PM Central Standard Time
From: stillwaterbirder"at"netscape.net (stuart roth)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: stillwaterbirder"at"netscape.net
To: vivianmp"at"eznet.net, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
"Vivian M. Pitzrick"
wrote:
Vivian Pitzrick, Amity L.,Belmont, N.Y. Allegany co., about 90 miles SE of
Buffalo. Summery sunny day -- up to 63 dg here.
Linda, you mention a half plexiglass roof How did you make it "half"?
I have one box out with a full plexiglas roof and nothing uses it. It is there
as an experiment near buildings where there are House Sparrows.
Thanks.
Vivian
At 06:46 PM 11/22/99 -0800, you wrote:
Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.
snip
This year I o
ered them a box with a 1/2 plexiglas roof and the box
already has several claim straws in it.
Linda
Hi Linda and Vivian
Using plexiglass for one side does work great, how ever you need to then cover
it with wood to give the bird an enclosed area for their safety and confort.
Happy birding, Stu
************************************************
Stu Roth
Stillwater Birder Co.
Clear View Bird House - A view inside nature
888-668-2627
http://www.stillwaterbirder.com
mailto:stu"at"stillwaterbirder.com
************************************************
Subj: Re: Re "Half"-Plexiglas roof
Date: 11/23/99 8:32:16 PM Central Standard Time
From: lviolett"at"earthlink.net (Linda Violett)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: lviolett"at"earthlink.net
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu (Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu)
Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.
The experimental 1/2 plex roof is made mostly from tongue & groove and the back
part is plex. Justed started putting some of these up after having wren problems
at a few of my sites and one sparrow attack. Since our bluebirds like to perch
on the roofs, I wanted the larger front part to be made of wood so it "felt"
right to prospective guests.
For the back plex part of the roof, just cut a piece of 1/8" plexiglas which is
large enough to cover from the middle of your box and give overhang to the back
and side. Make sure the top end of the box is flush all around for a good seal.
Then squirt a line of clear sealer on the top edges of the box where the
plexiglas will attach Since I use hanging boxes, I snug up the plexiglas piece
to the hanger which comes up along the back inside of the box and through the
middle area of the roof. Pre-drill holes through the plexiglas/wood where the
roof attaches and put in your screws.
For the front half (which is larger than the back plex part because of the
longer overhang in the front) tongue and groove works perfectly. Just cut a
length of
tongue and groove long enough to allow overhang. Squirt a heavy line of clear
silicone sealer under the "groove",and lay the groove with the sealer over the
back plex part for a perfect fit. I finish off the roof seams with another line
of caulk sealer inside and out. The plexiglas gives a wonderful skylight effect.
And the
bluebirds (so far) seem to be taking these boxes in stride just like they did
with the 2-holers . . . but this is all brand new with no real experience, yet.
When I
put the first of these boxes up at the end of last season for a wren-problem
site, the twig-building stopped. At the site where I lost babies to a sparrow
attack, a
full bluebird nest was readily built in the "skylight" box (no eggs, too late in
the season). So my hopes are up that these boxes will be accepted by bluebirds
but
shunned by wrens and sparrows.
"Vivian M. Pitzrick" wrote:
Vivian Pitzrick, Amity L.,Belmont, N.Y. Allegany co., about 90 miles SE of
Buffalo. Summery sunny day -- up to 63 dg here.
Linda, you mention a half plexiglass roof How did you make it "half"?
I have one box out with a full plexiglas roof and nothing uses it. It is
there as an experiment near buildings where there are House Sparrows.
Thanks.
Vivian
At 06:46 PM 11/22/99 -0800, you wrote:
Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif.
snip
This year I offered them a box with a 1/2 plexiglas roof and the box
already has several claim straws in it.
Linda
Subj: Nestboxes
Date: 11/26/99 8:34:30 PM Central Standard Time
From: Sialiaman"at"aol.com
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: Sialiaman"at"aol.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Dick Purvis, Anaheim CA
I just got a pallet of "firewood" from my local lumberyard. They pack up their
scrap tag ends and sell it for firewood. The pallet cost me $16. I will burn
half of it but the other half is 8" white pine shiplap which is ideal for
hanging boxes. It is enough to make 100 nestboxes "at" 16c per. I cut it up
today and will start nailing soon. I find that I can finish about ten per day.
One problem is that the wood is slightly curled from drying. It splits if you
straighten it. I accomodate it by making a slightly rounded bottom piece. The
finished rounded box looks great. The wood is only 5/8" thick which makes a very
light box which is ideal for hanging boxes.
Subj: Birdhouse Repair
Date: 11/29/99 8:47:22 AM Central Standard Time
From: dean"at"ligtel.com (Perry D Mecklenburg)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: dean"at"ligtel.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
I have discovered a materiel called expanded PVC. RV industry is starting to use
it to make their drawer sides for cabinets. The materiel that they use comes in
1/4 inch thickness, the largest sheets are a shade over nine inches wide and
comes in 20 foot lengths. The color is close to caramel. I found that the widest
size with a little trimming just fits my Peterson box top. I can also just get
the sides out of the wide pieces. I get the scrap from the scrap bins and some
pieces are about two feet long. One thing, no paint is needed and so far haven't
been affected by rain. I cut the sides and tops to fit and screw them right over
the existing sides and tops as needed for repairs. Looks good and blends right
in.
Perry
Subj: Thatched roofs
Date: 12/4/99 8:08:47 PM Central Standard Time
From: ktho"at"kc.rr.com (Kathleen O'Brien-Blair)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: ktho"at"kc.rr.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Has anyone seen, made or have any tales to tell about thatched roofs for
bluebird houses? Just curious.....
On the NABS front...got the packet of info for forming an affiliate, so...tally
ho....and we're off....
Kathleen O'Brien-Blair
Kansas City, MO
Subj: thatched roofs
Date: 12/4/99 9:47:42 PM Central Standard Time
From: kridler"at"1starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: kridler"at"1starnet.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
I have some slides that were given to me of thatched roofs for nest boxes. These
were from Germany in the 70's and they had a lot of different styles. All were
very expensive but also very attractive. They also made feeders for the birds
with "thatch". KK
Subj: Ugly
Western Box Acceptance
Date: 12/6/99 12:47:59 PM Central Standard Time
From: TOWA"at"compuserve.com (R. Heath Wakelee)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: TOWA"at"compuserve.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (Bluebirders)
Subj: Ugly Western Box Acceptance
I'm a new bluebirder, have just built my first 12 Western Bluebird boxes and
wonder if I have made two design mistakes. I modified the NABS box plans to
allow access from the front but this left an inch and a quarter opening above
the door (a parallel opening between the top of the front door and the roof).
I've filled in the space with a thin piece of flat molding and now wonder if my
design is too "ugly" for bluebirds to consider for occupancy and if the front
door opening is a mistake. Thanks in advance for any help.
Heath Wakelee
Granite Bay, CA (Near Sacramento)
Subj: RE: Ugly
Western Box Acceptance
Date: 12/6/99 2:13:22 PM Central Standard Time
From: mcwrigh"at"nppd.com (Wright, Merlin C.)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: mcwrigh"at"nppd.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (Bluebirders)
No, it is not to ugly.
No, it is not a mistake to have the front be the opening. I modified all my
boxes to have the front be the part that opens. Instead of filling in the 1 1/4
slot, you could have that be the opening and not make a 1 1/2" hole. I use a 1
1/8" slot above the front for an opening.
-----Original Message-----
From: R. Heath Wakelee [mailto:TOWA"at"compuserve.com]
Sent: Monday, December 06, 1999 12:32 PM
To: Bluebirders
Subject: Ugly Western Box Acceptance
Subj: Ugly Western Box Acceptance
I'm a new bluebirder, have just built my first 12 Western Bluebird boxes and
wonder if I have made two design mistakes. I modified the NABS box plans to
allow access from the front but this left an inch and a quarter opening above
the door (a parallel opening between the top of the front door and the roof).
I've filled in the space with a thin piece of flat molding and now wonder if my
design is too "ugly" for bluebirds to consider for occupancy and if the front
door opening is a mistake. Thanks in advance for any help.
Heath Wakelee
Granite Bay, CA (Near Sacramento)
Subj: boxes
Date: 12/7/99 6:41:19 PM Central Standard Time
From: eemmuu"at"att.net (carriers)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: eemmuu"at"att.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (Bluebird talk)
Paul from CT......In answer to the many replys about wood Etc.
Yes, some of my older boxes were made from still wet wood. It was the only wood
I could get that winter, and I belive most cracked or warped the following year.
Most were rough cut White pine too. All the grain does go the length of the
board, and I always used 1-5/8" srews to build them, pree drilled. In the
begining, I built 6 boxes from some scrap Cedar, and these suckers are still
good today! They have to be at least 7 years old, and no treatment either! If I
could get Cedar, I would make all boxes from it!
I also agree that all critters(indiginous to our country), have a place and a
right to live undisturbed. If another bird choses to nest in any given box, than
so be it. If I don't like it, than I can re locate the box elsware. I never
evict any occupents except House Sps and mice in the spring. I dont even evict
wasps or spray them, in fact, I have noticed BBs will usually6 nest in harmony
with them; anyone else experience this too? Linseed oil cut with turp seems to
be my choice to use in the future. Got this from all the feedback you all
gave..any more additions? I am all open to ideas..
Paul from CT....45f and part cloudy today, and NO SNOW YET!!! And for all who
brave the winter up in north country, in 13 days it will be the shortest
day of the year for daylight, then its all up hill from there!!! Yipeeeee!
Subj: sound good???
Date: 1/1/00 8:59:28 PM Central Standard Time
From: eemmuu"at"att.net (The Carriers)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: eemmuu"at"att.net
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Hello all,
Well I think I just made the ultimate wooden BB box. (for me anyway) For the
past 8 years, I used rough cut lumber of 4" and 6" boards, pine mostley. I made
over 200, and through replacement of parts, caulking of cracks, reverse warping
etc., I am constantly busy repairing and replacing. All boxes are screwed with
1-5/8th" screws, and caulked at all joints. All boxes open from the front.
Please don't mis-understand me; I know others out there have had exceptional
luck with this box style, and I envy you muchly, but for me here in 4 season CT,
it doesn't work out well. I want less work fixing boxes, and more time spent
enjoying and monitoring them!
So through this site, and many years of trial and error, I have settled on the
following. Any additional experience you can tell me, I would be pleased to
hear.
I was donated as much 5-1/2" boards as I wanted from a lumber yard, so I will be
building the standard NAB boxes from milled 3/4" stock. I like the side opening
door, but changed the top to overlap the back; better to keep the rain out.
I also (as most remember) looked for ways to treat the wood, and I think using
the suggested linseed oil, thinner combination should help in weatherproofing
the exterior better than just raw wood. I know, some also suggest no finnish at
all, but again, my luck here has been poor at best.
So what do you all think? Am I on track or what? I got a lot of boxes to make
(to replace the old rough cut falling apart versions) and I want to make sure I
have picked a good alternative to do it with, so help me out here and let me
know what you all think..K?
Paul from CT...Harwinton, where we had the best fledge rate of BBs than anywhere
else in the State last year!! 1 out of 3 boxes occupied by BBs! (from 200
boxes)!
Subj: Re: sound good???
Date: 1/1/00 9:21:09 PM Central Standard Time
From: springer"at"alltel.net (Gary Springer)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: springer"at"alltel.net
To: eemmuu"at"att.net
CC: springer"at"alltel.net (Gary Springer), BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
(BLUEBIRD-L)
Dear Paul,
You indicated that your 200 nest boxes made from rough cut pine lumber resulted
in "the best fledge rate of BB anywhere else in the State"
To what do you attribute your success rate?
Gary Springer
----- OrigFrominal Message -----
From: The Carriers
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2000 10:01 PM
Subject: sound good???
Hello all,
Well I think I just made the ultimate wooden BB box. (for me anyway) For
the past 8 years, I used rough cut lumber of 4" and 6" boards, pine
mostley. I made over 200, and through replacement of parts, caulking of
cracks, reverse warping etc., I am constantly busy repairing and
replacing. All boxes are screwed with 1-5/8th" screws, and caulked at
all joints. All boxes open from the front.
Please don't mis-understand me; I know others out there have had
exceptional luck with this box style, and I envy you muchly, but for me
here in 4 season CT, it doesn't work out well. I want less work fixing
boxes, and more time spent enjoying and monitoring them!
So through this site, and many years of trial and error, I have settled
on the following. Any additional experience you can tell me, I would be
pleased to hear.
I was donated as much 5-1/2" boards as I wanted from a lumber yard, so I
will be building the standard NAB boxes from milled 3/4" stock. I like
the side opening door, but changed the top to overlap the back; better
to keep the rain out.
I also (as most remember) looked for ways to treat the wood, and I think
using the suggested linseed oil, thinner combination should help in
weatherproofing the exterior better than just raw wood. I know, some
also suggest no finnish at all, but again, my luck here has been poor at
best.
So what do you all think? Am I on track or what? I got a lot of boxes to
make (to replace the old rough cut falling apart versions) and I want to
make sure I have picked a good alternative to do it with, so help me out
here and let me know what you all think..K?
Paul from CT...Harwinton, where we had the best fledge rate of BBs than
anywhere else in the State last year!! 1 out of 3 boxes occupied by
BBs! (from 200 boxes)!
|
